Following the success of the hybrid Emprende Pro Mujer platform in Southeast Mexico, Pro Mujer has expanded the platform to provide in-person training to women entrepreneurs in three states in Central Mexico: State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Hidalgo.
Thanks to the expansion of the hybrid program, 210 women entrepreneurs were able to boost their businesses using digital tools and improve their financial management, budgeting, and savings behavior.
Launched in 2021, Emprende Pro Mujer has reached more than 42,000 women across Latin America. In 2022, the platform was adapted to reach rural and Indigenous women in Southeast Mexico, successfully expanding the model to new regions and populations.
Today, the Emprende Pro Mujer hybrid model has also expanded into Guatemala and El Salvador. Since its launch in 2022, more than 2,680 women in Central America have benefited from these hybrid skilling opportunities.
The training model uses an intersectional perspective to provide solutions that address the specific needs of underserved women. It includes both in-person sessions led by expert facilitators and online sessions conducted via WhatsApp, the social messaging app that is most accessible to women with limited connectivity and low levels of digital literacy.
Promoting women’s micro-entrepreneurship through training and mentoring opportunities is essential to address gender inequality.
In Mexico City, the State of Mexico, and Hidalgo, only 42.5% of women are economically active, and they face an income gap of 15.2% compared to men (IMCO, 2023). Across these three states, more than 1.8 million women are employed in the informal economy (INEGI).
Rocío Hesiquio, an entrepreneur from Xochimilco, shared that the training was an enriching opportunity.
“It opened my eyes to many things,” she said. “I learned how to keep my business in order, cut costs, and, most importantly, manage my profits by prioritizing savings. Now, I’ve updated my products’ prices and keep detailed track of my expenses. I feel ready to continue to grow my business.”
Emprende Pro Mujer will continue to empower Mexican women and expand its impact through alliances and strategic partners that will allow it to broaden its reach and impact.
