HHWO under the “Strengthening Badakhshan Women Business Resilience” project launched its Access to Finance activities i.e., comprehensive access to finance need assessment, a three-day financial literacy/management training, one to one loan application preparation, and finally convening a two-day conference to link the women businesses’ representatives with the loan institutions on March 12-13, 2025 to further develop and expand their businesses.

In the first day of the conference representatives of Loan Institutions i.e., FMFB, OXUS, and MUTAHID provided insights on loans terms and conditions, loan application process, and loan return procedures. On the second day, after reviewing the loan criteria, the women entrepreneurs chose loan Institutions that offered easy conditions, simple procedures and return convenient conditions. As a result, 17 women entrepreneurs expressed their interest in applying for loans from OXUS and FMFB. The program concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO), the participating Loan Institutions, and the women entrepreneurs.

This formal agreement marks a significant step in supporting the growth of women-led businesses in Badakhshan. HHWO played a key role in organizing the event and facilitating the partnerships between the entrepreneurs and the banks, ensuring that women had access to critical financial resources.

Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO) remains a key pillar in this mission, continuously working to enhance the financial and social opportunities for women in the region.