Publications

Abstract SMEs play a pivotal role in driving the green transition. Increasingly, the provision of sustainability-related data is required to access green finance and participate in global value chains. However, many SMEs face challenges in measuring and reporting on their sustainability performance, stemming from a lack of resources and expertise...

Highlights Women represent a distinct and profitable customer segment that is often underserved by traditional financial products and services. Financial institutions must identify, acknowledge, and address gender biases rooted in cultural norms, stereotypes, and institutional processes. A structured approach, including understanding gender...

Overview The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (“CIIP”), a non-profit entity established by Temasek Trust, embarked on this report to study the role of Southeast Asian MSMEs in global supply chains. Throughout the course of this study, CIIP engaged and sought the views of Khazanah Nasional Berhad as we have a shared interest in...

This report offers strategic and actionable guidance to policymakers in strengthening their access to finance policies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This report emphasizes the need to improve the enabling environment for SME debt and equity financing. It outlines a roadmap of eight key actions to guide policymakers in achieving this...

CARE’s new Strive Women report finds digital divide, financial stress and household responsibilities limit business success in emerging markets Atlanta, May 12, 2025 – Women entrepreneurs in emerging markets face considerable barriers that hinder their long-term success. While difficulties accessing small business credit and training are frequently...

Digitalization accelerated by the pandemic has exponentially increased the number and variability of alternative data sources. The stay-at-home requirements during the pandemic forced several business models to be digitized. This helped spur the digitization that had been ongoing pre-pandemic, largely driven by governments as countries sought to...

The OECD Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs Scoreboard: 2025 Highlights tracks financing trends, conditions and policy developments across nearly 50 countries. The paper provides official data on SME financing from 2007 to 2023, with additional insights for 2024 and early 2025, covering debt, equity, asset-based finance and overall financing...

Since 2020, #VietNam has experienced a surge in nonperforming loans (NPLs). Not only does the growing number of NPLs reduce the stability of the banking system, but each one represents a borrower excluded from credit markets. Many of the NPLs are consumer debts, meaning poorer households are particularly hard hit. IFC - International Finance...

MSMEs employ more than 80% of the workforce in #Ghana and account for over 70% of GDP. The majority of these enterprises are informal, consisting mainly of micro and sole enterprises operated by women and young entrepreneurs. While these small businesses play a critical role in economic growth and job creation, lack of information and collateral...

Highlights • Inclusive credit fintech has the potential to address the estimated US$4.9 trillion global credit gap for micro and small enterprises (MSEs). • However, access to diverse and suitable funding sources remains a critical challenge, especially for early-stage fintechs that are not yet profitable. • This focus note explores financing...