This project is still under review by the EWS. Project information and/or project analysis may be incomplete.
Bank CenterCredit Women in Business (WIB) Loan (EBRD-47556)

Countries
  • Kazakhstan
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
Approved
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
FI
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
Jul 8, 2015
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.
Investment Amount (USD)
Not Disclosed
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

Disclosed by Bank Jun 8, 2015


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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.
TRANSLATED VERSION OF THIS PSD:RUSSIAN Russian PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES The EBRD is considering a 5 year senior loan to Bank CenterCredit in the amount of KZT 3.72 billion (ca. USD 20 million). The financing will be used for on-lending to eligible women-led micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kazakhstan. The aim of the loan is to promote women's entrepreneurship and access to finance, and more broadly women's participation in business, through the development of a strong WiB SME sector in Kazakhstan, by facilitating access to finance and advice for women-led SMEs. The loan will be complemented by the development of sustainable credit mechanisms targeted at women-led SMEs through technical assistance to CenterCredit; and technical support for women-led SMEs in accessing know-how, non-financial business development services and networking opportunities. TRANSITION IMPACT The project has important transition impact potential, specifically in relation to addressing the gender related inclusion gap for access to finance in Kazakhstan. The project will improve access to long-term funding in local currency for women-led MSMEs in the country. A special focus will be given to the distribution of funds in the regions outside Astana and Almaty, the administrative and financial capitals of Kazakhstan. It is also important to note that this would be the first project targeting women-led SMEs in Kazakhstan that encompasses both the credit-supply side (ie., credit, TC and First Loss Risk Cover [FLRC]) and the demand side (SBS' advisory services to the targeted women SMEs) in an integrated approach. THE CLIENT Bank CenterCredit is a midsized bank with total assets of USD 6.1 billion and capital of USD 493 million as of 1 March 2015. The bank operates a well-developed network of branches and has good capacity to serve MSMEs across the country, including in remote regions of the country. EBRD FINANCE A senior loan of KZT 3.72 billion. TOTAL PROJECT COST KZT 3.72 billion. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CATEGORISATION, IMPACT, AND MITIGATION Categorised FI. The project is not associated with significant environmental and social issues. BankCenter Credit (BCC) is required to comply with EBRD's PRs 2 and 9 as well as implementing the EBRD's Environmental and Social Procedures for Small and Micro Loans which includes compliance with the EBRD E&S Exclusion List; ensuring compliance of the sub-borrowers with national standards and regulations for environment, health and safety, social and labour. BCC will also submit Annual Environmental and Social Reports to the Bank. TECHNICAL COOPERATION The Government of Kazakhstan has granted USD 4.1 million for Technical Assistance to the EBRD Women in Business operations in Kazakhstan. This includes USD 1.5 million of TC for capacity building of participating financial institutions, including Bank CenterCredit and USD 2.6 million for direct support to women-led enterprises via EBRD Small Business Support Team. COMPANY CONTACT Mr Timur GabasovDirector of Treasury DepartmentTel: +7 (727) 2 598-549Fax: +7 (727) 2 598-622E-mail:timur.gabasov@bcc.kz
Investment Description
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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.
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, 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.

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