Archive for category: Women’s Empowerment

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Stitch by Stitch: Afghan Women Fight Poverty with Zardozi

ZardoziAccording to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), nearly 85% of Afghan women rely on less than $1 a day to successfully support their families while facing barriers to education, employment or economic authority within the household. Since 2020, the UNDP reports that Afghanistan that a devastating 29% economic downturn has gripped the nation, prompting women to find creative solutions in their fight against poverty.

Cherma Dozi, a well known and traditional Afghan embroidery style, celebrates underappreciated culture in the Middle East. It stands as one of many Zardozi patterns that showcases regional culture and beauty. Taking advantage of this common hobby is Zardozi, which is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that takes its name directly from the Afghan embroidery it promotes. It teaches women and girls in Afghanistan to create traditional stitching, protecting their economic opportunities under an oppressive government. This organization seeks to help women and girls find viable employment, participate in local markets and amplify their voices in the government.

Protecting Women

Zardozi embroidery utilizes basic fabrics that often fill Afghan homes and in local markets. Located in community spaces, Zardozi runs an embroidery business program, teaching women to sell their creations for profit. By learning how to sew this embroidery upon dresses, shirts and traditional attire, the program helps the girls to become proficient in sewing, embroidery and business skills. Nearly 1,000 Afghan women participate in the program. They currently operate four main centers in the cities of Kabul, Mazar, Jalalabad and Herat. These women also earn grants of $100 to get started. Notably, Zardozi formulates connections with local merchants and stores to purchase their goods.

Zardozi invites all women to participate, from advanced to beginners, all women, no matter their age. Nearly 2.2 million Afghan girls receive no formal schooling, emphasizing the importance of these programs. Serving as a vital alternative to typical school, these women learn, bond and grow as empowered leaders. By partnering with local markets, these women gain economic footing under an oppressive government. They develop a larger societal presence, stable connections and continued business growth even after graduating out of the program.

Preserving Culture

Historians believe Zardozi originated in Persia, and it remains a popular Middle Eastern embroidery technique. Throughout generations, women pass down familial techniques, formulating unique designs based on regional location and cultural lineage. More than 500 years old, Zardozi derives its name from two Persian words: “zar,” meaning gold, and “dozi,” meaning embroidery. It has appeared throughout history on traditional, royal attire for Asian countries. Using stones, beads and metallic thread, Zardozi creates stacked designs with layers of details and heavy material. Designs leap from the outfit, often favoring bright colors to symbolize luck and creativity.

Utilizing this ancient technique as a business foundation, Zardozi preserves key Afghan culture in the process. According to the University of London, traditional Afghan embroidery faces the risk of dying out due to a lack of interest from younger generations, volatile markets and competition from machine made products. Zardozi empowers these women to commercialize their products, protecting this vital craftsmanship from extinction.

Helping Afghanistan

Zardozi’s program transforms a traditional hobby into a powerful monetary asset, tackling systemic poverty in an innovative way. The program equips Afghan women with the market tactics, accounting basics and business skills to develop a sustainable livelihood.

As families pass down unique forms of Zardozi stitching from generation to generation, they teach young girls these sustainable practices allow them to support themselves while keeping their heritage alive. With Zardozi, women learn key skills and receive essential monetary support to combat local poverty, moving them one step closer to true economic gain, stability and a brighter future for all in Afghanistan.

– Maya Tung

Maya is based in Summit and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Top 5 Projects Supporting Female Empowerment in Laos

Female Empowerment in LaosLaos is a landlocked country bordered by Thailand, Vietnam, China, Myanmar and Cambodia. Despite steady growth in Southeast Asia, Laos remains one of the least developed countries in the region, with a largely rural population. Gender equality remains one of the country’s most pressing development challenges, but momentum for change is building through projects supporting female empowerment in Laos.

History of Gender Inequality

While Laos ranks 137 out of 189 on the Human Development Index, it improves on the Gender Inequality Index, ranking 113 out of 162 countries. The Global Gender Gap Report places Laos 36 out of 156 in 2021, yet the country falls to 112th for education, revealing how uneven progress can be.

On the legislative side, the picture of female empowerment in Laos looks more promising. The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law index scores Laos at 88.1 out of 100, above the regional average. However, legal frameworks do not always translate into lived equality. Women earn only 77% of men’s average monthly income and are far more likely to work as unpaid family laborers. Although women own 43% of businesses partly or fully, most still operate in the informal work economy, where there is limited social protection. Further, women work 1.3 hours longer per day than men on average.

The representation of women in Lao politics tells a similar story. Women hold only 21.9% of seats in the National Assembly, a decline from 27.5%, and fewer than 3% of village chiefs in rural areas are women. Culturally, early marriage remains widespread, with one-third of Lao women marrying before the age of 18 and one-tenth before the age of 15. More concerning, 30.3% of ever-partnered women have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence, with almost half of survivors not reporting abuse due to stigma and fear.

