EBRD backs green lending, youth and women’s entrepreneurship in Tajikistan

• EBRD providing up to US$ 16 million to Tajikistan’s Humo Bank
• New funds will support resource efficiency and climate adaptation technologies
• Financing will also promote youth- and women-led entrepreneurship

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the deployment of resource-efficient and climate adaptation technologies as well as the development of businesses owned or led by young people or women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan by providing a financing package of up to US$ 16 million (€14.2 million) to Humo Bank.

The package consists of the following components:

• A loan of up to US$ 10 million (€9 million) will be available under the Tajikistan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF Tajikistan II) and will encourage residential and commercial borrowers to invest in green and innovative solutions that promote the efficient use of water and the sustainable management of land. It will be co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and supported by donor funding from South Korea, Austria and the GCF.
• A loan of up to US$ 4 million (€3.5 million) under the EBRD’s Youth in Business programme for Central Asia, targeting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that are led or owned by individuals under the age of 35.
• A loan of up to US$ 2 million (€1.7 million) under the Central Asian Women in Business programme, which is supported by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than €1 billion in Tajikistan through 200 projects.