Source: Zambia Daily Mail                                                                                                                                                                                                        Minister of Gender and Child Development Inonge Wina has called on Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Michael Gondwe to impress upon financial institutions to make loans accessible to women for economic empowerment.

And International Labour Organisation (ILO) regional director for Africa Aeneas Chuma is concerned that lack of collateral is still the biggest reason why financial institutions do not lend to women entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the first ever National Women Economic Empowerment Summit Jubilee Expo in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Wina said financial institutions should create an enabling environment and formulate policies that will make loans accessible to women entrepreneurs.
The jubilee expo, which has attracted over 400 participants from across the country, is being held under the theme: Women as change agents for national development and prosperity.
"Empowering women with finances makes them assertive and brings about value addition to every trade they operate in," Ms Wina said.
She also directed Lusaka City Council (LCC) to provide trading space to businesswomen.
"Currently, we are working with the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to ensure that women acquire land, especially those in the rural areas," Ms Wina said.
And Mr Chuma is confident that increasing women farmers' productivity can substantially raise food production and reduce food insecurity.
"This is the main reason why ILO and other partners have mounted the cassava value chain exhibition here today.
"We are showing how a simple plant grown in most parts of Zambia can contribute to the economic empowerment of women through value chain addition," he said.
And Dr Gondwe pledged to implement a number of activities to accelerate the realisation of women's full economic potential by increasing opportunities to access critical financial investment.
Dr Gondwe said the central bank and key line ministries will reach out to decision-makers in the financial sector to open up opportunities for women which are critical to inclusive development.
Meanwhile, UN resident coordinator in Zambia Janet Rogan challenged Government to conduct a survey on the difference that grants have made in the lives of women entrepreneurs.
"For a very long time now, women have been given hand-outs in form of small grants but the question is how much difference have the small grants programmes made overall," she said.

• Zambia