Pro Mujer, a social enterprise with over 34 years of experience advancing gender equality, has announced a transformative alliance with Avanza Sólido, a gender-focused microfinance institution, to positively impact the lives of 1,500 women in Mexico.
Globally, women continue to face significant gaps. According to a UN Women study, women are able to reach, on average, only 60% of their potential worldwide. In Mexico, this reality is strongly felt, limiting the development and empowerment of women in multiple areas.
These inequalities are exacerbated in the southeast of the country, a region of high priority for both organizations since 6 of the 8 poorest states in Mexico are located in this area, with Chiapas leading the list. According to the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL), 76% of the population in Chiapas lives in poverty, and this situation is even worse for women, with almost 80% living under this condition.
In order to confront these challenges, the credit beneficiaries of Avanza Sólido will have access to entrepreneurial training opportunities and health and wellness services designed by Pro Mujer.
In this regard, more than 500 women will have access to Emprende Pro Mujer, the entrepreneurial training platform that has impacted over 93,000 women in 23 countries across Latin America and the United States. Through the program, the users will receive guidance and access to high-quality, easy-to-understand educational materials designed to enhance their leadership, digital, management, personal development, financial and sales skills.
In turn, in an effort to support women in managing their health, more than 1,000 will have access to Pro Mujer’s health chatbots, which offer essential information and support on critical issues such as breast cancer, diabetes, and sexual and reproductive health.
“Alliances like this are crucial to breaking down the barriers that women face. Investing in them not only improves their quality of life, but also contributes to strengthening the economy and the social fabric, demonstrating that gender equality is a fundamental pillar for sustainable development”, stated Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer.
The joint work of Pro Mujer and Avanza Sólido represents a significant effort to transform the lives of women and their families in Mexico, generating a positive impact that will extend to their communities. By providing access to entrepreneurial education and health services, a path is created towards a more equitable and prosperous future.
About Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that, for over 32 years, has provided services and tools to women in Latin America to help them reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and become change agents for their communities.
It operates through a holistic and comprehensive model that seeks to expand access to health services for women in the region, increase their financial inclusion, and provide them with training opportunities.
Through a deep understanding of the most pressing needs faced by women in Latin America, Pro Mujer designs innovative programs that aim 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 Lens Investing as an effective mechanism to close gaps and drive company productivity.
The efforts of Pro Mujer are closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and deliver tangible results in eight SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11 and 16.
More information available at www.promujer.org.
About Avanza Solido
Avanza Sólido is a a gender-focused microfinance institution that specializes in providing loans in rural and urban areas of southern Mexico. For over 13 years, through non-financial services and skills development, it has promoted responsible and inclusive finance for women and their families to reduce inequality gaps.
