Explore the latest global and regional insights from Women’s World Banking’s work in policy, leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, gender lens investing, and more.
We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ms. Ela Ramesh Bhatt, an iconic leader and a Founding Member of Women’s World Banking. Elaben (“ben” meaning “ sister”), as she was known, was a true trailblazer in advancing women’s empowerment and financial inclusion – first in India,
Why it takes more than microloans to empower women and promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth. “In her book, Mary Ellen Iskenderian reminds us to ask where our bank finance flows and how much is used for building unequal wealth or destructive institutions that harm humans and the natural environment. How
Impact performance measurement of microfinance institutions in 41 countries will launch in Q2 2022 with support from sector leaders. April 13, 2022 – In a global effort to promote standard, comparable impact outcomes data for the microfinance industry, 60 Decibels will release the first microfinance index driven entirely by end
New York, NY, March 30, 2022 – Women’s World Banking Asset Management (“WAM”) has announced the final closing of its second fund, WWB Capital Partners II, L.P. (“WWBCP II” or “the Fund”). Following its first closing of $75 million in March 2020, WWBCP II held a final closing in March
Convening globally diverse advocates for women’s economic empowerment has always been a core aspect of Women’s World Banking’s work, and now more than ever, with so many women facing the negative economic consequences of a global pandemic, it is so crucial that we continue to do so. Our flagship platform
Funding and support from data.org will facilitate data-driven projects for social impact around the world New York, NY (January 19, 2021): Today, data.org announced the eight global awardees of the $10 million Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge. Launched in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and The Rockefeller Foundation,
Important findings for post-COVD recovery show how a mix of financial and business support from Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) empowered women-owned MSMEs Nairobi, December 1, 2020 – Financial institutions need to tailor financial services to support women business customers and fuel women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) growth according
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Connie Collingsworth and Microfund for Women’s Muna Sukhtian step down as Co-Chairs New York, October 23, 2020 — Women’s World Banking today announced a change in its board leadership, as Co-Chairs Connie Collingsworth, Chief Operating Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and
This renewed, four-year partnership will enable Women’s World Banking to accelerate its support for low-income women throughout Southeast Asia, with a focus on COVID-19 recovery and resilience New York, October 22, 2020 – Women’s World Banking announces that Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has renewed its support
Partnership aims to accelerate access to, and usage of, digital financial tools, services and enabling technologies to help low-income women build economic resilience. Women’s World Banking and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) today announced a strategic partnership to enhance financial inclusion and access to digital financial services for
Women’s World Banking has appointed four new leaders to its Board of Directors: Patsy Doerr, Martin Ihrig, Anjali Kumar, and Janet Truncale. Their expertise in growth strategies, finance, law, and leadership and diversity will contribute to the effective delivery of Women’s World Banking’s strategy of driving greater scale in providing access to finance to low-income women in the coming years.
Women’s World Banking has appointed four new leaders to its Board of Directors: Patsy Doerr, Martin Ihrig, Anjali Kumar, and Janet Truncale. Their expertise in growth strategies, finance, law, and leadership and diversity will contribute to the effective delivery of Women’s World Banking’s strategy of driving greater scale in providing access to finance to low-income women in the coming years.
She Counts, a global platform that harnesses the power of financial services to put savings and financial tools in the hands of women, enabling them to plan for a more prosperous future.
With support from MetLife Foundation, Women’s World Banking has partnered with Dutch-Bangla Bank (DBBL) to increase the usage of mobile financial services by low-income women in Bangladesh.
Women’s World Banking hosted a Twitter chat to hear from three organizations about how they’re helping women build a better future through digital savings while creating a more sustainable business.
Global NGO Women’s World Banking today announced the launch of their Southeast Asia Advisory Council, a group of 13 high-profile leaders with the common goal of advancing women’s financial inclusion throughout the region.
Women’s World Banking, the Center for Global Development, and ExxonMobil Foundation launched She Counts, a global initiative convening and harnessing the power of financial service providers committed to serving women.
Aspen Institute México and Women’s World Banking host the first of a series of events focused on women’s financial inclusion in Mexico. This event is supported by the Prosperity Fund run by the British Embassy in Mexico City. For Immediate Release: March 8, 2018 Contact: Maura Hart, +1 212 556 3156
A collaboration amongst four Pakistan and multi-national organizations aims to enhance the availability of financial services to low-income women across Pakistan. The partnership brings together the technical expertise of Pakistan’s premiere mobile financial services provider JazzCash and consumer products giant Unilever Pakistan Limited.
Tanzanian Vice President H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan joins biennial gathering of global leaders to advance financial inclusion for women For Immediate Release: October 24, 2017 Contact: Maura Hart, +1 212 556 3156 or meh@womensworldbanking.org DAR ES SALAAM—Global NGO Women’s World Banking brings its biennial international gathering, the Making Finance Work for Women
At the Making Finance Work for Women Summit today in Dar es Salaam, Visa announced the newly-incorporated Visa Foundation, established as part of Visa’ larger social impact strategy to support the growth of micro and small enterprises around the world, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive.
This year’s SME Finance Forum will include interactive sessions, study tours to high-performing institutions, fintech demos, a B2B marketplace & networking sessions.
