ProCredit Bank Kosovo has officially joined the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code), reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and improved access to finance for women owned and women led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kosovo.
By becoming a signatory to the WE Finance Code, ProCredit Bank Kosovo joins a national and international coalition led by the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK), aimed at closing the gender finance gap through stronger leadership, better data and targeted financial solutions for women entrepreneurs.
Strong Leadership for Gender Equality
As part of its leadership commitments, ProCredit Bank Kosovo has appointed a dedicated WE Finance Code Champion who will represent the Bank in national coalition meetings, coordinate the internal implementation of the Code and lead advocacy efforts on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI).
The Bank will also allocate dedicated operational resources to implement WE Finance Code initiatives and appoint WMSME ambassadors in each regional branch to serve as focal points for women entrepreneurs, offering tailored guidance and support.
ProCredit Bank Kosovo will further strengthen gender equality within its organization by embedding inclusive practices in recruitment, pay equity policies, work life balance measures and staff training on unconscious bias. Business client advisors will receive dedicated training on gender bias and credit guarantee fund opportunities. These efforts are aligned with internationally recognized standards such as EDGE and MAMFORCE, as well as the Bank’s ongoing cooperation with UNFPA through the “More Choices” program.
Data Driven Action
A core pillar of the WE Finance Code is improved data. ProCredit Bank Kosovo will enhance its systems to produce sex disaggregated data on deposits, loans and portfolio performance, and regularly report WMSME indicators to the Central Bank of Kosovo.
The Bank will apply the nationally agreed definition of women owned/women led MSMEs across its client database, track reasons for loan application rejections by gender, and analyze women owned business portfolios separately. Aggregated WMSME data will be published through the Bank’s annual reporting and online disclosures, strengthening transparency and accountability.
Expanding Financial Solutions for Women Entrepreneurs
Building on insights from data analysis, ProCredit Bank Kosovo will adapt existing products and introduce new financial solutions tailored to women entrepreneurs. Planned measures include more flexible collateral requirements, targeted campaigns and broader use of financial products such as loans, guarantees, cards and accounts.
In addition, the Bank will deliver training programs for women entrepreneurs covering financial literacy, strategic planning, export promotion or negotiation skills. ProCredit Bank Kosovo will also support networking events, participate in trade fairs and collaborate with government SME programs to advocate for supportive policies and subsidies for women led businesses.
Creating Lasting Impact
Through the WE Finance Code, ProCredit Bank Kosovo aims to increase the number of women led MSME clients and expand the total value of financing provided to them, contributing to more inclusive economic growth in Kosovo.
ProCredit Bank Kosovo looks forward to working closely with the Central Bank of Kosovo, partner organizations and the wider coalition to deliver meaningful and measurable impact for women entrepreneurs across the country.
