Early Warning System

Regions

Europe and Central Asia

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Countries

Kosovo

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.

Project Status

Completed

Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.

Bank Risk Rating

Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."

Voting Date

Dec 14, 2021

Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.

Sectors

Finance

The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.

Investment Amount (USD)

$ 1.13 million

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Currency conversion note:
Bank reported 1
Converted using 2021-12-14 exchange rate.

Project Cost (USD)

$ 1.13 million

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.

Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EBRD website

Updated in EWS Jul 17, 2023

Disclosed by Bank Dec 10, 2021

Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
Contact the EWS Team

Project Description

If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the disclosure, the project is intended to provide a senior unsecured loan of up to EUR1 million to KEP Trust (KEP) in one single tranche under the Western Balkans Women in Business Programme Phase II (WB WiBP II).

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The proceeds of the Bank's investment will be used for sub-lending to eligible women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in accordance with the Policy Statement.

TRANSITION IMPACT

ETI score: 68

The project contributes to the objectives of the WB WiBP II, supporting the Transition Impact qualities of Inclusive and Competitive:

Inclusive

Competitive

CLIENT INFORMATION

KEP TRUST

KEP is the largest microfinance institution in Kosovo, established as a non-governmental organisation. KEP was founded in August 1999 by the Swiss humanitarian organisation International Catholic Migration Commission and by the Prizren Business Club. KEP services around 23 thousand customers throughout the country with its 31 branches and 244 employees.

ADDITIONALITY

Additionality is achieved by combining the necessary long-term financing, in the form of a senior loan, through a holistic approach which includes non-TC grants to incentivise KEP to further explore the underdeveloped women in business segment in the form of First Loss Risk Cover (FLRC) and TC grants to support partner financial institutions and women-led MSMEs.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUMMARY

Categorised FI (2019 ESP). KEP is an existing client of the Bank and has been satisfactorily reporting on the implementation of the EBRD's E&S Risk Management Procedures and on its compliance with PRs 2, 4 and 9. KEP will be required to continue to comply with the PRs and the E&S Risk Management procedures for Corporate Loans, SME and Micro Loans, including adherence to the expanded the EBRD E&S Exclusion List and Referral List introduced with ESP 2019 and submit Annual Environmental and Social Reports to the EBRD on E&S matters and on the implementation of the Performance Requirements.

TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND GRANT FINANCING

TC:Up to EUR2 million at the Programme level for beneficiaries under WB WiBP II, focusing on baseline assessment, capacity building, product development, marketing and outreach support. TC funds are provided by the Governments of Sweden and Luxembourg.

TC:

Advice for Small Business TC:Up to EUR3.5 million at the Programme level to support women-led MSMEs (including advisory services, training, mentoring and network opportunities). Existing and potential sub-borrowers will be referred to the EBRD's Advice for Small Business (ASB).

Investment Description

Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Contact Information

This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

Shpend Nura
shnura@keponline.net
+383 38 245 011
https://keptrust.org/

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can request information by emailing: accessinfo@ebrd.com or by using this electronic form: https://www.ebrd.com/eform/information-request

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EBRD

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the PCM, it may assess compliance with EBRD's own policies and procedures to prevent harm to the environment or communities or it may assist you in resolving the problem that led to the complaint through a dialogue with those implementing the project. Additionally, the PCM has the authority to recommend a project be suspended in the event that harm is imminent.

You can contact the PCM at: pcm@ebrd.com or you can submit a complaint online using an online form at: http://www.ebrd.com/eform/pcm/complaint_form?language=en

You can learn more about the PCM and how to file a complaint at: http://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/project-finance/project-complaint-mechanism.html