The 2018 Global Slavery Index found that approximately 62,000 people live in modern slavery across Laos, with traffickers moving 90% of victims between Laos and Thailand, where girls ages 12 to 18 make up the majority of cases. Laos has passed several laws aimed at supporting female empowerment, including the 2014 Law on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and Children and the 2019 Law on Gender Equality. However, gaps still persist, and this is where on-the-ground projects become essential.

Projects Supporting Female Empowerment in Laos

One forward-looking initiative advancing female empowerment in Laos is the Women’s Economic Inclusion through E-Commerce project. Developed in partnership with the Institute of Industry and Commerce, the project embeds gender equality, disability and social inclusion principles into digital trade. In a country where women remain concentrated in informal, low-skill work, access to digital markets can be transformative. The project has already trained 64 women across Laos in online selling and customer engagement, tackling both the symptoms and root causes of women’s economic exclusion.

Launched in November 2025, backed by the Australian government and implemented by U.N. Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WE RISE TOGETHER 2.0 is a four-year regional initiative that focuses on the power of community by supporting women’s economic empowerment. In many parts of rural Laos, women rely on informal networks for support and advice. This initiative strengthens those networks by bringing women together to share knowledge, build confidence and collectively address local challenges. WE RISE TOGETHER 1.0 achieved considerable success, training 467 women-owned businesses in Vietnam alone, and the second program continues to build on that momentum.

In January 2026, the Lao Women’s Union and The Asia Foundation launched the project titled “Strengthening the LWU in Amplifying the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security.” This forms part of The Asia Foundation’s broader regional AMPLIFY program, operating across 80 villages in eight districts across Bokeo and Savannakhet provinces. It aims to promote women’s leadership in conflict prevention and resolution, strengthen village-level conflict resolution committees and security units and support research and knowledge generation.

Action Education launched the GEVEE project in 2023, aiming to boost entrepreneurship and employment for women, particularly those from ethnic minorities. The program uses vocational training, entrepreneurial education, small grants and mentoring workshops. So far, the GEVEE project has reached 986 women from rural and ethnic backgrounds, including 116 secondary school girls. GEVEE’s three-year cycle demonstrates that long-term sustained support can transform entire communities.

Finally, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has been empowering women in political leadership roles. Between February 2024 and April 2025, WFD ran the program “Strengthening parliamentary oversight and promoting women’s political leadership in Laos,” working to increase the capacity of women representatives at the national level. WFD also recently ran “CEGGA II Extension Program – Strengthening Accountability in Laos,” which supported female candidates in the election earlier this year. Women subsequently increased their share of seats to 29.7%, up from 21.9% in 2021.

Looking Ahead

While women in Laos face inequality and economic obstacles, these projects are giving women access to skills, platforms and opportunities. Legal frameworks provide a foundation, but the collective action of these initiatives drives real change. With continued investment and community-focused action, Laos is moving steadily toward a more equal future.

– Helen Turnbull

Helen is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Coffee Sourcing Supports 15,000 Women in the DRC

Women harvesting coffee beans in a lush DRC plantation, supporting ethical coffee sourcing. Women in the DRCCoffee is the universal morning ritual for many, particularly those in corporate settings. At WeWork locations worldwide, professionals often rush in for their daily dose of caffeine, with little thought as to where the coffee originates. That is where the Rise Up Blend comes in. In collaboration with WeWork U.K., Volcano Coffee Works infuses purpose into the coffee-drinking experience, with an ethos that extends far beyond a morning caffeine hit. The Rise Up Blend transforms global coffee sourcing into a vehicle for poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa, where the beans are sourced directly from Rebuild Women’s Hope, a female-led cooperative on Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Economic Challenges for Women in the DRC

Currently, women in the DRC face numerous challenges, especially those in marginalized groups. Despite the land’s vast natural wealth and arable land, the majority of the population remains in financial hardship. According to data from the World Bank, the national poverty rate remains high, with 81.1% of the population living on less than $3 a day in 2025.

While the nation’s broader macroeconomic growth is driven by its industrial mining sectors, these industries offer limited job creation for ordinary citizens, particularly women. Driven by decades of post-civil war violence, the DRC ranks as one of the most dangerous nations on earth for women. It is also one of the worst coffee-sourcing regions for gender equality.

On Idjwi Island, isolated within Lake Kivu, these challenges are magnified. Historically, women coffee farmers in this region faced exploitation by smuggling cartels, frequently risking their lives to transport coffee cherries across the lake to neighboring countries for a fraction of the crop’s true value. However, this lack of marketplace protection directly contributed to systemic poverty on the island.

Structural gender divides push women out of labor channels and cut off their access to essential resources, financial services and a steady income. For rural women managing agricultural work, the lack of secure financial networks or fair-market infrastructure often keeps them in vulnerable employment cycles. This disparity makes localized initiatives targeting the agricultural market vital for long-term equity.

Ethical Coffee Sourcing as a Catalyst for Growth

In 2013, Marceline Budza founded Rebuild Women’s Hope, a female-led coffee cooperative on Idjwi Island in the eastern region of the DRC. Budza established the organization to help rural women and war widows achieve financial independence in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

The cooperative focuses heavily on skills development and technical agricultural training. Rebuild Women’s Hope provides female farmers with modern agronomic education, teaching them:

  • Advanced harvesting techniques
  • Crop management
  • Sustainable land use

This specific educational framework ensures that the coffee cherries meet high international specialty standards, qualifying the harvest for premium global markets.

