A QUESTION OF ACCESS : A TRAINING MANUAL ON PLANNING CREDIT PROJECTS THAT TAKE WOMEN INTO ACCOUNT

This manual aims to provide a tool for learning about methods for designing and managing effective credit programs that reach women. The manual provides specific training techniques and materials for developing more gender-responsive approaches to identifying formulating implementing monitoring and evaluating credit projects for women. It is designed for project managers and organizations involved in credit schemes that target womens opportunities. The manual is a product of 20 years of UNIFEM experience with credit programs. The manual underwent considerable field testing and revisions. After the initial introduction to users and instructions for sample training programs and follow-up workshops the manual presents four modules. Module 1 (Gender Credit and the Project Cycle) illustrates how gender can be integrated into each phase of credit project development and how participants can discuss the integration of gender issues into programs. Module 2 (Gender Issues in Identifying Credit Projects) provides options that must be considered in planning credit projects. Module 3 (Gender Issues in Formulating Credit Projects) addresses specific issues such as gender objectives the participant profile market access credit mechanisms institutional partners loan qualifications savings operating procedures assessment of feasibility and plans for sustainability. Module 4 (Gender Issues in Project Implementation Monitoring and Transition) focuses on the design of training programs the development of action plans and other management issues. Each module includes a series of handouts that are relevant to the module topic and organized into sessions. Each session has a stated objective time period materials list preparation advice and step-by-step guide for teaching participants.