Women’s Economic Development
Committed to the core belief that women are central to economic growth, the Women’s Economic Development program partners with governments, nonprofits, and the private sector to create opportunities for women that lead to economic independence.
Since the inception of the program in 2007, over 475,500 women have enrolled in training programs, directly benefiting more than two million people.
Recent News
Partnership with Women for Women International
Since 2008, Bloomberg Philanthropies has worked with the nonprofit Women for Women International to train women in marketable skills so they can increase their incomes and support their families.
Partnership with Sustainable Growers
In 2013, Bloomberg Philanthropies partnered with Sustainable Harvest to develop a non for profit training institute for women, small-crop farmers. Now known as Sustainable Growers, it has enrolled over 40,000 women across Rwanda and Congo, and in 2021 will enroll women from three rural cooperatives in Tanzania.
Investment in Equal Footing
Since 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported the development of Equal Footing, a data mapping platform tracking the funding landscape in Africa.
Partnership with Library For All
Since 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies has partnered with Library For All, now home of NABU, an online learning system that has expanded to 18 countries, to build and maintain a digital library to deliver quality educational materials to students in developing countries and expand their access to digital reading materials in local and international languages.
In Rwanda, Bloomberg Philanthropies partnered with Library For All and the Imbuto Foundation, founded by the First Lady of Rwanda, to increase the literacy of 20 million school-aged children.
Partnership with Nest
In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies invested in the non-profit Nest to build the capacity of the organization to reach artisans and create market access for this unrecognized global workforce.
Partnership with CARE International
In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies partnered with CARE International to increase women farmers’ income and agricultural productivity through collective investments in Village Savings and Loan Associations.
Partnership with African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative
In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative partnered to support women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Top photo: Women enrolled in Bloomberg Philanthropies funded training programs.