To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey since its inception in 1979 at Commission on the Status of Women to today!
These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
Muna Sukhtian has spent her career turning challenges into opportunities, shaping lives through her unwavering commitment to social service. As Board Chair of Microfund for Women (MFW) and a Board Member of Women’s World Banking, her influence extends far beyond Jordan, empowering countless women to overcome financial barriers and achieve independence.
From her early career in management consulting in the United States to managing her family’s pharmaceutical company in Jordan, Muna has brought a vision for sustainable development to every role. Her tenure as Chief of Staff to Queen Rania Al Abdullah further deepened her dedication to addressing poverty and inequality. But it was her role as Managing Director of MFW in 2008 that allowed her to fully realize her passion for empowering women through financial inclusion.
“When I joined MFW, I was inspired by the dedication of the women building the institution from the ground up,” Muna reflects.
MFW’s journey, which began as a Save the Children initiative in 1994 before becoming an independent not-for-profit company by 1999, is a testament to resilience. The early days were marked by cultural resistance. “Women initially came to us in secret,” Muna recalls. “It was not culturally acceptable for a woman to take out a loan. Their husbands were not happy about it and would come and say to us, ‘We are going to take this loan, but please can you make sure no one knows about it.’”
Despite these challenges, MFW steadily grew into Jordan’s largest nonprofit microfinance institution under Muna’s leadership, employing 700 staff and serving 150,000 clients—over 90% of them women—across 62 branches. Over time, attitudes shifted. “It has become common practice for men to ask for a loan too,” Muna notes. “That shows that changes happen.”
MFW’s innovative approach—lending to poor women without conventional assets—has issued over 816,000 loans with a repayment rate of 96%. This strategy has garnered international acclaim, including the prestigious GIZ Award at the Sanabel Conference in 2014.
Muna’s leadership has ensured that MFW offers more than financial products. Collaborating with Women’s World Banking, MFW has introduced programs like health insurance tailored to women’s needs. “Clients significantly increased their financial literacy, including understanding the whole concept of insurance,” Muna explains. “With this increased literacy, we were able to pilot additional products that required this skill.”
Beyond financial empowerment, these programs have had a profound impact on women’s confidence and household decision-making roles. Muna shares, “One client started with nothing, took out a small business loan, and began selling food. She now runs her own supermarket—all this in a difficult economic environment. We are always so proud to contribute to our clients’ success.”
Muna’s influence spans far beyond MFW. As Board Chair of MFW and Board Co-Chair of Women’s World Banking (2016–2020), she oversaw the launch of initiatives like the Leadership & Diversity for Regulators Program and the Women’s World Banking Capital Partners Fund. She is also deeply involved with the Crown Prince Foundation, Queen Rania Teacher Academy, and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, furthering her mission of creating opportunities for underserved communities.
Reflecting on MFW’s broader mission, Muna says, “We exist because we want to empower women, and it is known all over the world that women are the ones with the highest burden of financial challenges that come because of poverty.”
For Muna, the work is far from over.
“All my life, I have been interested in social service,” she shares. “I have a strong will to make things happen.”
Her vision for MFW—to expand its reach and continue empowering women—stands as a testament to the profound potential of financial inclusion in creating lasting change.
Women’s World Banking is dedicated to economic empowerment through financial inclusion for the nearly one billion women in the world with no or limited access to formal financial services. Using our sophisticated market and consumer research, we turn insights into real action to design and advocate for policy engagement, digital financial solutions, workplace leadership programs, and gender lens investing.
As part of our current strategy, we’ve helped provide 82 million women in emerging markets – targeting 100 million by 2027 – access and use of financial products and services that are transforming women’s lives, households, businesses and communities, and driving inclusive growth globally.
Help us reach the nearly billion women still excluded from the formal financial system. Donate now.