Today, the cooperative has expanded its reach significantly. By utilizing sustainable coffee sourcing channels through international partners like Volcano Coffee Works and WeWork U.K., the initiative now supports more than 15,000 women and their families.

The demand created by these partnerships delivers a positive social and economic impact at the origin. Rather than relying on standard trade practices, Volcano Coffee Works pays 195% above fair-trade pricing, providing economic security to the farming community. This framework has enabled the cooperative to create 13,000 coffee production jobs for local women in the DRC, actively transforming the regional labor market.

Aligning Coffee Sourcing With Sustainable Development Goals

The revenue generated by this global coffee sourcing model does more than just increase individual wages; it funds vital structural resources that align directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By funding community infrastructure, this partnership shows how ethical coffee sourcing directly supports thousands of women and helps break regional cycles of poverty. The revenue has successfully funded four key local developments that align with global development milestones:

  • A maternal and pediatric hospital: Directly addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by lowering regional child mortality rates and providing primary health care access to 93% of the cooperative’s women.
  • A specialized coffee laboratory: Advancing SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by establishing localized supply-chain ownership so women can process high-standard specialty coffee rather than relying on predatory trade routes.
  • A dedicated barista school: Supporting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by giving young women the business skills, leadership training and technical tools they need to achieve financial independence.

Through these projects, the partnership demonstrates how a simple daily cup of coffee can become a powerful lever for building long-term community growth.

The Global Impact of Sustainable Coffee Sourcing

The collaboration between WeWork U.K. and Volcano Coffee Works provides a promising blueprint for corporate social responsibility. It shows that when large organizations team up with ethical brands, they can successfully align everyday consumer habits with sustainable global progress.

This initiative highlights the quiet progress happening across developing nations, demonstrating that international trade can be a force for good when equity is built directly into the business model.

The partnership proves how something as routine as a morning coffee can be transformed into something much bigger—a vehicle that drives community development and encourages real change. By dismantling local poverty and giving thousands of women their own autonomy, the initiative illustrates that a sustainable future can be built, one cup at a time.

– Rebecca Cameron

Rebecca is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women in Latin American Politics and The Fight Against Poverty

How Women in Latin American Politics Are Changing the Fight Against Poverty Like most of the world, Latin America has historically been governed almost exclusively by men. However, a shift has begun in recent years. Women in Latin American politics are no longer an anomaly — they are increasingly a defining feature of the region’s political landscape. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Latin America and the Caribbean’s 30.4% share of women cabinet ministers is the second highest in the world, after Europe. Women hold 36.8% of Latin American legislative seats, well above the global average of 26.7%. The evidence demonstrates that this shift in political representation is having real consequences for poverty reduction and social development.

A Region Rewriting Its Political History

The story of women in Latin American politics is one of steady, hard-won progress. The first woman to be directly elected president in the region was Nicaragua’s Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in 1990. Since then, 14 women have served as heads of state across Latin America. Chile’s Michelle Bachelet served two full terms and became one of the region’s most recognized leaders. Honduras’ Xiomara Castro took office in 2022 as the country’s first female president and first left-wing leader in over a decade. In October 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s 66th president, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the country’s history.

Sheinbaum’s victory was not a narrow one. She won with nearly 60% of the vote, the largest margin of any candidate since the end of one-party rule in 2000. A climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, she entered office with her party holding a supermajority in the legislature’s lower house. At her inauguration, she declared: “Now is the time of transformation, now is the time of women.”

What Women in Power Mean for Poverty and Social Spending

The rise of women in Latin American politics has measurable implications for how governments spend and who they spend it on. According to the World Bank’s Gender Strategy 2024-2030, women’s leadership improves outcomes in a variety of development priorities, including community services, food security and children’s health and education. Research from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has also shown that more women in leadership positively correlates with better social outcomes and more inclusive economic growth.

The data from the region supports this. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the region’s poverty rate hit its lowest recorded level in 2024, at 25.5%, a decline of more than 7 percentage points since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Extreme poverty also fell, affecting 9.8% of the population. ECLAC attributes much of the 2024 improvement to outcomes in Mexico, where social spending programs lifted 9.5 million people out of poverty over six years.

A peer-reviewed study published in Health Affairs found that increases in women’s political representation in Brazil were directly associated with reductions in child mortality, driven by greater investment in health care and social services. The research concluded that female politicians tend to place a higher priority on the provision of public goods, including health and education, a pattern increasingly visible across the region.

Mexico’s Sheinbaum

Claudia Sheinbaum represents a distinct kind of political leader in Latin America. She rose through academic and scientific institutions before entering politics and shared a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for her work on the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As mayor of Mexico City, she expanded the city’s COVID-19 testing capacity and promoted public-private partnerships for renewable energy.

