Financing for Gender Equality Guidelines

This guide outlines the European Investment Bank's (EIB) approach to financing for gender equality, specifically targeting banks and microfinance institutions. It details the importance of gender lens investing, emphasizing that businesses founded by women tend to perform better financially and socially. The document highlights the significant funding gap faced by women-owned enterprises, which experience a $300 billion shortfall in credit annually, despite having lower non-performing loan rates. The EIB's Financing for Gender Equality (F4GE) criteria are presented, which align with international frameworks like the 2X Challenge. These criteria encourage financial institutions to allocate a minimum percentage of their credit lines to companies that meet specified gender equality benchmarks. The guide also discusses the benefits of being recognized as an EIB F4GE client, including attracting investors and qualifying for additional funding opportunities. Furthermore, it mentions the EIB's commitment to supporting financial institutions in adopting gender lens investing practices through various forms of assistance.