11/10/2026
ACCELERATE Bangsamoro Advances Enhancements to Shari’ah-Compliant Women Empowerment Facility
The ACCELERATE Bangsamoro Project supported a two-day enhancement workshop on October 9–10, 2026, to strengthen the Shari’ah-Compliant Women Empowerment Facility (WEF) and its support for women entrepreneurs.
Supported by the Australian Government in partnership with The Asia Foundation, the workshop brought together area coordinators and women enterprise partners of the League of Moro Women Organization, Inc., ACCELERATE’s implementing partner for WEF. M&T Consultants, Islamic Co. facilitated the sessions, guiding participants through a review of implementation experiences and proposed improvements for the next cycle.
The workshop assessed lessons from WEF Cycle 1, covering October 2025 to September 2026. Reflections from area coordinators and partners, alongside findings from field visits, helped identify ways to make the facility more accessible and responsive to women’s business needs.
Participants reviewed the financing process from application to repayment, including eligibility, needs assessment, proposal preparation, registration, acquisition and delivery of goods, and repayment monitoring. Discussions also addressed simpler documentation, clearer responsibilities, and support arrangements for partners experiencing payment difficulties.
A central focus was refining the existing Murabahah product and exploring three additional offerings: Ijara for equipment rental, Salam for advance payment against future delivery of goods, and Istisna for products manufactured according to agreed specifications. These proposed additions would accommodate a wider range of business activities and financing needs.
Through group exercises facilitated by M&T, participants examined current practices and proposed arrangements for each product. They considered financing amounts, payment and delivery schedules, documentation, partner support, and safeguards throughout the transaction.
The workshop also explored WEF’s longer-term direction, including governance, institutional readiness, operational capacity, and sustainability. Its outputs will inform LMWOI’s leadership decisions and preparations for the next implementation cycle.
Guided by the message“Prosperity with Integrity in Shari’ah Way,” the activity emphasized accessible financing, clear agreements, and responsive support to strengthen women’s enterprises.
