News
Newsletter Release: Sustainable Finance Opportunities in Georgia
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On 20 July, we released our latest quarterly newsletter that shines a spotlight on Georgia’s sustainable finance opportunities.
This May, Georgia hosted the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Annual Meeting for the first time. The meeting, under the theme “Bridge to the Future,” focused on key development issues facing Asia and the Pacific, including climate change and sustainability. Many sectors in the country that are vulnerable to climate risks also present opportunities for green investment, such as climate smart agriculture.
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Knowledge Event Exclusive for gWFX Members
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On 13 July, we held the first of a three-part knowledge series exclusively for our members. The materials will be shared soon from the first session led by our sustainable finance expert, Carola Menzel.
Watch out for the next two sessions which will feature ​Gender Finance​ and Digital Technology.
CAREC Women’s Empowerment Online Platform
On 8 April, the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program launched the CAREC Women’s Empowerment Online Platform (WEOP). WEOP  is a new digital space that aims to empower women in CAREC member countries (Azerbaijan, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) by providing capacity development resources, opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
WEOP content is available in three languages: English, Russian and Chinese.
Fiji WE Finance Code Workshop for Financial Institutions 
On 26 March, we held a workshop on the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (“WE Finance Code” or simply “the Code”) for banks and credit institutions in Suva, Fiji, following the official launch of the Code on 23 March. The workshop was attended by financial institutions, who learned more about the Code and its capacity building program for financial institutions. The workshop elaborated on the business case for sex-disaggregated data. Participants learned about leading practices and use cases on how to collect, analyze and use data for tailored solutions for women.
gWFX Gender Finance Expert Receives ADB Shireen Lateef Gender Equality Award for Gender Bond Brief
Joanna Romero, gWFX Lead Gender Finance Expert, was awarded the Shireen Lateef Gender Equality Award, together with Gisela Garzon de la Roza, for Best Gender Knowledge Product for the ADB Brief on Gender Bonds in Asia and the Pacific – Gender Bonds: From Incidental to Center Stage. The brief was recognized for promoting the importance of gender bonds as the next frontier in sustainable finance to create long-term impact on women’s economic empowerment and the broader gender equality objectives. The Shireen Lateef Gender Equality Operations Awards are given annually to teams and individuals at ADB who have contributed significantly to advancing ADB’s gender equality work.
Fintech Innovation Challenge: Leveraging AI for MSMEs in Thailand
Want to make a difference in the Thai business landscape? Join the Fintech Innovation Challenge by the Women’s Finance Exchange, an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and share your hashtag#AI-powered toolbox solutions! Empower hashtag#MSMEs to thrive and grow with innovative technology.
Seeking AI solutions to streamline:
· Financial management [Must Have]
· CRM enhancement [Good to Have]
· Credit scoring [Good to Have]
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Why Join:
Selected solutions stand to receive up to US$75,000 in seed funding and gain exposure in ADB's technology solutions marketplace. Seize this opportunity to showcase your innovation and make a lasting impact on Thailand's MSME sector.
How to Apply:
Don't miss out on this chance to be a catalyst for change. Apply now at https://gG4NH9hp before April 15th.
Let's unlock the full potential of AI to drive economic empowerment and foster a culture of innovation in Thailand. Together, we can shape a brighter future for businesses and communities alike.
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Digital Financial Inclusion for Women Entrepreneurs in Nepal
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Share your tech solution to help women entrepreneurs in Nepal access the finance they need to thrive.
Women in Nepal struggle to access finance to help them build their businesses and secure their livelihoods because they often lack the required paperwork and collateral.
The Women’s Finance Exchange, an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is collaborating with a financial institution in Nepal to seek out innovative and creative technology solutions through the Technology Innovation Challenge: Digital Financial Inclusion for Women’s Businesses in Nepal.
What we are looking for:
- We are seeking out technology solutions or applications that can help financial institutions analyze alternative data points and provide alternative credit scoring models.
- Access to real-time data insights can expand lending to women entrepreneurs in Nepal, making a big difference in their lives.
Join our challenge and provide your solution to make a real impact for women-led businesses in Nepal!
Enter the Technology Innovation Challenge for Nepal here: https://lnkd.in/gqi2S8ju
Apply by 31 January
The winning technology solution provider will win USD 50,000 in seed funding towards evolving the solution to the bank’s needs. The finalists and other participating solutions will be part of ADB’s technology solutions portfolio.