As president, Sheinbaum has committed to hiring 20,000 government doctors and nurses, opening more welfare offices and expanding access to public health care for senior citizens. She has also committed to raising the minimum wage to 2.5 times the basic needs threshold. However, she inherits a significant budget deficit and an economy growing at just 1.5%, meaning her ability to fund these commitments will depend heavily on attracting foreign investment and expanding the private sector.

Honduras’ Castro

Xiomara Castro’s presidency in Honduras offered another example of women in Latin American politics driving change in difficult conditions. Castro served from 2022 to 2026 as Honduras’ first female president and the country’s first left-wing leader in more than a decade, in a country consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the world and one of the poorest in the region. Her administration focused on social investment, anti-corruption efforts and expanding access to health care and education in rural areas, the communities most affected by poverty. According to U.N. Women, nine countries in Latin America adopted laws to stop violence against women in politics in the 2024-2025 period, a development that Castro actively supported at the regional level.

Challenges That Remain

Despite the progress, important obstacles persist. Of the 14 women who have served as heads of state in Latin America, only five have completed their full terms, reflecting structural barriers to women’s political success that remain deeply embedded. Many female leaders have faced impeachment, military coups or forced removals from office in circumstances that male leaders in similar positions did not. In October 2025, Peru’s Dina Boluarte became the latest female head of state to be removed from office, leaving only Sheinbaum as a democratically elected woman president in the region.

At the legislative level, while Latin America outperforms the global average, gaps remain. Women are still primarily assigned to head ministries of health, social affairs and gender equality rather than portfolios carrying more political and economic weight such as finance, defense or foreign affairs. According to the IPU, women hold just 22.9% of cabinet minister positions globally as of 2025, down from 23.3% the previous year.

Looking Ahead

The rise of women in Latin American politics is not simply a story about representation but a story about outcomes. As the evidence from Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the broader region makes clear, women in political leadership tend to prioritize investments in health, education and social protection that have the most direct impact on poverty reduction. Latin America’s poverty rate reached its lowest level on record in 2024, and the growing presence of women in government is part of the explanation. Researchers and international organizations point to the need to build on this momentum, not only by increasing women’s representation in elected office but by ensuring the institutional conditions that allow them to govern effectively.

– Chloe Bonnefil

Chloe is based in Miami, FL and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Gender Pay Gap for Roma Women in North Macedonia

gender pay gap for Roma womenThe gender pay gap remains one of the most overt and measurable indicators of disparity globally, rooted in traditional attitudes that disproportionately assign unpaid domestic work to women. In North Macedonia, this gap persists at roughly 12%, often driven by the concentration of women in lower-paying sectors like care and education. However, the situation is most critical for Roma women, who face a ‘double-burden’ of gender inequality and social exclusion.

Due to a combination of rationed socio-economic rights and a discriminatory job market, Roma women are hence bound to a “vicious cycle of poverty.” In fact, the World Bank (2024) reports that 87% of the total Roma population in North Macedonia live in material deprivation, with women suffering the most severe impacts. Compounded by a staggering 81% NEET rate (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) among young Roma women aged 18-24, the depth of the pay disparity compared to both men and non-Roma women is a significant challenge that demands targeted intervention.

While the overall landscape of pay parity does not entertain a ‘quick fix’, dedicated programs and organizations are beginning to turn the tide. By focusing on formalizing labor and providing specialized entrepreneurship tools, the following three initiatives are creating a new blueprint to reduce the gender pay gap for Roma women in North Macedonia. 

1. The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI)

The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) acts as a cornerstone for economic mobility by bridging the gap between “informal potential and formal enterprise” for marginalized groups. The initiative successfully lays the foundations for Roma people to build sustainable career portfolios through three primary objectives:

  • One-to-One Mentoring: REDI provides direct coaching focused on building essential business acumen, leadership skills and operational know-how.
  • Employment Support: The program offers comprehensive career guidance, including CV development and job placement.
  • Digital Transformation: REDI aids Roma-led businesses in adapting to a changing digital environment.

By taking a bottom-up approach, REDI has established a supportive framework through which Roma people and women are able to build their own opportunities. Within the first 6 months alone, REDI was able to map 140 Roma entrepreneurs and 273 unemployed Roma individuals. 

2. ROMANSE 

The ROMANSE (Social Entrepreneurship for Young Roma Women) project is a specialized initiative that the European Union funded. Established in April 2024 and set to run through March 2027, the project is a collaborative effort between the Roma Resource Centre and the Women’s Rights Initiative of Shuto Orizari in North Macedonia, alongside international partners from Greece and Belgium. The program aims to tackle the ‘double discrimination’ of gender and ethnicity by promoting social entrepreneurship to subsequently enable the integration of Roma women into society and the economic sphere. In order to fulfil this objective, ROMANSE utilizes several key strategies:

  • Capacity Building for CSOs: The project strengthens Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to better support Roma women in business.
  • Targeted Training: Young Roma women receive specialized training to develop business skills.
  • Grant Schemes: ROMANSE provides essential funding through “grant schemes for grassroots CSOs.”
  • Community Awareness: By facilitating local partnership and awareness-raising activities, the project fosters a supportive environment for Roma-led businesses.

