The joint efforts of Pro Mujer, MEDA, and Wakami continue advancing one year after the announcement of the “Women Empowerment for Central America” (WE4CA) project, specifically targeting women living in rural areas of Guatemala who work in the manufacturing and regenerative agriculture sectors, with a focus on coffee cultivation.
From the beginning, this four-year initiative has promoted the empowerment of women and girls as a strategy to advance gender equality, prevent gender-based violence, and reduce poverty in rural populations.
To date, WE4CA has made strides towards its goal, transforming the lives of Guatemalan women and families by impacting various fronts: 353 women participated in local forums related to the project’s pillars; 251 women received pertinent information on sexual and reproductive health; 271 women were trained in gender-based violence prevention.
Furthermore, 7 out of the 12 goals set at the project’s inception have been achieved, including the establishment of strategic alliances, the creation of support materials for digital literacy, and the development of strategies on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, transformative masculinities, and community leadership.
Main actions of the project
Transformative Gender and Well-Being Practices
This pillar aims to provide tools for the prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment against women. Training sessions and forums are offered to enhance the knowledge of women and their close surroundings on gender issues, new masculinities, and violence prevention.
Business Strengthening
Through the Emprende Pro Mujer training platform, soft skills training is provided, opening new business opportunities for women, strengthening existing business connections, and promoting networking with other women leaders in the sector.
Access to Financing
Financing needs are addressed with a gender perspective through strategies such as the development of appropriate credit products and services for women’s businesses and raising awareness among public and private actors about the importance of gender-focused investment.
By April 2026, all proposed activities are expected to be successfully completed, positively impacting 3,500 women and girls and 330 men and boys directly, and 15,000 people indirectly.
Pro Mujer, MEDA, and Wakami remain committed to empowering rural women in Guatemala, transforming their realities, and fostering change that promotes their full potential.
Project Partners
MEDA leads the consortium with extensive experience in managing international cooperation projects worldwide.
WAKAMI defines itself as a system that transforms cycles of poverty into cycles of prosperity for rural women in Guatemala.
PRO MUJER is a non-profit social enterprise that has been providing services and tools to women in Latin America for over 32 years, enabling them to reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and become agents of change in their communities.
Pro Mujer operates through a holistic and comprehensive model that seeks to expand women’s access to health services, increase their financial inclusion, and provide training opportunities.
With a deep understanding of the most pressing needs faced by women in Latin America, Pro Mujer designs innovative programs to address issues such as gender-based violence and the digital gender gap. Pro Mujer is a pioneer in the region in promoting and raising awareness about gender-focused investment as an effective mechanism to close gaps and boost company productivity.
Pro Mujer’s work is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivers tangible results in eight SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 16.
For more information, visit www.promujer.org
