Women in Business
Financial code for women
GUARANTEE FOR SUCCESS!
When a woman has an idea, a growing business or an investment opportunity, access to finance can be decisive in turning that opportunity into growth. However, many women entrepreneurs in Kosovo face barriers to securing financing, including a lack of assets registered in their own names that can serve as collateral, a limited credit history or insufficient business management experience. These challenges can restrict access to the financing they need, leaving opportunities for growth unrealized.
To address these barriers, the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund (KCGF) established the Women in Business Window, a guarantee scheme dedicated to enterprises owned, co-owned or managed by women. Through this window, KCGF shares a substantial portion of the credit risk—up to 80%—with Registered Financial Institutions (RFIs), enabling them to expand financing for women-led businesses.
The window is supported by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo through capital financed by a World Bank loan, and by Sida through a re-guarantee arrangement, strengthening KCGF’s capacity to facilitate access to finance for women’s businesses.
Support extends beyond financing. Through capacity-building activities, financial education, mentoring, networking and professional development, KCGF also aims to equip women entrepreneurs with the knowledge to manage and grow their businesses more sustainably.
When a woman can finance an idea, invest in her business and take it further, the benefits extend beyond the business itself, contributing to job creation, increased economic activity and a more inclusive economy.
WHO CAN BENEFIT?
The Women in Business Window is intended for privately owned MSMEs in which women are owners, co-owners or hold executive management positions.
| CRITERIA | REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|
| Business status | Micro, small or medium enterprise |
| Registration | MSME registered with the Kosovo Business Registration Agency (KBRA) |
| Ownership | Privately owned business |
| Number of employees | Fewer than 250 employees |
| Definition | At least one woman is an owner or co-owner, or at least one woman holds an executive position |
GUARANTEE FEATURES
The Women in Business Window offers terms tailored to the needs of women-led businesses, combining higher guarantee coverage with long-term financing for working capital and investments.
| FEATURE | TERMS |
|---|---|
| Guarantee coverage | Up to 70% |
| Minimum loan amount | EUR 3,000 |
| Maximum loan amount | EUR 250,000 |
| Maximum guarantee amount | EUR 175,000 |
| Maximum loan maturity | 120 months |
| Loan purposes | Working capital and capital investments |
ADDED VALUE
The Women in Business Window creates value both for women entrepreneurs seeking financing and development support and for financial institutions seeking to expand financing for this segment.
- Improved access to finance
- More favourable lending terms
- Reduced collateral requirements
- Support for development and sustainability
- Improved financial knowledge, mentoring and networking
- Reduced credit risk
- Reduced cost of risk
- Opportunities to expand the loan portfolio
- Expanded financing for women in business
- Opportunities to develop dedicated financial products for marginalised groups
The Women in Business Window connects women's entrepreneurial potential with opportunities for financing and development, combining credit guarantees with non-financial support for business growth and sustainability.
HOW THE GUARANTEE SCHEME WORKS
KCGF has no direct contact with borrowers.
Communication with the borrower takes place through the Registered Financial Institution.
Responsibilities and monitoring
KCGF operates on the premise that the RFI will conduct an appropriate credit risk assessment and verify the eligibility of the borrower and the loan.To monitor and oversee the performance of each participating RFI, KCGF has developed two monitoring mechanisms: