A program called Strive Women, led by CARE and supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, is addressing the financial disparities faced by women-led small businesses in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam. The initiative aims to empower over 300,000 entrepreneurs directly and reach millions more through its campaigns, focusing on providing tailored financial products and support services to overcome gender barriers.
Strive Women adopts a women-centered design approach, collaborating with local partners to offer digital skills-building and strengthen women’s networks. It tackles challenges such as the climate crisis and childcare, which disproportionately affect women. The program also aims to create an inclusive ecosystem involving various stakeholders to support women-led businesses comprehensively.
CARE, founded in 1945, is a humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and girls. Through initiatives like Women’s Entrepreneurship (WE), CARE strives to improve financial security and economic empowerment for millions of entrepreneurs worldwide by 2030.