Access to Business Financing

Overview

Near East Foundation aims to create and expand sustainable and responsible financing methods that advance the creation, growth and sustainability of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises owned by local entrepreneurs, agricultural producers and processors in conflict, climate and displacement-affected contexts.  

Lack of credit continues to negatively impact vulnerable entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers. NEF offers loans, microloans, and tailored business support that increases financial literacy and strengthens market systems. The loans are designed to be rapidly tailored and deployed, easily accessible, regularly updated, and embedded in the community. 

The program is deployed largely through NEF’s Siraj centers or through partner organizations (e.g., cooperatives or community associations) with dedicated teams. To support the implementation and monitoring of the program in complex settings, a custom cloud-based Loan Information Management System was created to support the management and monitoring of financial services.  

NEF works with each community to devise a vulnerability-informed selection of beneficiaries, often prioritizing women, youth, persons with disabilities, female-headed households and households without earners. The program supports business growth, job creation, improved income, poverty graduation, and local economic recovery while reducing dependency on grant-based livelihood programs.