It’s tough for women from vulnerable countries to contribute to the economy. But now their help could make a big difference as the world deals with factors such as the war in Ukraine, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, which are causing soaring food prices.
In some regions, females may work the land, but that isn’t translating to income. “Women make up about a quarter of the agricultural labour force in Latin American and about 40 percent globally,” reports Thomson Reuters Foundation. But without land rights, access to loans, quality seeds, training and more, they “often earn less and produce 20 percent to 30 percent lower crop yield than men.”
The good news is research by the United Nations and The World Bank show women-focused initiatives can help reduce rural poverty, since women spend their income on their children and re-investing into business.
At Children Believe, we help women access the knowledge and resources to build their own businesses.
In Burkina Faso, 2,000 women saved C$278,000+ in the past year through a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA). This program helps women access banking systems and credit that would not otherwise be available to them so they can get seed money to start or grow their own businesses.
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