Our strategy
Our ambitious ‘Ready for Business’ strategy will guide our work from 2023 to 2026 and will see us significantly scale up our work to revolutionise business opportunities for one million women entrepreneurs in low and middle income countries by 2030.
In order to reach one million women entrepreneurs and support them to start and grow successful businesses and drastically shift business ecosystems so they are fair and inclusive we will:
- Develop and deliver digital, women-centred services so more women are able to be successful entrepreneurs.
- Grow a network of delivery partners delivering our flexible range of services for women entrepreneurs.
- Host a thriving community of expertise in women’s entrepreneurship: sharing, learning, advocating for change and challenging the barriers facing women.
- Lead global advocacy to challenge the systems and structures holding women back from success.
- Create a community committed to funding our work so that women have the opportunities to fulfil their potential as entrepreneurs.
The Ready for Business strategy is underpinned by our new research on the experiences of over 700 women entrepreneurs in nearly 80 low and middle income countries. Difficulties in accessing finance, the cost of living crisis, ongoing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against women and girls, gender stereotypes and discrimination, and unpaid care work all present key challenges. With nine out of 10 women reporting to us that the costs of living crisis and high inflation has negatively impacted their businesses, our strategy will enable us to provide timely support when it’s needed most.
In the wake of the global pandemic and current economic crises there has never been a more important time to invest in the power of women entrepreneurs.