Women's Entrepreneurship

A Peruvian woman with decorative red paint streaked across her cheeks stands behind a counter with a young man. She is pressing buttons on a calculator while talking. In front of them, an open notebook lies on the counter.

Economic Growth

CARE’s Women's Entrepreneurship (WE) initiative aims to improve financial security and support economic growth for 3 million entrepreneurs and employees, reach 30 million people, and mobilize more than $500 million USD in private capital—primarily through loans—disbursed as a result of our efforts by 2030.

The opportunity

Women-led micro and small enterprises are vital to economies around the world. Yet many are prevented from reaching their full potential due to challenges in accessing finance, harmful social norms, difficulties in reaching markets, and low digital literacy or access to technology. It’s estimated that unlocking the $1.7 trillion global finance gap for women and reducing other barriers could add $5-6 trillion to the global economy.

Investing in women entrepreneurs is not just for social impact; it’s also good business.

What we do

Research from CARE’s Strive Women program demonstrates that women entrepreneurs are confident and capable of managing and growing their businesses, but outdated policies, harmful social norms, and other structural barriers often hold them back. To address this, CARE starts with a women-centered design approach to understand their goals, challenges, and priorities. These results are then taken to financial service providers, policy makers, business unions, and other market actors to improve the availability of financial services, business training, and other non-financial support services.

This market-based approach (which engages key market actors like banks, governments, and service providers to create more inclusive and sustainable systems) ensures products, services, and systems are sustainable so that women continue to have access to critical resources long after our programs end.

Growing Women-Led Micro and Small Businesses: A Holistic Package of Services

Improve access to financing that fits women’s needs

Right-sized loans

Flexible repayment terms and lower collateral requirements

Digital loan and payment options

Accessible marketing and outreach

Shift harmful social norms

Challenge credit requirements that exclude women

Address mobility and unpaid care issues

Work with entrepreneur’s families and communities to reinforce their support for women’s success

Run wide-reaching public awareness campaigns

Offer critical support services

Financial education tailored for women’s needs

Business training and skills development

Ongoing mentorship, coaching, and peer support networks

Close the digital divide

Make digital tools accessible for women

Building women’s digital skills and knowledge

Ensure women can access and use digital tools and financial services

Our work in numbers

Loan accesss

$203.5 million unlocked in loan capital

51% first time access to loans

Expanded participation

14.5 million people reached through campaigns targeting entrepreneurs, households and communities

373,000 entrepreneurs served with financial or non-financial services

Confidence and quality of life

83% of entrepreneurs reported improved ability to use digital services (Ignite program figures).

90% of entrepreneurs reported an improved quality of life (Ignite program figures).

Our programs

Strive Women

Strive Women, a four-year program led by CARE and supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, strengthens the financial health of women-led small businesses in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam.

Mastercard Strive in Czechia

Strive Czechia helps small businesses in the Czech Republic succeed in the digital economy.

Ignite Program

In partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, CARE's Ignite program unleashed the power of growth-oriented entrepreneurs to contribute to resilient, inclusive economies.

World Financial Review: “Why pinkwashing is not women-centered design, and never will be”

March 5, 2025

In a new OpEd, CARE’s Rathi Mani-Kandt highlights the power of women-centered design to create financial solutions that drive both impact and profitability.

Business Fights Poverty: “She Knows What Her Business Needs—So Why are Systems Holding her Back?”

November 19, 2024

CARE Women’s Entrepreneurship Director, Sarah Hewitt, on what’s holding back women entrepreneurs.

How a women-led textile business is weaving a lasting legacy in Peru

By CARE Staff · May 9, 2024

In Peru, it’s common for banks to require men as co-signers on loans, even loans for women-owned businesses. This is a story of one woman's success, despite the odds.

Join our Community of Practice

Be part of a growing network of practitioners, innovators, and advocates advancing women’s entrepreneurship around the world.
Connect, share insights, and collaborate to drive inclusive solutions that empower women-led businesses to thrive

Join CARE Women’s Entrepreneurship Community of Practice on LinkedIn.