The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, in partnership with Beyond Finance and FosterImpact, has unveiled the Women Empowerment for Climate Fund, an ambitious initiative aiming to raise $100 million by the end of 2025. The fund’s mission is to empower women to lead and implement climate adaptation policies across Asia and Africa.
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, known for its efforts to combat poverty through financial inclusion with a focus on women, has joined forces with Beyond Finance, a Hong Kong-based consulting firm specializing in impact investment and ecosystem building, and FosterImpact, an advisory firm dedicated to advancing innovative impact funds and businesses aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Women Empowerment for Climate Fund seeks to finance and support local enterprises and microfinance institutions that tailor their products and services to meet the specific needs of women. It also encourages these organizations to adopt stronger gender-inclusive practices within their operations.
The fund will focus on key sectors critical for women’s climate adaptation, including access to clean water, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture. In addition to financial backing, investees will receive technical assistance to bolster their capacity for impactful operations.
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The fund ties its loans to impact indicators, such as increasing women’s representation in leadership roles and developing climate adaptation products and services specifically for women.
Véronique Faujour, Managing Director of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, emphasized the importance of empowering women in climate action:
“We are convinced that women are the real agents of change and that they need to be given greater responsibility and involvement in decision-making. This is not just a question of equality; for us, it is a necessity if we are to develop the economic growth of our regions, and it is a prerequisite for the success of climate policies.”
The Women Empowerment for Climate Fund marks a significant step toward addressing the intersection of gender equality and climate resilience, paving the way for sustainable development in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
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