Expert Dialogue Session on Financing Women’s Agribusiness

On 17 December 2025, the Empower AgriWomen project, implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, held a nationwide expert dialogue session titled “FAF – Financing. Agri Sector. Female’s Entrepreneurship.”

The event brought together representatives of public authorities, financial institutions, international organizations, academia, and women entrepreneurs to explore practical solutions for improving access to finance for women in the agricultural sector. 

• Discussions focused on grant and credit instruments, government support programs, banking products, digital financial solutions, and psychological and institutional barriers affecting women’s access to funding.

In his opening remarks, Poshan Bahadur KC, Director of Swisscontact in Ukraine, highlighted women’s entrepreneurship as a key driver of resilience in today’s agrifood sector. Vitalii Radko, Senior Technical Advisor at Swisscontact and Head of the Empower AgriWomen project, emphasized the importance of combining finance with education and advisory support, noting that the challenge today lies not in the lack of information but in its effective practical use.

1. The first panel examined public programs, banking tools, international practices, fintech solutions, and psychological barriers, with contributions from the Ministry of Economy, PrivatBank, the UN Global Compact in Ukraine, Activitis, the Employment Service, and the National Council of Psychologists of Ukraine.
2. The second panel focused on real-life experiences of women agripreneurs, who shared cases of attracting finance, modernizing production, recovering after crises, and developing niche agribusinesses.

The session confirmed the relevance of a holistic approach to supporting women’s agribusiness—one that integrates financial instruments, education, psychological support, and strong partnerships. Empower AgriWomen will continue advancing initiatives that expand women’s access to finance, strengthen financial literacy, and enhance the resilience of agribusinesses and local communities.