In 2024, with the backing of partners such as MetLife Foundation and Airbnb, the Emprende Pro Mujer program expanded its geographic footprint and celebrated the graduation of the first 77 women entrepreneurs in Veracruz and Quintana Roo. Over the year, more than 580 female entrepreneurs from Southeast Mexico have graduated from the program, including 12 in Veracruz and 65 in Quintana Roo. The latter group includes women from an indigenous community whose native language is Mayan.
Southeastern Mexico registers the highest levels of poverty and vulnerability among women. In Veracruz and Quintana Roo, for example, the poverty rate exceeds 50 percentage points (Coneval). For this reason, Pro Mujer seeks to close these existing gaps that limit women’s economic autonomy.
Since its launch in 2022, the hybrid Emprende Pro Mujer model has had a significant impact in the Southeast, training over 3,600 indigenous, rural, and vulnerable women who lead productive activities in the states of Chiapas, Campeche, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Yucatán through in-person and digital training sessions facilitated by field experts.
This model stands out for its intersectional approach, combining in-person and online training to adapt to the specific needs of the participants. This approach allows women with limited connectivity and digital skills to acquire the essential knowledge to develop and manage their own businesses.
An evaluation conducted by Grupo Impacta in 2023 highlighted that 84% of the participants significantly improved their business practices, while 73% reported feeling empowered to make progress in their business.
The success achieved in Veracruz and Quintana Roo is just the beginning of a collective effort between Pro Mujer and its strategic allies to expand training opportunities for more women in southeastern Mexico, ensuring a more equitable and prosperous future for them.
