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Terms of Reference (ToR) For Hiring Consulting firm for Development of web portal, Enabling Platform for the Women Entrepreneurs of Bangladesh to Access Credit from Banks and FIs Background SME sector of Bangladesh contribute estimated 25 per cent of the national GDP. This sector creates employment for an estimated 7.8 million people directly and provides livelihood for 31.2 million people (Asia Foundation-2021). In Bangladesh 7.2 percent of business is owned by women and 99 percent is under SME sector (MICROENTREPRENEURS ASIA). However, growth of the women led SME has been hindered by various factors; especially difficulty of getting credit facilities, although the loan repayment behavior of businesswomen is impressively higher and loan defaulter is only between 1% and 2% in most financial institutions (The Business Standard). A survey conducted by ASIA Foundation found that Women entrepreneurs faces difficulties like getting loan as a start-up capital, lack of formal support such as sympathetic public policies, access to financial institutions, and professional training programs (Asia Foundation-2021). Bangladesh government has been giving priority to support women led SMEs with setting national policy to disburse 15 percent of loan disbursement by financial institutions by 2026, graduation year of Bangladesh as a developing country. The central Bank of Bangladesh has introduced Small and Medium Refinancing Scheme to provide credit loan to women entrepreneur’s maximum 5 percent interest rate. It also has directed all Banks and Non-Bank financial to open a separate women entrepreneurs helpdesk. Deadline: Local time in Dhaka 4:00 pm on February 12th, 2023 |