TuranBank, a leading bank in Azerbaijan committed to advancing gender equity, has successfully completed a strategic project aimed at fostering greater inclusion of women in the financial sector. Developed in long-term partnership with Enabling Qapital, a FINMA-regulated Swiss impact asset manager, and Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the initiative combined research and practical engagement to support more inclusive practices in banking.
From March 14 to 19, seven graduate students from SIPA visited Azerbaijan as part of a practical research program facilitated by Enabling Qapital. During their stay, the students engaged with the TuranBank’s senior management, including women leaders across branch offices, gaining first-hand insight into the bank’s leadership structure and the integration of gender equity principles in the workplace.
Furthermore, the students participated in discussions on how TuranBank supports women entrepreneurs, expands access to preferential financial resources, and implements initiatives aimed at increasing women’s economic efficiency in business.
On March 19, 2025, the project concluded with a final presentation and in-depth discussions with the bank’s management on the outcomes of its gender equity initiatives - highlighting key achievements and areas for future improvement. A targeted action plan was presented, outlining steps such as educational programs, mentoring initiatives, and strengthened legal mechanisms to help prevent gender-based discrimination.
Orkhan Garayev, Chairman of the Management Board of TuranBank, highly praised the results of the project and emphasized that the bank would continue to strengthen its efforts in this direction: “We value gender equality not only as a core policy but also as one of the key pillars of our development strategy. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we ensure that all our employees, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to grow and thrive. Additionally, we take active measures to enhance the role of women entrepreneurs in the country’s economy and expanding their access to preferential financial resources. As TuranBank, we remain committed to strengthening gender equality and empowering women to drive economic growth and innovation in the business sector.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to gender equity, Enabling Qapital emphasizes the significant impact of diverse representation in financial institutions. According to Farida Abdulhafizova, Head of Sustainability at Enabling Qapital, “At Enabling Qapital, we share TuranBank’s belief that gender equity is not just a policy—it’s a value driver. Research consistently shows that institutions with strong female representation and women borrowers perform better. Together with SIPA, we developed a practical Gender Strategy Toolkit to help financial institutions translate this potential into action.”
TuranBank places a strong emphasis on gender equity within its operations and believes that such initiatives will contribute to increasing the role of women in Azerbaijan’s economic landscape, supporting their active participation in business with the help of its international partners.
As one of the country’s leading banks, TuranBank serves its customers with 22 points of sale. For detailed information about the bank’s products and services, you can call the 935 call center, visit TuranBank’s official website, or follow its social media pages.