To date, the project has already initiated focus groups and digital training modules to ensure that young Roma women have the resources to secure equal-pay positions in the modern labor market. By focusing on sustainable business models rather than just temporary aid, the program is ensuring a long-term reduction in the wage gap for North Macedonia’s most vulnerable group.

3. The World Bank: Investing in the ‘Care Economy’

The Government of North Macedonia, with support from the World Bank, has restructured how care is valued in North Macedonia through its Social Services Improvement Project (SSIP). This initiative tackles the gender wage gap at its roots by formalizing historically unpaid domestic and caring roles into professional, stable career paths. The SSIP established a contracting model that combines “public resources with private expertise” that offers home-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. Since 2021, the project has achieved significant measurable results for marginalized groups: 

  • About 773 professional caregivers have gained formal employment through SSIP-funded services, particularly women and Roma.
  • About 120 Roma women joined the workforce through an innovative social mentoring scheme, supported by World Bank and the European Union, that provided them with training and certifications as professional care providers.
  • Approximately 1,600 elderly beneficiaries now receive home-based support enabling them to live both more comfortably and independently.

Looking Ahead

Although there is still a long way to go to close the gender pay gap for Roma women, the efforts made by these programs demonstrate a clear path forward. By dismantling the barriers to formal employment, these programs are ensuring the integration of Roma women into economic society as well as laying the crucial foundation for future financial independence. 

The transition into the formal workforce offers far-reaching social benefits that extend beyond a paycheck. Stable, registered employment provides Roma women with increased security through personal pension contributions and the freedom that comes with financial autonomy. By utilizing a bottom-up approach, these development schemes do more than offer immediate relief; they actively dismantle the cycle of generational poverty. As education and employment rates rise among Roma women, the positive effects directly manifest in the next generation. Supported by a mother earning a steady, fair wage, young girls are no longer forced to enter the labor market prematurely or marry early as a means of survival. Instead, reducing the gender pay gap for Roma women safeguards their futures, paving the way for a generation of empowered young women, ultimately strengthening the economic fabric of the entire country.

– Jessica Daly

Jessica is based in Tunbridge Wells, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Women’s Economic Empowerment in Hasbaya

Women’s Economic Empowerment in HasbayaAgainst the backdrop of Mount Hermon, the Hasbaya region of South Lebanon features ancient olive groves, terraced hillsides, and the winding Hasbani River.

Yet, beneath this scenic tranquility, rural communities face deep economic marginalization intensified by national financial instability and geographical isolation. In the lanes of Hasbaya’s historic souks, a new narrative is taking shape; not of crisis, but of enterprise.

Hounna Lil Tamkeen Project

Launched in late 2025 and scaling through 2026, the “Hounna Lil Tamkeen” project (Women for Empowerment) equips participants with the technical skills and business resources to establish their own guesthouses and craft enterprises.

The project is part of a broader movement; the United Development Program (UNDP) recently provided $1.5 million in assistance and technical support to women-led enterprises and cooperatives to restore local production and livelihoods across Lebanon.

The Leadership and Vision

Al Madad Foundation established the project as a core initiative under the vision of its founder, Lebanese-British artist and humanitarian Aya Haidar. Haidar’s work frequently explores themes of cultural heritage and the value of women’s domestic labor, actively shifting the focus from traditional aid toward a model of “creative empowerment.” The leadership’s philosophy for Hounna Lil Tamkeen pushes business ownership rather than one-time food parcels. It also professionalizes the production of mouneh (traditional preserves), ensuring that Lebanese heritage becomes a marketable asset in the modern economy. The project acts as a direct intervention against the rising poverty rates in rural Lebanon, where one out of every three citizens now lives below the poverty line. It provides a sustainable path toward women’s economic empowerment in Hasbaya in this traditionally conservative region.

How it Works: From Training to Table

Instead of requiring women to travel to urban hubs for work, the initiative brings the professional economy directly to their doorsteps through three distinct phases:

  • Phase 1: Professional Skill Acquisition: Participants receive intensive hospitality training from the foundation, mastering international service standards, rigorous food safety protocols, and foundational digital literacy. This specialized instruction enables them to list their traditional homes on global booking platforms, effectively turning underutilized domestic spaces into reliable revenue streams. This localized approach tackles the regional inequality affecting 44% of the population while prioritizing women’s economic empowerment in Hasbaya as a core engine for rural recovery.
  • Phase 2: The Culinary Tourism Pipeline: Women are trained to scale and professionalize their traditional production of mouneh (artisanal Lebanese preserves). By standardizing product quality, safety and packaging, the project helps these local entrepreneurs sell their goods directly to visiting tourists and high-end urban markets. This provides a vital, insulated source of income at a time when the tourism sector’s contribution to Lebanon’s economy fluctuates around 5.5%.
  • Phase 3: Digital Visibility and Infrastructure: The initiative provides the physical tools and marketing training necessary for women to establish an online presence. Creating a digital footprint is essential for bypassing Lebanon’s ongoing banking hurdles, offering a critical intervention in a country where female labor force participation stands at just 27.54%; significantly lower than the global average of 51.07%.

