In Kyrgyzstan, the application process has started for the fifth anniversary season of the mentorship program "Women in Business," implemented with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in collaboration with FINCA Bank. This large-scale project aims to support women's entrepreneurship and enhance the role of women leaders in the country's economy.
The new season of the program has its own features: it is intended for clients of FINCA Bank who manage their own businesses, as well as for women entrepreneurs with at least two years of experience in small and medium-sized enterprises. Over the course of seven months, participants will be able to gain knowledge and experience from mentors who will voluntarily provide their assistance in business development. The program includes a variety of activities, such as training sessions, cross-mentoring sessions, business breakfasts, and excursions to leading manufacturing enterprises in the country.
Since its inception, this initiative has proven to be effective: thanks to the program, more than 320 new jobs have been created. Following the previous season, 66% of participants were able to increase their profits, and 60% expanded their companies into new markets. The application process for future participants (mentees) and mentors will continue until March 2, 2026. Participation in the program is completely free thanks to funding from international donors, including the government of Switzerland and the We-Fi fund.
