Bolivia's Productive Development Bank has launched Creciendo Juntas BDP, a new financing segment that expands the Mujer BDP program to support women engaged in trade and services linked to national production. The initiative is designed to widen access to credit for women entrepreneurs while supporting business growth and economic reactivation. A central feature is a group guarantee model under which groups of three to five women can obtain financing backed by mutual trust and collective commitment, alongside a streamlined application process intended to reduce barriers to credit access. In the first stage, collaborative groups can access loans of up to Bs80,000 for up to 12 months at a preferential fixed rate. Borrowers with a good repayment record who also take part in training can later refinance up to Bs150,000, extend maturities to 24 months and receive a 1 percentage point reduction in the interest rate. The segment also includes technical assistance covering digital tools, business management and activity-specific processes, with early actions including mentoring on business digitalization and the use of electronic payment methods such as QR codes. The product was developed with Development International Desjardins, through the FEMPRESA project in Bolivia, and backed by funding from Global Affairs Canada following research into BDP clients' needs. The bank said the program is intended to help close financing gaps, strengthen women's economic autonomy and support sustainable enterprises that generate employment.

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