Deadline: 15 April 2016
The United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) regional programme Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformations (SHIFT) Challenge Fund Facility has opened the second window in order to advance economic empowerment and market participation for low-income consumers, microenterprises and SMEs, with a specific focus on women, by unlocking access to financial services.
One of SHIFT’s key intervention areas is a Challenge Fund Facility aiming at increased formal financial inclusion for low-income populations and micro, small and medium enterprises.
The Challenge Fund seeks to support the development of sustainable and inclusive access to financial services.
SHIFT’s Challenge Fund Second Window is primarily funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The UNCDF’s Expanding Finanical Access (EFA) programme provides earmarked funding to the Second Window in Myanmar.
Grants Information
- For this window, SHIFT seeks to fund up to USD 1.8 million for approximately 10 to 12 projects in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.
- The second window of the Challenge Fund titled “Fostering innovative business models for women’s financial inclusion” will award up to US$1.8 million in matching grants to projects offering either an innovative approach or scaling-up an existing approach for financial service delivery to women in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Eligibility Criteria
- Licensed financial institutions (Banks and non-banks financial institutions, including State-owned commercial banks or other stateowned financial institutions), registered financial services providers and companies from all sectors or the economy are eligible;
- Each proposal should address financial services provision for women;
- All proposals must meet the current national regulatory requirements;
- The lead applicant should have a minimum of three year of operations and statutory account(s);
- Applicants may be registered in CLMV or foreign, provided the project benefits women’s financial inclusion in CLMV.
- Individuals cannot apply.
- Examples of eligible applicants are:
- Telecommunication providers, garment factories, input/seed suppliers, equipment suppliers/distributors; dairy groups; tourism chains; large agroprocessors and exporters, large agriculture (women) cooperatives, business incubators, energy providers, renewable energy appliances producers, local distributors, recycling plants, housing corporations, regional and multinational companies with extensive supply chains, and alternative platforms that connect women entrepreneurs to long-term capital, commercial banks, leasing companies, development banks, microfinance institutions, ICT providers and insurance companies, etc.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply via given website.
For more information, please visit UNCDF.
