Our Work

The program has a two-pronged approach to stimulating access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), working with both lenders and borrowers to build successful and profitable loan relationships that grow the economy and create jobs.

• IESC trains banks and financial institutions on best practices and strategies to reduce risk and costs associated with lending in these sectors. We partner with banks that participate in USAID’s Development Credit Authority loan guarantee program to maximize the benefit of this initiative that puts more capital in the hands of global entrepreneurs.
• IESC trains and mentors prospective borrowers on business and financial planning, records management, the loan application process, and other skills that will make them loan-ready.

Investing for Business Expansion continued operations, with some small modifications to ensure safety, during the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak. IESC worked with lenders and borrowers to restructure existing loans to businesses that were adversely affected by the health crisis.