Canada is putting new capital behind efforts to close the financing gap faced by women and underserved communities in emerging markets, announcing $110 million in funding through FinDev Canada during the 2026 2X Global Summit.
The announcement was made on 16 September 2026, during the three-day summit being co-hosted by Global Affairs Canada, FinDev Canada and 2X Global from 15 to 17 September in Montréal. The gathering brings together investors, development finance institutions, private-sector funds, civil society organisations and other international partners under the theme “Grounded Capital, Global Partners.”
The new funding will support two financing initiatives designed to strengthen economic participation and improve access to capital for underserved businesses and communities.
Two $55 million investments
The first commitment is a $55 million loan to Robust International Pte Ltd, which will support agricultural supply chains and market connections for rural suppliers in least-developed countries.
The project is designed to strengthen procurement, storage and processing capacity while increasing women’s participation in agricultural supply chains. It also incorporates climate-smart farming practices intended to improve resilience and reduce losses.
The second is a $55 million loan to the Lendable MSME Fintech Credit Fund II.
The fund provides tailored debt financing and capacity building to borrowers, with a focus that includes women-led businesses and people who remain underserved by traditional banking systems.
Together, the two investments are intended to direct additional capital towards businesses and communities that face barriers to conventional finance.
A global push for women’s access to capital
The announcements form part of a wider effort by the 2X Global community to increase investment in women.
Canada has been part of the 2X community since 2018. According to the Canadian government, Canada and its partners have collectively mobilised $46.7 billion to scale investment in women worldwide since then.
The 2X Global Summit brings together approximately 230 participants from international private-sector funds, development finance institutions, international financial institutions, multilateral organisations, civil society and donor organisations. Its purpose is to develop partnerships and actions aimed at addressing the global gender financing gap.
The issue remains significant for women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses, particularly in emerging and developing markets, where access to appropriate financing can determine whether a business is able to launch, expand or reach new markets.
Financing beyond traditional banking
One of the important elements of the latest commitments is the range of financing models involved.
The Lendable fund is focused on debt financing for businesses and individuals who may not be adequately served by traditional banks, while the Robust International investment focuses on strengthening the infrastructure and supply chains through which rural businesses can access markets.
This reflects a broader approach to inclusive finance: rather than relying on a single financing mechanism, investors and development institutions are increasingly combining different forms of capital with technical support and market access.
For women-led businesses, this can be particularly important as access to finance is often connected to broader barriers around networks, information, collateral and market opportunities.
Canada’s broader inclusive-finance agenda
The latest announcement follows Canada’s previous commitments to inclusive and innovative finance.
At the 2026 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian, France, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $2.5 million for the Canada-2X Global Partnership for Inclusive Finance.
Canada has also announced other international financing initiatives this year, including investments aimed at expanding blended finance and impact investing in emerging markets. In May, the Canadian government announced $51.5 million for new global-impact investing and blended-finance initiatives.
The latest $110 million commitment therefore forms part of a broader effort to mobilise both public and private capital towards development and economic inclusion.
Turning commitments into capital
For women entrepreneurs, the significance of initiatives such as 2X Global ultimately comes down to whether international commitments translate into accessible financing.
The Montréal summit is bringing together the investors, development institutions and organisations responsible for putting that capital to work.
With the latest $110 million commitment, Canada is directing financing towards agricultural supply chains, underserved borrowers and women-led businesses across multiple emerging markets.
The challenge now is implementation: ensuring that capital reaches businesses and communities where financing gaps remain and that women are able to participate not only as beneficiaries of investment, but as entrepreneurs, employers, investors and decision-makers shaping the economies in which they operate.
