In many countries, women are especially affected by poverty. They often bear the main share of the burden, but they only have limited decision-making powers. Although they represent about half of the population and are disproportionately burdened by work and poverty, they are generally excluded from political, economic, and social power structures. Women are often also disadvantaged in education. Many women have been and continue to be refused admission to schools.
Tied to the house, they are responsible for raising the children, cooking, and running the household for the entire family. In addition to these tasks, many women also seek work to pay for the education of their children, to secure food, and to put something aside for emergencies. Because of their lack of access to financial services, this is often very difficult, however. Money is power, and power too often remains in the hands of men. Women are often not even able to open an account or conclude a contract.

MFIs take account of the needs of women:

• Women are welcome as customers. Many MFIs even grant women better conditions than men, since women statistically have a higher repayment rate.
• The opening hours are often adapted to the needs of women.
• The procedures are kept simple and are also understandable and manageable for illiterate women and men.

Consequently, the results are positive:

• The share of women is very high for many MFIs.
• The economic power that women can develop by means of microfinance results in self-confidence. As an economic factor in the household budget, women are able to decide more.
• MFIs often play an important role in networking women with each other. Microfinance institutions serve as meeting points. At loan and information events, women also learn about the difficulties and successes of other women. The resulting networks play a supportive role in calling unfair role distributions into question.
• Women become more autonomous. They are no longer at the mercy of their husbands. In countries in which the number of single mothers is very high, this aspect cannot be overemphasized.
• Women receive better access to information. Often, women who were denied basic education are able to catch up on it later.