About Me - My Biography

New Zealand born Amanda Ellis founded the gender program at the International Finance Corporation, assisting IFC clients in developing countries, providing lines of credit for women-owned SMEs through commercial banks and practical initiatives to assist women entrepreneurs with business and management training, and to access markets.

Within two years gender inclusive projects at the IFC grew from only 2% to 23% of the advisory portfolio. Over $40m was committed to financing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania through the first ever SME credit lines for women in Africa.