Governments, financial institutions, and development actors increasingly recognize the vital role that women-owned and led SMEs (WSMEs) play in job creation and economic growth. However, many programs still apply a one-size-fits-all approach—overlooking the diverse needs, motivations, and models of these businesses.
To address this, the Argidius Foundation, Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), and Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), in collaboration with ConsumerCentriX, have developed a segmentation framework focused on women-owned and led businesses. The report and its accompanying toolkit offer actionable guidance for financial institutions, investors, program designers, and donors to better understand and serve the distinct needs of WSMEs in emerging markets.
The report outlines the various WSME segments and profiles, along with their financial and non-financial needs. It also provides market sizing insights and presents three country case studies: Pakistan, Uganda, and Colombia. The accompanying Toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to help financial intermediaries tailor products for different WSME segments, support funders in assessing risk and targeting high-potential businesses, and assist BSOs in designing segment-specific programs. It includes practical guides and tools across six steps—from analyzing the WSME landscape to customer segmentation, service demand assessment, solution design, and building the business case.
