FSD Africa Impact Ground-breaking Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania

The Jasiri Gender Bond, launched in February 2022, provides low-interest financing to empower women entrepreneurs in Tanzania, particularly in sectors like agriculture, retail, and male-dominated industries such as energy and mining. The bond mobilised USD 32 million and is listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange. A specific case study of Mkajungu Hardware demonstrates how the bond's 14% interest rate—significantly lower than market rates of up to 25%—enabled the business to expand its inventory and plan new branches in Kagera and neighbouring countries.

• The Jasiri Gender Bond supports women's business growth across various sectors, including retail, education, and the agricultural sector, where women make up more than 65% of the workforce. It also facilitates women's entry into male-dominated fields such as energy, mining, and spare parts.
• Launched in February 2022, the Jasiri Gender Bond mobilised USD 32 million and achieved an oversubscription of 197%. It is the first Sub-Saharan Bond to be listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange and offers an annual return of 8.5%.
• The bond's investor base is predominantly Tanzanian (69%) and institutional (99%), with female investors accounting for 52% and foreign investors for 31%.
• For entrepreneurs like Naima Abdunur Athmani of Mkajungu Hardware, the Jasiri loans provided a low interest rate of 14% and required no upfront deposit, contrasting with market lending rates that can reach 25%. This financing enabled the business to reduce costs, increase stock, and plan expansions into Kagera and other countries.

APA

FSD Africa (2023). FSD Africa Impact Ground-breaking Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FSD-Africa-Jasiri-Gender-Bond-Mkajungu-Hardware-23.02.24.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. FSD Africa Impact Ground-breaking Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania. 2023. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FSD-Africa-Jasiri-Gender-Bond-Mkajungu-Hardware-23.02.24.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=FSD Africa Impact Ground-breaking Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania |date=March 2023 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FSD-Africa-Jasiri-Gender-Bond-Mkajungu-Hardware-23.02.24.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafrica2023fsd, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{FSD Africa Impact Ground-breaking Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FSD-Africa-Jasiri-Gender-Bond-Mkajungu-Hardware-23.02.24.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }