Resilience in Action: How FINCA Tajikistan Is Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
By Zar Wardak, VP of Impact, FINCA Impact Finance
Investing in women’s success means investing in the prosperity of entire communities. Even in the most resource-constrained areas, women entrepreneurs are mentors, leaders, and economic engines — and as they rise, they bring others with them, paving the way for more resilient communities.
Women Club members arriving at a FINCA Tajikistan banking branch for a study tour.
(Image credit FINCA International.)
At FINCA, we are dedicated to ending global poverty, and women are at the heart of that mission. Our research tells us that women in developing economies want improvements to their livelihoods, resilience, and education so they can build their own pathways out of poverty. Expanded access to financial services is a good start, but what we’ve learned is that it’s the addition of essential, non-financial support that really unlocks their full potential.
That’s exactly what we’re doing in Tajikistan with the FINCA Women Club, a platform sparked by the needs expressed by women entrepreneurs, that not only gives members discounted loans, preferred savings rates, and flexible terms but also provides a forum to improve their financial literacy and business skills through training and mutual support. It’s a tangible expression of our belief that listening to and truly meeting women entrepreneurs’ needs is what opens the door to progress.
Three years into the project, FINCA Tajikistan Women Club has grown to over 6,000 members and has hosted nearly 200 events, giving local women entrepreneurs the resources they need to succeed and the opportunity to learn, network, and thrive. Change isn’t on the horizon — it’s already underway, and these women are driving it.
From Education to Empowerment: Growing Together
The FINCA Tajikistan Women Club is open to FINCA customers and non-customers above the age of 18 who are interested in improving their financial well-being or growing a business. These entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs hail from all regions of the country, bringing with them a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets.
Members are issued FINCA Women Club bank cards and receive discounts on loans and deposits, affordable insurance, and support in finding grants and investments. They also enjoy other benefits to improve their banking experience, such as no queues at branches, individual advisors, and call center services.
FINCA Women Club members attending a study tour to meet successful women entrepreneurs, develop skills, and expand their financial horizons.
(Image credit FINCA International.)
Most importantly, the Women Club is a platform for women entrepreneurs to learn from each other and from experts. FINCA and its partners organise events where members can gain essential training and mentorship on topics like digital financial literacy, business development, social media marketing, and legal issues.
These events are also an opportunity for women to network with like-minded individuals, seasoned professionals, and potential customers for their small businesses. It goes beyond personal development — members often become mentors themselves, passing on training and tools to other women in their communities..
From Insights to Impact: Engaging Deeply
Initiatives like the Women Club in Tajikistan are a direct outcome of FINCA's commitment to understanding our customers through a human-centered design approach. The idea is to constantly involve and engage with customers, closely studying their family structures, business dynamics, and the barriers they face so that we can design solutions responding to their unique circumstances and aspirations.
The origin of our Women Club is a key example of how we put this strategy into practice. A 2021 FINCA Research survey in Tajikistan revealed that women entrepreneurs were lacking opportunities to build their skills and self-confidence and to find support and encouragement. A concurrent FINCA report based on over 10,000 surveys found that our customers view inclusive finance institutions not merely as providers of financial products, but as relational partners and trusted allies.
Guided by these insights, FINCA set out to bridge the gaps by creating a platform for women to access resources, share knowledge, and grow together. The FINCA Women Club then launched with a six-month pilot in April 2022 before expanding to all 26 FINCA Tajikistan branches by October of the same year. The overwhelmingly positive response was immediate and affirming, sending a powerful message - women are ready; they just need the right tools.
From Principles to Practice: Cultivating Women’s Success
FINCA Women Club members attending a one-day intensive workshop.
(Image credit FINCA International.)
FINCA also realises that support doesn’t look the same for everyone. We understand that the barriers women face and the products they need are often different from those of men. In a 2022 randomised control trial conducted with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, we found that women respond especially well to services that offer a human touch, and that these relational elements build significantly more trust among women and lead to better financial outcomes.
Understanding this informed the design of the FINCA Women Club as we focused on meeting women’s specific needs by offering expanded access to financial services along with a platform for growth, learning, and resilience. We know that when women have the financial tools and the support they need, they improve the well-being of those around them. When women generate income, they invest 90 percent of it back into their families, and are more likely to prioritise the social or environmental impact of the business above profitability or growth. A key reason the Women Club has grown so fast is that the members became mentors and advocates, helping us connect and engage with a broader network and amplifying the impact of our outreach.
The FINCA Tajikistan Women Club proves how targeted support can break the cycle of poverty and build stronger, more sustainable futures. Together, we’re creating a more resilient world, one woman at a time.
ABOUT FINCA
FINCA is a global organisation committed to creating pathways out of poverty through sustainable, scalable solutions rooted in the needs of the people it serves. Operating in some of the world’s most challenging markets, FINCA provides financial and non-financial tools that help individuals and communities build resilience, generate income, and invest in their children’s education. FINCA’s work is driven by the belief that all people should have the opportunity to leverage their wisdom, talent, and effort to determine their own destiny, and aims to reach at least 40 million people by 2028 with proven solutions that spark lasting impact. Learn more at finca.org.
