WHAT WE ARE LEARNING

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Update on implementation: Under the Access to finance component, 314 WSMEs have received principal paydown grants totaling $2.8 million; under the gender inclusive policy and regulatory framework component, consultants have begun consultations with stakeholders; under the capacity building component, training for 250 women entrepreneurs will start in May 2019; under the component on strengthening evidence, the impact evaluation has been designed and will be implemented alongside grants and training.

Lessons learned: The ADB team noted that some of the key lessons learned from implementation to date included the following: bankers need a lot of explanation on how a principal paydown benefits their clients; early coordination with the government helps speed up implementation; partnering with an established training provider can go a long way.

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Update on implementation: The team noted that good progress had been made under the first component, on business resilience capacity-building. The local executing agency had identified candidates for Business Advisors in five regions and work on designing the training curriculum had commenced. Work on the second component (business recovery/financial support) had not commenced and the third component (value chain resilience) was not applicable to Yemen. Under component 4, on the BRAVE IT Platform, an online application form had been developed. Work on component 5, on the impact evaluation, had not started. Good progress had been made with component 6, related to the creation of the Project Management Unit, leveraging off the ongoing infrastructure for the BRAVE program.

Lessons learned: The team noted that several lessons had begun to emerge, notably, that the amount targeted for matching grants (USD5,000) might be too high for WSMEs in Yemen; a well planned promotional and awareness campaign is vital for reaching potential beneficiaries; it is important to ensure a sufficient supply of business advisors ahead of implementation.

World Bank Group (WBG)

Key results achieved to date: USD150 million of new financing committed for onlending to WSMEs by We-Fi supported institutions (against an overall target of USD870 million); six financial service providers have updated or implemented new screening procedures or financial products and services for women-owned/led SMEs (the target is 85).

Lessons learned: The team noted that implementation of We-Fi projects had highlighted opportunities for global and country level collaboration across the World Bank Group and other implementing partners. Joint delivery models of the following types were emerging:

• Developing and piloting asset-based finance products in Africa that leverage WB work on collateral registries and IFC’s advisory and investment services with banks. Collaboration emerging in Nigeria, Zambia, and potentially expanding to other countries.
• IFC work with private sector clients can inform WB engagements on policy and regulatory reforms related to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and access to finance and markets.
• Leveraging IFC Financial Institution and Corporate clients to provide access to finance and markets for WSMEs involved in WB projects. Collaboration emerging in Bangladesh, Cote d’Ivoire, MENA, Mozambique, Pakistan, Senegal, and Tanzania.