Why this expertise matters today

Women-led entrepreneurship and gender-sensitive economic analysis have become essential components of inclusive development strategies worldwide. Women entrepreneurs often face disproportionate barriers—limited access to finance, market constraints, social norms, and unequal access to resources and networks. Addressing these gaps is crucial not only for equity and empowerment but also for unlocking substantial economic potential. Gender-responsive policies and programs enable more diverse economic participation, strengthen SME ecosystems, improve household resilience, and contribute directly to national development goals and global commitments such as the SDGs.

Why our firm values this expertise

Alpha Plus Consulting has long recognized the importance of integrating gender perspectives into private sector development work. Our team has conducted evaluations of microfinance programs serving women borrowers, analyzed gender dimensions in enterprise and SME assessments, and contributed to studies focusing on women’s entrepreneurship opportunities. Through these engagements, we have developed a nuanced understanding of gender-specific constraints and the role of targeted support mechanisms. This experience enables us to provide evidence-based recommendations that enhance women’s economic empowerment and improve the inclusiveness of development interventions.

Selected projects

Our firm's expertise is based on many-year experience. Specifically, this particular expertise has been applied and successfully in the following selected projects

Evaluation of the Microfinance Program – ECLOF India / ECLOF International
Assessed organizational systems, credit methodologies, and borrower behavior with explicit focus on women borrowers and gender outcomes.

Evaluation of the AREGAK Microfinance Project (Final) – UMCOR Armenia
Reviewed women-focused microfinance activities, assessing borrower outcomes and program effectiveness.

Analysis of Commercial Lending Issues & SME Financial Services Survey – Own Research (USAID/MEDI)
Included gender-disaggregated analysis of SME financial service usage and constraints affecting women-led businesses.

Assessment of Demand for Credit and BDS – USAID/MEDI (Chemonics)
Surveyed 760 micro and small enterprises, including gender-specific patterns in BDS and credit demand.

Rural-Based Women’s Entrepreneurship and Involvement in Public Administration – OXFAM Armenia
Conducted 350-women survey, focus groups, and NGO stakeholder interviews; produced recommendations for PRSP integration