Thanks to grants and loans provided to women who are not working or who wish to start their own businesses, women can achieve economic independence. Public institutions and organizations often apply positive discrimination in favor of women in this area.
Which Organizations Give Grants to Women?
Various institutions and organizations offer grants and loan opportunities to help women enter the workforce or expand their existing businesses. These financial supports help meet the material needs women face in business life. Prominent programs include microcredit providers, KOSGEB business and entrepreneur supports, district governorate (kaymakamlık) women’s grants, incentives from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, young farmer supports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and women’s grants from development agencies.
Each grant or loan has eligibility requirements. When the necessary conditions are met, obtaining support becomes much easier. For example, Halkbank offers interest-free credit for women. To qualify for this interest-free loan, applicants typically must be homemakers and meet the conditions for starting a new business.
To receive zero-interest financing, applicants may need to qualify for certain KOSGEB supports with a business plan, practice a protected trade, or hold a mastership certificate in that field. For women who meet these conditions, interest-free loans make it easier to join the workforce.
Entrepreneurial Loan Up to 15,000 TL
The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services provides loans for women entrepreneurs. This support offers up to 15,000 TL to help women open their own businesses.
To be eligible for this loan:
- The applicant must not be employed in any workplace (not covered under 4A, 4B, or 4C social security categories),
- There must be no monthly income, as an income test is required,
- The need for financial support must be documented,
- The applicant should have knowledge of the area in which they plan to establish and run the business,
- The applicant must not have received the same support from the ministry before,
- The applicant must not already own or be a partner in a business,
- The applicant must not have a formal income statement or a prior loan from financial institutions.
If these conditions are met, Halkbank provides loans to homemakers through the ministry. One of the main advantages of this loan is repayment in equal installments over three years, which keeps monthly payments manageable.
TANAP Project Provides Grants
One of the main organizations offering grants to women is the Social and Environmental Investment Project related to the TANAP pipeline project. Under this program, women entrepreneurs can receive up to 95% non-repayable support. Currently valid in provinces such as Ankara, Tekirdağ, Eskişehir, Çanakkale, Bilecik, Edirne, Bursa and Balıkesir, the grant aims to support women in farming families affected by pipeline construction. However, the grants are not limited to agriculture. Eligible uses include opening tourism businesses, expanding social facilities, extending health services, increasing agricultural activity, and cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants.
Applications for these grants are made through the official TANAP application system. Grant amounts vary depending on the planned investment and the type of business. Typically, approximately 5% of the grant is repayable, while the remaining portion is provided as non-repayable support. The repayable portion is calculated on the principal grant amount without interest. Women entrepreneurs who wish to apply must register in the application system.