Fostering Inclusive Growth: Exploring Gender Dynamics and Loan Sizes in Microfinance Institutions

Abstract

The financial landscape has witnessed a growing focus on the role of women in driving economic development and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The global pursuit of the SDGs, notably in gender equality and women's empowerment, has highlighted the importance of women's economic involvement. Recognizing the critical role that microfinance institutions (MFIs) play in encouraging inclusive economic growth and poverty alleviation, this study investigated how strategic gender dynamics within MFIs affect loan size. The study addresses a critical gap in understanding the gender dynamics within MFIs concerning women's presence at various echelon positions and their involvement, notably evaluating their impact on loan size. The study examines a meticulously curated dataset consisting of 1295 MFIs from 102 countries by analyzing selected gender dynamics such as women's echelon position, women's focus, gender diversity, target market and outreach. The study's findings, distilled into four configurational solutions, gave fascinating insights into the circumstances under which numerous factors interact to determine loan size in MFIs. Core conditions such as target market, women focus and female outreach were identified as critical drivers of loan size outcomes in various configurations. The implications of women's focus were particularly noteworthy, indicating that a concerted effort to prioritize women's engagement can significantly contribute to increased loan size in MFIs. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for establishing a more equitable and prosperous future through empowered women and effective microfinance practices on a global scale.