From Blueprint to Reality

The tangible reality of this economic shift is documented directly by the field updates of the “Hounna Lil Tamkeen” initiative on social media. Supported by the Mediterranean Women’s Fund and guided by expert trainer Omar Abou Ali, the project successfully executed its specialized “Treasures of Hermon: Feminine Tourism” training modules across rural South Lebanon. After conducting successful training blocks in the towns of Kfayr and Mimes, the foundational phase concluded with an intensive two-day workshop in the village of Khalwat. The field execution seamlessly bridged hospitality with the region’s culinary heritage, featuring a traditional rural lunch that served as a practical showcase for professionalized, homemade preserve production (mouneh). Moving forward, these real-world assessments are being translated directly into localized tourism brochures for each village, creating a permanent marketing infrastructure that connects rural women directly to the modern travel economy.

Looking Ahead

The success of these rural initiatives mirrors a broader national effort to revitalize Lebanon’s economy through women’s economic empowerment in Hasbaya. International partners have mobilized substantial support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 90% of Lebanon’s economy and serve as the backbone of local livelihoods. Under the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, a total of $1.106 million in grants has reached 96 SMEs, providing both financial capital and United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) technical support to strengthen operations and expand market reach. Ultimately, the project aims to support more than 1,000 women-led businesses, ensuring that as Lebanon navigates its recovery, women remain at the heart of a more equitable and sustainable economic future.

– Celine Dib

Celine is based in London and focuses on Good News, Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Improving Access to Education in Bangladesh

Education in BangladeshBangladesh has made significant progress in expanding access to education, especially at the primary level. However, many students still drop out before completing secondary school, with only around 64% continuing beyond primary education. Factors such as child labor, early marriage and limited access to quality education continue to shape these outcomes. 

These challenges affect all students, but they disproportionately impact girls, limiting their long-term economic opportunities.

Access to Education in Bangladesh

Surovi, a nonprofit school in Dhaka, makes education accessible for children who are often excluded from the system, including those living on the streets or growing up without stable family support. Founded in 1979, the organization focuses on reaching vulnerable groups who would otherwise remain out of school.

For many girls, Surovi serves as a critical entry point into education. They face higher risks of early dropout, child marriage and long-term economic dependency, making access to Surovi school especially important. However, access alone is not enough. 

The quality of education remains uneven, as limited resources and a shortage of trained teachers continue to affect how students learn and progress.

The Role of Education in Shaping Opportunities

Education plays a key role in shaping both individual futures and broader economic development, particularly in regions like South Asia, where poverty remains a persistent challenge. According to the World Bank, although Bangladesh has reduced poverty over time, many people still face economic vulnerability, especially in marginalized communities. In this context, education in Bangladesh becomes essential for creating long-term opportunities, particularly for women.

Beyond basic skills, education builds awareness, confidence and independence. More educated societies tend to be more open to new ideas and better equipped to respond to social and economic challenges. For women, this impact is even more significant. Education helps delay early marriage, improves access to employment and allows women to participate more actively in the workforce.

Research by UNESCO shows that expanding access to education can significantly reduce poverty, with studies suggesting that poverty could be cut by more than half if all adults completed secondary education. As Malala Yousafzai emphasizes, education is a powerful tool for change. In this sense, it not only provides knowledge but also creates more capable and economically active individuals who can shape their own futures.

Education and Economic Pathways in Bangladesh

Pathshala South Asian Media Institute creates an atmosphere that makes education an alternative pathway into competitive job markets, particularly within creative industries. For one female student, studying photography became a turning point after a disrupted education journey. She explained that gaining skills and confidence helped her begin building a career, even in a field where income is not immediate and requires personal investment.

A teacher at Pathshala highlighted that these experiences reflect broader structural challenges. Barriers to education remain closely linked to poverty, geographic inequality and unequal access to quality institutions, especially outside major cities. Entering the job market is also highly competitive, with networks and connections often playing a crucial role alongside skills.

However, this dynamic is gradually shifting. More students are using digital platforms, portfolios and professional networks to access opportunities in media, freelancing and small-scale entrepreneurship. According to the teacher, when education is combined with practical skills, it enables students to move from unstable, low-income work to more sustainable livelihoods. While this transition takes time and is not equal for everyone, it shows how education can support long-term economic mobility.

From Education to Economic Empowerment

The experiences of students and educators in Bangladesh show that education is not just about learning but about creating pathways out of poverty, especially for women. As more women gain access to education, they are better positioned to move beyond low-income, unstable work into more secure and independent sources of income. In a situation where economic vulnerability and social expectations continue to shape women’s opportunities, education plays a critical role in shifting this reality. 

Women who gain skills, confidence and professional networks are more likely to enter the workforce, start their own ventures or build sustainable careers over time. While challenges such as unequal access, limited resources and a competitive job market remain, they do not erase the progress being made. Instead, they highlight the need for more inclusive and practical education systems.

Closing Remarks

Ultimately, breaking barriers in Bangladesh is not only about increasing access to education but ensuring that education leads to real economic outcomes. When women in Bangladesh can turn education into income and independence, the impact extends beyond individuals and directly reduces poverty across communities and generations.

