Development of a Gender-Inclusive Financial Roadmap 

	Country:	Ecuador
	Member institution:	SEPS Ecuador
	Timeline:	September 2021 – October 2022
	Thematic area:	Gender inclusive finance

Context 

SEPS Ecuador found evidence of a significant gender gap in financial inclusion, and in women’s representation as members of financial cooperatives. Many women were not applying for credit because they were unaware of the financial offer, women entrepreneurs lacked business management knowledge, and women lacked confidence in the use of digital financial services.  

Women need specific financial products and special measures should be taken to encourage women’s access to and use of credit, but only 20% of Credit and Saving Cooperatives had designed financial products for women. 

Project Activities 

• A comprehensive Gender Financial Inclusion Roadmap was developed, aiming to promote and improve women’s inclusion while reducing barriers to accessing and utilizing high-quality financial products and services. The roadmap consisted of an action plan encompassing short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives. 

• Monitoring and evaluation tools were developed to effectively measure, maximize, and communicate the impact of the project. These tools provided a means to assess the progress of initiatives, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the project’s overall effectiveness.  

Outcome 

The development of the Gender Financial Inclusion Roadmap, coupled with the implementation of monitoring and evaluation tools, marked significant progress in Ecuador’s efforts to reduce the gender gap and enhance women’s financial inclusion. By addressing specific areas of concern and adopting a strategic approach, Ecuador is working to create a more equitable society where women have improved access to and utilization of quality financial products and services.