Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Financial Services and Credit Risk – Middle East and North Africa

The assignment supported the International Finance Corporation’s advisory work with commercial banks on micro, small, and medium enterprise finance, product development, and credit risk. Dr Bilal Ahmad served as Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Risk Specialist. The work included collaboration with International Finance Corporation bank advisory teams, analysis of the women’s banking market in Pakistan using a large customer database, review of agri-lending products for a major commercial bank, and primary research on value-chain finance opportunities. The assignment also assessed a major funding gap, identified industries for a value-chain finance pilot using an anchor model, and proposed measures to improve financial inclusion, product relevance, and credit risk management.