Atlas Network’s Post

“When women entrepreneurs succeed, it’s in spite of the system, not because of it.” In our recent survey, 65% of Kenyan women report gender bias in financial services, and 56% say it was hard to finance their business. The world benefits when everyone can participate. Our work at Tala aims to unleash the economic power of those who are left out of the system, including women, so more people like Thiaba Sy can pursue their goals with confidence. Like Melinda French Gates describes, this requires building specifically with this segment in mind – digital infrastructure to increase accessibility and policy reform to protect customers from predators and enable responsible fintech innovation. Imagine the potential when all these incredible entrepreneurs have access to the capital and tools they need! I'm glad to see such significant investment from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and European Investment Bank (EIB) in Kenya's women entrepreneurs: https://lnkd.in/gFZvrwnr

“When women entrepreneurs succeed, it’s in spite of the system, not because of it,” says @Melinda French Gates in this @Blomberg article when talking about the $1.7 trillion #FinancialGap between the financial support women need and what they get. As she very well points out, no country can succeed while leaving behind half of its population, and if this gap is closed, the global GDP can grow by $6 trillion. So how exactly can we address this? By asking global leaders and the #GlobalDev community to remove access to finance for women entrepreneurs, and by increasing financial investments in digital infrastructure to facilitate access to loans with better terms for women! https://ow.ly/4rqS30sBWE8

“When women entrepreneurs succeed, it’s in spite of the system, not because of it,” says Melinda French Gates in this @Blomberg article when talking about the $1.7 trillion #FinancialGap between the financial support women need and what they get. As she very well points out, no country can succeed while leaving behind half of its population, and if this gap is closed, the global GDP can grow by $6 trillion. So how exactly can we address this? By asking global leaders and the #GlobalDev community to remove access to finance for women entrepreneurs, and by increasing financial investments in digital infrastructure to facilitate access to loans with better terms for women!

“When women entrepreneurs succeed, it’s in spite of the system, not because of it,” says Melinda French Gates in this Bloomberg article when talking about the $1.7 trillion #FinancialGap between the financial support women need and what they get. As she very well points out, no country can succeed while leaving behind half of its population, and if this gap is closed, the global GDP can grow by $6 trillion. So how exactly can we address this? By asking global leaders and the #GlobalDev community to remove access to finance for women entrepreneurs, and by increasing financial investments in digital infrastructure to facilitate access to loans with better terms for women!

Big news! Today the company I work for, iDE, is announcing our new impact strategy focusing on powering women entrepreneurs to end poverty. In many countries where we work, women lack access to the resources necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs: land ownership, finance, and education, to name a few. But when women are empowered with the right tools and training, not only do they prosper, so do the communities and families they support. That’s why we’re launching Project Fury—an ambitious goal to power 1 million women entrepreneurs to foster prosperity for 100 million people in their communities over the next decade. Women are not only the future; they are the key to ending poverty. Join us in making some noise and creating a #fury of change. #ProjectFury #EndPoverty #WomenEntrepreneurs #JoinTheMovement

"When women entrepreneurs succeed, everyone benefits" is a truth we've seen through TRANSFORM projects time and again. However, Melinda French Gates writes for Bloomberg that there is a $1.7 trillion gap between the credit women need and what they can get. No country can grow healthier and more prosperous while leaving behind half its population. Investment in women – one of TRANSFORM’s driving forces – is key, and could unlock up to $6 trillion in global GDP. So as leaders find ways to accelerate economic growth, they must also seek ways to unlock women’s economic power — starting with access to capital. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3vUmmvZ Our Gender Report - conducted with Palladium and Integrative Solutions Ltd - showcases the incredible work of TRANSFORM projects that are supporting women across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4aB1rwW #SDGs #WomenEntrepreneurship #SDG5 #Entrepreneurship

1 in 4 women in Africa are entrepreneurs.   From an innovative tire business to a bakery using native grains, women are driving economic growth and solving unique problems in the process—but far too many lack access to much-needed capital.  At the same time, the nexus of multiple global crises has led to slower economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. Closing the gender finance gap has the potential to unlock trillions of dollars in global GDP, but it will require action from the public and private sectors, as well as the donor community.   💭In a new op-ed, Melinda French Gates lays out a pathway for a world where women are supported to unlock their full economic potential. Read her latest:

📌 💡 It makes sense to empower women-owned businesses by Moipone Malefane Women entrepreneurs play a significant role in economic development and growth both here and abroad. Despite a multitude of challenges faced by women, various studies and surveys show that women’s entrepreneurship contributes to socio-economic development through job creation, poverty reduction, innovation and creating a gender-inclusive entrepreneurial landscape. This month South Africa is observing Women’s Month under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy Towards Women’s Development”. It is as good a time as any to take stock of what the country has achieved when it comes to building and supporting women-owned businesses, and what challenges need urgent attention. Read on here: https://lnkd.in/dwbbNqy8 #VutiviBusinessNews #FinanceNews #VutiviFinanceNews #Vutivi #News #BusinessNews #SmallBusiness #SME #Entrepreneur #Report

"Every small business owner knows how difficult it can be to get access to affordable capital. But for many women in the Global South, it’s not just difficult — it’s often impossible... When women entrepreneurs succeed, it’s in spite of the system, not because of it. Worldwide, there’s a $1.7 trillion gap between the credit women need and what they’re able to get. Estimates suggest that by closing that gap, as much as $6 trillion in global GDP can be unlocked... The problem and the opportunity are especially profound in Africa, which has the highest proportion of women entrepreneurs in the world... A full quarter of all African women are entrepreneurs." - Melinda French Gates Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pivotal Ventures via Bloomberg #women #entrepreneurs #economic #growth #leadership #financial #markets

Imagine for a moment if we closed the credit gap for women entrepreneurs -- we could reverse the current trends in low and middle-income countries that have seen reductions in economic growth due to war, climate and other crises, and instead unlock $6 trillion in global GDP. Thank you, Melinda Gates, for your call to action to increase access to capital for women. Models like WIC Capital are inspiring and needed and we are proud at CARE Enterprises Inc. to be raising CARE's gender impact fund to finance women-owned and led businesses, in sectors that employ and serve poor women and their families, to unlock women's economic power. Imagine a world where markets don't perpetuate inequality but work for everyone. https://lnkd.in/ei--cTb4