USAID’s Microenterprise and Private Enterprise Promotion Office (MPEP) hosted the seminar “New Insights on Lending to Women-Owned SMEs: USAID’s Credit Guarantees and Technical Assistance” June 12 as part of the Growing Economies Through Women’s Entrepreneurship series. The seminar was an opportunity for practitioners, researchers and other donors to learn about new data analysis regarding loans to women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through USAID’s Office of Development Credit (DCA) programs. USAID/DCA Africa Team Leader Anthony Cotton began by introducing the DCA program, and then independent consultants Lara Storm and Heather Kipnis presented their findings from their research using the DCA SME portfolio. Anastasia de Santos, economist with USAID/MPEP moderated the event. During the two presentations, both consultants noted constraints affecting women business owners and identified recommendations for future DCA programming.