Globally, education remains one of the strongest tools to fight poverty. According to UNESCO, around 171 million people could escape extreme poverty if all students left school with basic reading skills. Expanding access to quality education, especially for women, can accelerate this progress and create more equal economic opportunities across generations.

– Elif Oktar

Elif is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Pexels

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Women Farmers in Guyana and Food Security

Women Farmers in GuyanaWomen farmers in Guyana and food security begin at the market level, where women dominate food distribution in areas such as Anna Regina, Corriverton and Georgetown. Vendors such as Jasmin Ramsammy at Skeldon Market in Berbice adjust supply based on demand during holidays like Diwali, while Nina Sarju at Port Mourant Market manages unsold goods by reselling or sharing them to reduce waste. These daily decisions directly affect food availability. In 2020, fruits and vegetables generated $3.3 million in exports, much of it supported by women’s labor.

Regional Production Shows Women’s Impact

Women farmers in Guyana and food security extend into farming communities such as Pomeroon in Essequibo and Belle West. Women grow crops such as bora, pumpkin, tomatoes and peppers, supplying both households and urban markets. Traders, often women, transport produce weekly from Pomeroon to Georgetown, linking rural farms to cities. Malika Deokarran, who leads a 75-member farming group, plays a key role in organizing pricing and distribution, showing how women sustain the supply chain.

Women farmers in Guyana and food security face the greatest challenges in the hinterland regions of Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9. Poverty in these areas reaches up to 55%, limiting access to infrastructure and markets. Many women rely on small kitchen gardens to support their families rather than operate large-scale farms, which reduces overall productivity and income potential.

Food Loss in Berbice and Coastal Regions

Food loss significantly affects women farmers in Guyana and food security, especially in coastal regions such as Berbice. Nearly 30% of fruits and vegetables are lost annually due to flooding, poor storage and transportation issues. Vendors in Berbice markets often face spoilage if goods are not sold quickly, leading to financial loss and reduced food supply.

Programs Supporting Women Farmers

Current programs are improving conditions for women farmers in Guyana and food security, particularly in rural communities. Government initiatives have provided tools and inputs to farmers in areas such as the Corentyne Coast, helping boost production. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) training programs focus on reducing post-harvest losses and improving climate resilience. Women-led groups are also expanding agro-processing, producing goods such as cassava products and coconut oil to increase income and reduce waste.

Looking Ahead

Women farmers in Guyana are essential to the country’s food system. From Berbice vendors managing daily sales to Pomeroon farmers supplying urban markets, women support every stage of production and distribution. Expanding access to land, credit and training, especially in the most affected regions, could increase productivity and strengthen national food security.

– Kianna Hines

Kianna is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction and Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Women Entrepreneurs in NigeriaWomen entrepreneurs in Nigeria are redefining women’s roles in society and the greatest beneficiary of their inclusion in the entrepreneurship space is the economy. Women in entrepreneurship of Nigeria have played an increasingly significant role in reducing poverty. This shift comes after being previously excluded from formal employment and financial opportunities due to traditional systems that limited women’s participation in business.

Female-led companies have created jobs, driven local economic growth and expanded access to essential goods and services across sectors. Here are some ways women entrepreneurs continue to strengthen the economy of Nigeria while advancing broader efforts to reduce poverty.

Improving Access To Essential Health Services

Olamide Orekunrin was on one of her frequent visits to her home city, Lagos, when her sister became critically ill. With no equipment or drugs to revive her and no reliable way to get her to a hospital, the situation quickly turned critical. What would have been easily accessible lifesaving care in many places instead exposed a gap in Lagos’ health system that led to her sister’s untimely death.

This motivated Orekunrin to start Flying Doctors, a medical emergency service specializing in air ambulances. The organization introduced the first air ambulance service in Nigeria and West Africa. Flying Doctors has successfully evacuated victims of road accidents, bomb blasts, fire outbreaks and other mishaps across Africa. 

Female-led businesses like Flying Doctors combine passion with humanitarianism and have helped ensure that all Nigerians have access to essential emergency medical services.

Supporting Community Development

When it comes to entrepreneurship, women-led businesses reinvest up to 90% of income back into their families and communities, compared to 30–40% for men. Female entrepreneurs in Nigeria have launched initiatives such as skills-training programs, education services and other community-focused enterprises. Tutoring and educational initiatives help keep children in school longer.

Each additional year of schooling for girls can increase future earnings by up to 20%. Child care centers enable mothers to remain in the workforce and accelerate their career paths while balancing motherhood. Skills and training programs do the same. These services, which allow more women to join the workforce and children to stay in school longer, are tackling both child poverty and female poverty.

Job Creations

With women accounting for 43% of micro-enterprise ownership and about 40% of early-stage entrepreneurial activity, their businesses are a major source of employment and income in communities where poverty is widespread. Women-owned businesses employ several low-income women and youth. These businesses provide essential services like tailoring and clothing, transportation and logistics, food retail and hospitality and digital services and e-commerce.

These businesses not only expand access to affordable everyday services in underserved communities, but also create jobs for the people in those communities. In doing so, they are reducing reliance on Nigeria’s limited formal job market. By generating income and supporting more sustainable livelihoods, women-led enterprises are helping households and communities lift themselves out of extreme poverty.

