THE CHALLENGE
An estimated 1.7 billion adults lack access to formal financial services, and women are disproportionately excluded.* In addition, at least half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, and low-income women are more likely to lack access to basic healthcare.**
THE OPPORTUNITY
GP funds aim to empower women and enhance the economic resilience and health of households living in poverty by investing in partners that deliver gender-informed financial and educational services, alongside access to basic health services.
WHO IS SERVED
The target demographic is female microentrepreneurs living on less than $5.50 PPP/person/day.
WHAT IS DELIVERED
Clients must receive:
- Small-to-medium size working capital loans, often delivered through group lending; AND
- Basic financial literacy; AND
- Access to health information & services.
May also receive:
- Access to savings;
- Loans delivered using other methodologies tailored to women’s productive use needs;
- Advanced business training;
- Follow-on specialized treatment;
- Access to essential medicines.
WHY IT IS IMPACTFUL
Households experience the outcomes and impacts outlined in our Women Centered Finance with Education initiative such as empowering women to:
- Make more informed decisions;
- Smooth household consumption & better deal with shocks;
- Sustain & eventually grow investment in productive activities; and
- Reduce the distressed sale & support the accrual of assets.
Household health improves because with access to health information and services women are empowered to:
- Adopt healthier behaviors;
- Practice prevention;
- Seek and receive timely & appropriate treatment.
* The World Bank, The Global Findex Database 2017, https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/
** World Health Organization, Primary Health Care on the Road to Universal Health Coverage: 2019 Monitoring Report, https://www.who.int/healthinfo/universal_health_coverage/report/uhc_report_2019.pdf?ua=1