SheCan

Getting access to money - whether through loans, savings accounts or other financial services - is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. But in many low- and middle-income countries, smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs face big obstacles. For example, they don’t have access to banks or financial services, or loan requirements are too strict.

Women face even more challenges, including:

• Cultural expectations that limit their financial independence;
• Little or no financial education;
• Few financial products designed for their needs.

Without access to finance, communities remain trapped in poverty and vulnerable to climate and economic shocks.

SheCan strengthens WFP’s work to help people build better lives and prepare for future challenges. It focuses on communities that are financially excluded, especially women.

SheCan helps people build the skills they need to use financial services confidently by offering training in:

• How to manage money;
• How to use digital finance tools;
• How to start and grow a small business.

SheCan also:

• Makes it easier for people to get loans that are designed to meet their needs;
• Works with banks to create simple, fair financial products and facilitate their reach to financially excluded populations

At the same time, SheCan supports banks and financial institutions to:

• Create products relevant to rural populations;
• Reach more people in remote areas;
• Include more communities in the formal financial system in a sustainable way.

Feedback from SheCan project participants in Rwanda

Nyampinga Delphine

Nyampinga Delphine is a maize farmer member of the KOPAIM cooperative in Rwanda. Being part of SheCan enabled her to access credit and increase the loan amount over time, as she was able to successfully pay back the outstanding loan via the savings group. She used the additional capital to buy farm inputs to increase the plot of land she cultivated. This resulted in a nearly 30% higher harvest in the season, which in turn increased her income from selling the produce. The increased income helped Nyampinga to further invest in her farming activities as well as her home and family.

Nyiraminani Jose

Another KOPAIM cooperative member, Nyiraminani Jose, also accessed a SheCan loan, which allowed her to purchase agricultural inputs in a timely manner, leading to an anticipated doubling of her harvest compared to previous years when she had no financial support. She plans to save for loan repayment through her savings group and estimates that half of the loan will be repaid by the time of harvesting.

We’re inviting donors, financial institutions, and technical partners to join us in scaling SheCan’s impact. Together, we can unlock the potential of women and communities through inclusive finance.

Get in touch to explore partnership opportunities.