Securing Access to Finance for Local Businesses in Mozambique

This project aims to increase the income and employment opportunities of Mozambicans by improving the ability of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to secure credit and financial services. The project seeks to help 120 SMEs (including 40 women-led SMEs) access formal credit enabling them to expand their businesses and meet market demands. The project also aims to facilitate 50 loans (with at least 15 loans going to women-led SMEs) and $15 million worth of credit (with at least $4.5 million going to female-headed SMEs). Some key project activities include: (1) identifying promising SMEs and helping them to prepare a complete credit application to commercial banks and other formal institutions and negotiate competitive terms; (2) establishing partnerships with partial credit guarantee providers in order to reduce the collateral required from SMEs by commercial banks; and (3) customizing and delivering training to SMEs on the development of bankable business plans locally available sources of financing to SMEs and the range of accessible financial products.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of formal credit services by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and (2) increased cooperation between banks SMEs and other financial stakeholders to support financing solutions for small businesses.