Facilitating access to agricultural credit for women's empowerment in Burkina Faso

In 2014, more than 93% of Burkina Faso’s women were working in the agricultural sector, but only 5% had access to credit, limiting their productivity. This is especially a problem in rural areas where poverty levels are very high at over 47%. A team of local PEP researchers found that policies to promote financial inclusion must be adapted to the credit constraints of the target population. Specifically, establishing an agricultural credit guarantee fund with a 60% quota for women, combined with a financial education programme, will promote women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications: