Women in Small Enterprise Semi-Annual Report: January - June 2016
Countless women around the world are building successful small businesses. But the odds against women entrepreneurs in many developing countries can be staggering. Often, they face limited access to credit and property, household obligations that consume their waking hours, and cultural standards that discriminate against them.
Oxfam’s Women in Small Enterprise (WISE) program starts with a systemic understanding of these barriers and attracts partners with expertise in the areas of financial services, women’s rights, advocacy, community development, and vocational training to support women in overcoming these challenges. WISE follows Oxfam’s belief in people’s power to change their lives.WISE works alongside a suite of Oxfam initiatives in Guatemala that contribute to the overall vision of achieving greater economic independence and empowerment of women.
This report highlights key accomplishments of WISE from the beginning of 2016.