The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a financial commitment of $8 million to FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan, aimed at advancing women’s entrepreneurship and environmentally sustainable business practices in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Half of the package, $4 million, is earmarked for women-owned and women-led small businesses under the EBRD’s Women in Business (WiB) programme for Central Asia. This programme is backed by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative and is designed to unlock opportunities for female entrepreneurs by improving access to finance and tailored business support.

The remaining $4 million will be deployed through the EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facility III (KyrSEFF III), which was approved in late 2022. These funds are designated for enhancing the energy and resource efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), supporting climate adaptation, reducing pollution, and encouraging responsible water usage.

FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan, a long-standing player in the microfinance sector and part of the global FINCA Impact Finance network, has been operating in the country since 1995. The new funding aligns with its mission to provide socially driven financial services to underserved communities.

The EBRD, which has been active in the Kyrgyz Republic since 1992, has to date invested over €1 billion in 257 projects, focusing largely on sustainable infrastructure and the private sector. This latest move underscores the bank’s continued focus on inclusive and green economic development.