Final Remarks

Ultimately, women-owned businesses often serve female customers and underserved communities, especially in informal sectors and rural areas. Through business networks and support systems, women are also better able to overcome barriers to finance, market access and formal business opportunities. In many cases, women-led enterprises create jobs and income opportunities for other women and young people in their communities in Nigeria.

This ripple effect strengthens local economies while expanding opportunities for groups historically excluded from formal work. Across Nigeria, female entrepreneurs are expanding access to financial services, health care, education, food and employment. From agriculture to digital finance, women-led enterprises are filling critical service gaps in underserved communities and driving more inclusive economic growth.

– Yemi Mary John

Yemi is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Grassroots Groups Driving Women’s Empowerment in Haiti

Women's Empowerment in HaitiGrassroots groups driving women’s empowerment in Haiti are addressing the deep intersection of poverty and gender inequality in one of the most economically challenged countries in the Western Hemisphere. More than 60% of Haiti’s population lives below the poverty line, with more than 25% in extreme poverty. Despite these conditions, women remain active in the workforce, with a labor force participation rate of 58.3% compared to 69.7% for men. 

However, economic participation has not translated into equality. Haiti ranked 163rd out of 170 countries on the Gender Inequality Index and its Gender Development Index score of 0.898 falls well below the regional average of 0.963. These figures highlight that women contribute significantly to the economy but still lack access to resources, financial security and decision-making power.

Barriers Facing Women in Rural Economies

Women in Haiti face persistent structural barriers that limit their economic advancement. In rural areas, where agriculture supports nearly half of the workforce, women play a central role in farming and household management but often lack access to land, credit and formal markets. Environmental challenges such as drought, soil degradation and limited infrastructure further reduce productivity and income stability. 

Cultural norms also restrict women’s participation in leadership and higher-paying sectors. For example, in the fishing industry, women are often confined to processing and selling fish while relying on fishermen for supply, which limits their bargaining power. These overlapping challenges reinforce cycles of poverty and economic dependence.

Grassroots Solutions Creating Economic Opportunity

Grassroots groups in Haiti are responding to these challenges through community-led, cooperative-based solutions. One example is the Women’s Initiative from The Haiti Project, which supports women in the rural village of Chermaitre. The initiative began when women came together to share their experiences of hardship and resilience, eventually forming the Chermaitre’s Women cooperative.

This program focuses on developing business skills, strengthening collaboration and creating sustainable income opportunities. By centering local leadership, the initiative ensures that women actively shape their economic futures and build solutions tailored to their community’s needs.

Women’s Empowerment in Haiti

The cooperative model combines economic opportunity with long-term social empowerment. Women in the Chermaitre’s Women cooperative produce goods such as coffee, peanut butter and handmade crafts, including textiles and jewelry, which they sell in local and international markets. By pooling resources and sharing profits, the cooperative reduces financial risk and increases collective bargaining power. 

Women use their earnings to pay school fees, invest in agriculture and improve household stability, particularly during periods of environmental stress. Participation also builds financial literacy, confidence and leadership skills. This creates a clear chain of impact: income leads to independence, independence strengthens decision-making power and decision-making power increases women’s influence in their communities. 

In this way, these grassroots organizations empowering women in Haiti transform economic participation into meaningful advocacy.

The Impacts of Grassroots Cooperatives on Women

The success of this model reflects a broader global pattern in which grassroots women’s cooperatives drive sustainable development. Evidence shows that cooperatives increase income while also expanding leadership capacity by giving women opportunities to make decisions, manage finances and resolve conflicts. Many women in these groups take on leadership roles for the first time, helping to challenge traditional gender norms. 

These cooperatives also support environmental sustainability through activities like reforestation and soil restoration. Globally, gender equality is essential to achieving development outcomes, including poverty reduction, food security and climate resilience. In fact, empowering women is considered critical to achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing that economic inclusion drives long-term progress.

Funding Gaps Limit Grassroots Impact

However, despite their effectiveness, grassroots organizations in Haiti face significant funding challenges. For instance, of the total $6.43 billion invested in Haiti’s development from 2010-2012, only 0.6% of that funding has gone directly to Haitian-based nonprofit organizations. At the same time, 90% of women-led and women’s rights organizations globally report experiencing funding cuts.

Despite limited resources, grassroots groups in Haiti continue to strengthen leadership, improve safety for women and girls and respond to ongoing crises. This imbalance highlights a critical gap: the most effective, community-based solutions often receive the least financial support. Expanding direct investment would allow these organizations to scale their impact and reach more women.

A Path Toward Sustainable Change

Ultimately, women’s grassroots groups in Haiti demonstrate that economic empowerment can drive lasting social change. Programs like the Women’s Initiative show that when women gain access to income, skills and leadership opportunities, they do more than support their families; they strengthen entire communities. Expanding support for grassroots, cooperative-based initiatives offers a clear pathway toward reducing poverty, advancing gender equality and building a more sustainable future for Haiti.

– Kianna Hines

Kianna is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr