Banner

Text image

What is the SME Access to Finance Initiative?

The SME Access to Finance Initiative is a joint programme launched by the European Investment Bank and the European Union that aims to enhance access to finance for small and medium businesses (SMEs), as well as financial inclusion of underserved segments, such as start-ups or youth- and women-led businesses.

The Initiative contributes to strengthening the local private sector, enhancing economic resilience and sustaining employment in the European Union’s southern and eastern neighbourhood as well as Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is supported by the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) under the EU’s External Investment Plan.

Banner

Text image

What instruments are available?

The SME Access to Finance Initiative makes available the following package of instruments:

Accordion

Static

Long-term funding

Loans for SMEs through selected financial intermediaries in target regions.

Partial portfolio guarantees

Credit risk protection on a portfolio basis for loans and other debt instruments, granted by financial intermediaries to SMEs, as well as start-ups, women- and youth-led businesses.

Two types of guarantees are offered:

Standard guarantees covering up to 50% of the first loss incurred by financial intermediaries upon default of SMEs on their loans.
Enhanced guarantees providing coverage of up to 80% of loans issued to (i) Covid-19 affected SMEs; (ii) SMEs located in specific geographical areas; or (iii) those dedicated to start-ups, women- or youth-led businesses.

In both cases, the maximum loss amount is capped at up to 20% on a portfolio basis.

Custom

Who are the target beneficiaries?

The SME Access to Finance Initiative aims to enhance access to finance for businesses and individuals:

SMEs: businesses with less than 250 full-time employees

COVID-19 affected SMEs

SMEs in specific geographical areas

Start-ups: businesses with less than 50 full-time employees and operating for less than 36 months

SMEs at least 50% owned by women or young people aged less than 35 years

Individual female entrepreneurs

Individual young entrepreneurs aged less than 35 years

Other EIB criteria may also apply.
Custom

What countries are eligible under the Initiative?

EU southern neighbourhood countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya*, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine**, Syria* and Tunisia.

EU eastern neighbourhood countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Sub-Saharan Africa

() The EIB will start operating in Libya when a Framework Agreement is signed, but negotiations with the country are on hold. Following EU sanctions against Syria in November 2011, the EIB suspended all loan and advisory activity in the country.
(**) This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the positions of EU countries on this issue.*
Banner
-
Text image
How to get support as a financial institution

If you represent a bank or a financial intermediary, please contact the EIB to participate in the SME Access to Finance Initiative.
Contact us
Banner
-
Text image
EIB Global
For more than 50 years, the EIB has been the European Union’s international development bank. Our key investments across the world help create stability, promote sustainable growth and fight climate change everywhere.
Find out more
Banner
-
Text image
Stay up to date
Accordion
-
Static
Publications

SME Access to Finance Initiative

More publications

Title

Sub title

Banner title

Id photos without linguistic version

Banner Intro Text

Meta Title

Meta Description

Meta keyword

What is the SME Access to Finance Initiative?

What instruments are available?

Long-term funding

Partial portfolio guarantees

Who are the target beneficiaries?

What countries are eligible under the Initiative?

How to get support as a financial institution

EIB Global

Stay up to date

Publications