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Good practice Imported

Microfund for Women (MFW) — Jordan's Largest Microfinance Institution for Women Entrepreneurs

Jordan · Amman · See the Jordan profile · See the Amman profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 45% 74/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Jordan's largest microfinance institution, Microfund for Women (MFW), has since 1994 extended 1.2 million loans worth USD 827 million across 60 branches — 92.7% of 100,900 active borrowers are women. A 92.2% repayment rate and EIB/Triodos backing confirm institutional sustainabil

1.2 million
Loans disbursed since founding (1994–ongoing)
827 USD million
Cumulative loan value disbursed (1994–ongoing)
100,900
Active borrowers
92.7 %
Share of active borrowers who are women
92.2 %
Repayment rate
60
Branches
73.7 %
Women among staff
72 %
Women among managers
70 %
Women among board members
33,456
Learning Academy training participants
270,930
Microinsurance (Afiyatuna) beneficiaries
8,726
Free medical day participants
82
Scholarships awarded to clients' daughters
Microfund for Women (MFW) — Jordan's Largest Microfinance Institution for Women Entrepreneurs

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Microfund for Women
Period
1994–ongoing
Keywords
microfinance, women entrepreneurship, financial inclusion

Context

Microfund for Women (MFW) is Jordan's largest non-profit microfinance institution, founded in 1994 in Amman to advance women's economic empowerment. It became the first microfinance institution to receive a Central Bank of Jordan licence, in 2018.

Activities

MFW operates 60 branches across Jordan, including rural and peripheral areas, providing microloans plus a 'Learning Academy' for business, digital and financial-literacy training, a microinsurance product (Afiyatuna), free medical days, and university scholarships for clients' daughters. It is backed by European Investment Bank funding and a Triodos Investment Management portfolio stake, and belongs to the Financial Alliance for Women.

Results

Since 1994, MFW has disbursed more than 1.2 million loans worth over USD 827 million, maintaining a 92.2% repayment rate. It serves 100,900 active borrowers, 92.7% of whom are women. Staff and governance are majority women (73.7% of employees, 72% of managers, 70% of board members). Ancillary programmes reported reach of 33,456 Learning Academy participants, 270,930 microinsurance beneficiaries, 8,726 free medical-day participants, and 82 scholarships to clients' daughters.

Conclusions

No independent evaluation (e.g. RCT) of the effect of MFW's loans on borrowers' income or empowerment has been published; the figures reflect MFW's own reporting and external funders' institutional due diligence.

Implementation

Implementation detail (cost, timeline, staffing, conditions for success) is not yet available for this practice.

Commonly funded by

Philanthropic / foundation funding

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Data sources

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