The International Labour Organization’s Promise II Impact project has been working with rural banks across Indonesia to strengthen support for women-owned micro and small enterprises, which play a vital role in the country’s economy. As part of this effort, a two-day workshop on gender-responsive business development was held in Surabaya in early February 2026. The event brought together representatives from 13 rural banks across five provinces, along with participants from financial associations, a university, and the national financial services authority to explore ways of improving access to appropriate and affordable financial services for women entrepreneurs.
During the workshop, participants were introduced to the ILO’s WE-Check Tool, a self-assessment instrument designed to help financial institutions evaluate their policies, services, and systems from a gender perspective. The tool supports institutions in identifying practical actions to better serve women entrepreneurs by examining leadership commitment, workplace practices, product design, outreach strategies, and data management systems.
ILO representatives shared global results showing that financial institutions applying the WE-Check approach have significantly expanded outreach to women clients and increased the share of women in their lending portfolios. The tool has already been used by more than 150 organizations across 21 countries, reaching over half a million women entrepreneurs and demonstrating the business and development benefits of gender-responsive financial services.
Officials from Indonesia’s financial regulatory authority highlighted the importance of expanding access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises, noting that women account for nearly half of the country’s more than 30 million entrepreneurs. They also referred to a recent regulation aimed at making financing for MSMEs easier, faster, and more inclusive while maintaining strong governance and risk management.
Representatives from the ILO and partner organizations emphasized that rural banks often serve as the closest formal financial institutions for women entrepreneurs in rural and peri-urban areas. Strengthening these institutions to adopt gender-responsive practices can help expand outreach, improve portfolio performance, and support sustainable business growth. Examples from partner organizations also showed that targeted financing initiatives for women entrepreneurs can produce strong lending performance and broader economic benefits.
The workshop concluded with participating rural banks developing priority action plans that outline objectives, target groups, responsible units, and timelines for implementing gender-responsive approaches. Several banks also expressed interest in piloting the WE-Check Tool with ILO support, reflecting a growing commitment to strengthening inclusive financial services and expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Indonesia.
