Strengthening Financial System Ukraine and Central Asia
The ECA Strenghthening financial system programme supports the recovery of the financial system from the ECA region to overcome the financial crisis by addressing exsiting bottlenecks within financial institutions in risk management and by supporting SME lending growth. The Programme is implemented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Azerbaijan Ukraine |
Private sector and entrepreneurship |
14.11.2013
- |
CHF 4'446'297
|
- International Finance Corporation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Formal sector financial intermediaries
Cross-cutting topics The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
Project number UR00846
| Background |
The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 and subsequently the sovereign debt crisis in Europe in 2011 has put the cross-border banking model, prevalent in many Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries, to test. Credit growth remains slow as a result of supply and demand factors. This has had a particularly negative effect on SMEs which constitute the majority of business in the region and which are particularly vulnerable to the weaknesses in the credit environment. By improving risk management practices and successful work outs of NPLs the project helps to preserve capital in banks and supports new lending to SMEs. |
| Objectives |
The overall goal of the regional program is twofold: (1) Support for Recovery: Support the financial sector in emerging from the ongoing financial crisis, by improving the risk management capacity of the financial sector, thereby creating a stable foundation- and (2) Support for Growth: Support banks in resuming lending to the SME sector in a secure and sustainable manner to underpin growth of the economy. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Increase awareness of best practice SME, risk and NPL management. Improve capacity of financial institutions to implement best practices in risk and NPL management. Improve the capacity of banks to develop their SME banking operations. |
| Results |
Expected results: Market awareness and trainings are conducted. In-depth advisory services are provided to financial institutions on risk management and NPL. In-depth advisory services are provided on SME banking. Results from previous phases: The program helped to improve risk management and non-performing units in three client Banks in Azerbaijan and in six client banks in Ukraine. The project supported the development of the first internationally recognised risk certification in partnership with the Global Association of Risk Management (GARP) and trained 770 bankers in Ukraine. The project supported developing specific tools to manage risk in financial institutions in Azerbaijan and Ukraine. All the three Azeri bank clients reported improvements in governance and organizational structure, credit, market and operational risk management. The project supported the development of alternative disposition vehicles and thereby increased the market from USD 4.1 milllion in 2008 to USD 60 million in 2011 removing a substantial amount of bad assets from balance sheets. Improved risk and NPL management freed up potential capital in the amount of USD 282 million. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SECO |
| Credit area |
Development cooperation |
| Project partners |
Contract partner |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 4'446'297 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 4'680'313 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 14.11.2013 - 31.12.2018 (Completed) |