Legacy Project
Increasing Rural Access to Finance for Productive Energy Use
Funder: DFID/Sakchyam Challenge Fund
Project Timeline: January 22, 2018 - July 31, 2020
Country: Nepal
Program Area: Access to Finance
Small and medium enterprises account for more than three-quarters of employment in Nepal, but the sector is suffering from an unreliable energy supply. Winrock International is providing technical support to a microfinance institution to increase access to finance for businesses and households that use climate-resilient technologies. Investing in small and medium enterprises for productive uses of energy will catalyze rural economic development across sectors, increasing income, jobs and demand for financial services. The financial product developed by the project will be replicated by other banks and financial institutions in Nepal, encouraging investment in rural communities, and extending services to poor and underserved populations.