The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and CreditAccess Philippines Financing Company Inc. (OnePuhunan) have formed a partnership aimed at expanding access to finance for micro and small businesses in rural areas of the Philippines, with a focus on women-led enterprises.
Under the partnership, IFC will provide financing that will be used exclusively for microloans to women-owned or women-led microenterprises. The initiative is expected to support business growth, generate jobs, and strengthen livelihoods in underserved communities.
OnePuhunan, a microfinance institution with more than 300 branches across 16 regions and over 600,000 clients nationwide, plans to use the support to expand its branch network and continue digitalizing its services. The company aims to reach at least one million Filipinos by 2030 while improving products designed for women entrepreneurs and their households.
IFC officials said the collaboration will help increase financial access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which make up 99.6 percent of registered businesses in the Philippines and provide about two-thirds of the country’s jobs.
The transaction includes a three-year senior loan of up to $60 million, consisting of up to $20 million from IFC and up to $40 million mobilized from other lenders. The financing will be provided through IFC’s MSME Finance Platform, which was launched in 2024 to increase funding for small businesses in emerging markets.
The partnership highlights the role of microfinance in supporting rural economic growth, enabling women entrepreneurs to expand businesses, create employment, and improve economic resilience in their communities.
