Dignity first
Every interaction begins with respect. Variable income is a working reality, not a reason for judgement.
About & impact
The people who work the hardest
deserve to be financially visible.
côLoan began with a simple observation: millions of women keep Vietnam’s cities moving, yet conventional financial records often fail to reflect the reliability of their work and income.
EmPower II · Co-implemented by UN Women and UNEP
With support from the Governments of Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland.
I
The observation
Millions of women power
the everyday economy.
Vietnam’s 2023 General Statistics Office reporting counted 33.6 million informal workers in 2021, of whom 44.1% were women—equivalent to approximately 14.8 million women working outside the formal sector.
They drive for ride-hailing platforms, deliver food, sell in markets and run small businesses. Many have no conventional payslip or employment contract, even though their work generates steady daily economic activity.
II
The transition
Climate policy is also
a livelihood question.
Vietnam is moving toward lower-emission road transport. Hanoi began a low-emission-zone pilot around Hoàn Kiếm in July 2026, with a phased roadmap for wider restrictions in later years; Ho Chi Minh City is developing its own proposal.
For women who depend on a motorbike for work, preparing early can provide more choice over timing, vehicle and cost. But an electric motorbike requires upfront capital. côLoan exists to coordinate partners around that gap.
Policy references: Directive 20/CT-TTg, Hanoi Resolution 57/2025/NQ-HĐND and Decision 876/QĐ-TTg.
III
The response
A coordinated path from
income to ownership.
côLoan connects women workers to licensed lenders and electric-mobility partners. Instead of presenting itself as a bank, the initiative makes each partner’s role explicit and organises them around one livelihood journey.
Eligible on-time borrowers may receive Green Rewards at Month 2 and Month 13, with a combined ceiling of up to 1,000,000 VND. These programme incentives are separate from the lender’s interest rate and contract.
Operating principles
Four commitments that
guide the initiative.
Clear responsibilities
côLoan coordinates the initiative; licensed lenders make credit decisions and set contractual terms.
Co-designed with communities
The model is shaped around women’s working patterns, daily earnings and practical mobility needs.
Evidence before claims
We distinguish research references and programme targets from verified borrower outcomes and real stories.
Impact intent
What the model is
designed to enable.
These are impact pathways, not claimed borrower outcomes. Verified results should be reported separately as programme data becomes available.
Livelihood resilience
Help workers prepare for transport changes while preserving a reliable way to earn.
Financial inclusion
Create a pathway to a productive asset and a repayment history through regulated lenders.
Lower-emission mobility
Connect climate goals with practical, affordable action in everyday working life.
EmPower II
Women for climate-resilient societies.
EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies is a collaborative programme between UN Women and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), advancing women’s economic empowerment through green transformation.
côLoan is a community initiative within EmPower II, supported by the Governments of Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland.
Explore institutions and partnersBuild the next chapter with us
Let’s make green livelihoods more accessible.
For institutional partnerships, lending, mobility, research or media enquiries, contact the côLoan team.