Investing in women’s leadership and development is not only an ethical imperative; it is also a strategic business decision. This is the guiding principle of the Gender Knowledge Lab (GKL), Pro Mujer’s consulting and technical assistance area that works alongside private, public, and civil society organizations to incorporate a gender perspective into their operations, culture, products, and services.
Since its creation in 2022, the GKL has supported the gender mainstreaming processes of more than 270 organizations in more than 18 countries, reaching 7,200 people through courses, workshops, and technical assistance.
Through strategic alliances with international organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and others, the GKL promotes initiatives that strengthen women’s development and participation in the labor force.
The GKL is committed to implementing evidence-based initiatives that support gender lens investing to drive both sustainability and financial returns: companies with higher female leadership have a 39% likelihood of financially outperforming their peers (McKinsey). According to the World Bank, the access to finance gap for the 73% of women-led businesses in the region that are unable to access capital is US$93 billion in Latin America alone.
In addition to supporting companies with gender mainstreaming initiatives and the business and impact opportunities they produce, the GKL also conducts regional impact studies and research to produce relevant knowledge products and supports community-building initiatives through its open-access platforms, workshops, and events, such as the GLI Forum LatAm, the first and only event in Latin America focused on gender lens investing.
Building the Next 35 Years for Gender Equality
In March 2025, Pro Mujer announced “Building The Next 35 Years Together,” our new organizational strategy. This strategy seeks to multiply our impact and respond to women’s needs within an ever-changing socio-economic and demographic context.
As part of this new phase, the GKL will remain a leader on gender at the regional and international levels and will continue to bet on spaces such as the GLI Forum to encourage dialogue and knowledge exchange and advocate for policies that support gender equality.
“Growing evidence shows that gender mainstreaming and gender lens investing are value-add approaches that boost business profitability and multiply impact,” said Tomás González Bergez, Global Gender and GKL Manager of Pro Mujer. “The GKL will continue to work alongside institutions that seek to strengthen their gender perspective and explore the opportunities offered by inclusion.”
The road to gender equality is long, but every step counts. A future where women can reach their full potential is not a given; we must work together to make it a reality.
