Guarantee funds for the creation, take-over or development of companies initiated by women (FGIF), France
WOMEN
The FGIF’s major objective is to facilitate access to bank loans of women entrepreneurs to finance business creation, take-over, or scaling-up.
French women are half as likely as men to be self-employed (7.3% vs. 14.1% in 2015) and create only one-third of new businesses in France. According to European Commission research, access to bank credit is one of the main factors explaining the gender gap in entrepreneurship (EC, “2013 SMEs’ Access to Finance survey: Analytical Report”). Further, the share of female-owned enterprises that did not apply for bank loans over the previous 6 months due to fear of rejection is nearly double the rate for men (9% vs. 5%). The scheme is intended to help women with economically viable business plans, but who have little credit history or funds, to apply for loans through banks or microfinance institutions.
The FGIF loan guarantee scheme is available to all women, regardless of professional status, who want to create or take-over a company, regardless of its legal form or sector business activity. The scheme is managed at a local level but the selection criteria are defined at the national level. All business proposals are appraised by business advisors and business professionals (e.g. lawyers, accountants), who decide whether the project will be covered. Loan guarantees are for loans of at least EUR 5 000 per company and for a period of 2 to 7 years. The guarantee rate is 70% for loans under EUR 38 000 and the guarantee is capped at EUR 27 000 for loans greater than or equal to EUR 38 000. Guarantees are put into place as soon as France Active Garantie receives the commission and contribution cheques, a copy of the loan contract and a copy of the amortisation table from the banking institution. These loan guarantees are funded through the Ministry of Labour with support from the ESF.
The Department on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the Ministry of Labour reports a regular increase in the number of women supported. The number of guarantees provided was 195 in 2004 and 745 in 2007.
This example was adapted from a longer case study that was published in the OECD/EU (2014), The Missing Entrepreneurs: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Europe, OECD Publishing. For additional information and details, please refer to the original publication.