Women and Trade 

The analysis of the ITC SheTrades dataset reveals a clear and compelling picture of the financing landscape for women-owned businesses across sectors and stages of growth. Across the board, women entrepreneurs demonstrate strong and diverse financing needs, with a significant proportion seeking grants, equity, and blended financing instruments to expand or stabilize their businesses.

The data also shows that financing needs differ substantially by sector and by stage of company development, underscoring the importance of tailored financial products, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these insights proved particularly valuable. Many enterprises especially startups and early-stage firms, relied heavily on external support to remain operational. The financing patterns highlighted in this analysis helped shed light on where support was most urgently required, enabling project teams and partners to adjust interventions, deliver targeted assistance, and help businesses withstand economic shocks.

 

The financial institutions participating in the initiative also benefitted from these findings. By observing real demand across different sectors and business stages, lenders and investors were able to adapt their policies, risk assessments, and financing products. Several institutions refined or introduced instruments such as:

• smaller-ticket debt for micro and early-stage firms,

• blended finance packages for growth-stage firms,

• technical assistance for capacity-building, and

• more flexible repayment terms in response to COVID-19 disruptions.

 

Together, these insights contributed to a more inclusive and responsive financing ecosystem one more closely aligned with the realities and aspirations of women entrepreneurs.

Side note:
Entrepreneurs were allowed to select one or more financing needs, reflecting the reality that their businesses often require a combination of support types (e.g., both grants and equity, or both debt and advisory). As a result, totals in some graphs exceed the number of respondents in a sector. The multi-select responses highlight that financial constraints are cross-cutting and cannot be addressed through a single instrument alone.