Women’s World Banking hosted a workshop in Nigeria for our partners on advancing women’s financial inclusion through digital financial services.
Diamond Bank today joins Women’s World Banking to host a global discussion on the role of digital financial services in empowering low-income women who do not have access to formal financial products. During a three-day workshop, discussants from the Central Bank of Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Diamond Bank Plc, Jazz of Pakistan, BIMA of Cambodia and Women’s World Banking will examine the best practices in developing, enhancing and delivering world-class digital financial services to women.
Women’s World Banking adds three new senior positions, strengthening the global nonprofit’s leadership in addressing the most critical issues for women’s financial inclusion. With decades of experience in cutting edge technology, human-centered design and strategic partnerships, these three new leaders will help scale innovative, commercially viable financial solutions to meet women’s needs across regions and cultures.
JazzCash, Pakistan’s premiere financial services provider and global nonprofit Women’s World Banking announce a partnership to promote women’s financial inclusion across Pakistan. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the partners will work to increase low-income women’s adoption and use of digital financial services, particularly the JazzCash mobile account.
On International Women’s Day, the Secretariat of the National Council for Financial Inclusion of Indonesia (Secretariat) and global nonprofit Women’s World Banking announce a partnership to promote women’s financial inclusion in Indonesia. The project, made possible with funding from the Department of Foreign and Trade of Australia (DFAT), will support Indonesia’s goal to reach 75 percent financial inclusion by 2019.
On International Women’s Day, Women’s World Banking announces that Banco de Ahorro y Crédito ADOPEM, S.A. (Banco ADOPEM) of the Dominican Republic receives the Excellence in Leadership Award. The award recognizes Banco ADOPEM’s commitment to promoting gender diversity among the organization’s staff, leadership and governance alongside its mission to serve low-income women.
Two new Co-Chairs take the helm as four leaders in financial services, business leadership and investing join global nonprofit devoted to giving more low-income women access to financial services.
Women’s World Banking added several new faces to the team this year, making us better able to empower low-income women with financial services.
Knowledge and Communications Associate Ashleigh DeLuca blogs about how we “refreshed” our storytelling to better communicate the value of serving women.
National Microfinance Bank Plc (NMB) in collaboration with global nonprofit Women’s World Banking is launching WAJIBU, a family of youth savings accounts paired with a financial capability program designed to help youth and parents in schools across Tanzania save and manage money together for a bright future.
The inaugural 2016 BFGEI recognizes 26 financial services firms with strong commitments to gender equality, including dedicated social disclosure policies and practices.
Jordan’s Microfund for Women and global nonprofit Women’s World Banking will host representatives from around the world for an intensive workshop on microinsurance in Amman. Microfund for Women, a Women’s World Banking network member, created the first private health microinsurance offering in Jordan.
Maura Hart, Manager, Knowledge and Communications, guest blogged on Ericsson’s Mobile Financial Services blog in honor of International Women’s Day.
Diamond Bank, in collaboration with ICT company, MTN and global nonprofit; Women’s World Banking, is unveiling the next phase of the Diamond Y’ello account through an innovative partnership aimed at deepening the financial inclusion of women in Nigeria.
Good Return and Women’s World Banking marked the commencement of their strategic partnership at the Asia Pacific Financial Inclusion Summit in Manila (27-29 Oct).
Our work consulting on Bloomberg’s Financial Services Gender-Equality Index was highlighted.
Al Majmoua has received Women’s World Banking’s 2015 Excellence in Leadership Award. The award, supported by Oliver Wyman, recognizes Al Majmoua’s commitment to promoting gender diversity among the organization’s staff, leadership and governance alongside its mission to serve low-income women.
Leaders from finance, mobile technology, payments and consumer brands will join government representatives, microfinance pioneers and more in Berlin this week to examine the latest and most promising trends in financial services for low-income women. The Making Finance Work for Women Summit, hosted by global nonprofit Women’s World Banking, will take place November 11-12 at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Women’s World Banking’s Leadership and Diversity for Innovation Program, supported by Credit Suisse, was highlighted in the Economic Times.
Thirteen high-performing women employees from financial institutions around the world will join Women’s World Banking in Mumbai this week as part of a year-long Leadership and Diversity for Innovation Program.
Women’s World Banking is welcoming 14 senior leaders from financial institutions around the world to New York this week, kicking off a one-year Leadership and Diversity for Innovation Program.
Leadership and Diversity Specialist Sarah Buitoni introduces our one-of-a-kind leadership program for senior leaders of financial institutions dedicated to serving the low-income market.
Manager of Knowledge and Communications Julie Slama blogs about a recent trip to Ghana with Credit Suisse volunteers to understand the local microfinance market.
Kashf Foundation has been awarded with client protection certification by Smart Campaign for meeting excellent standards of customer care which are globally recognized.
In January 2015, Women’s World Banking moved from our longtime home in Bryant Park to a new office space. Our Chief Operating Officer shares how he led the organization through the big move.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania joins Women’s World Banking to announce the Leadership and Diversity for Innovation Program, which will launch in April 2015.
Women’s World Banking’s membership to the Smart Campaign, global movement to embed a set of client-protection principles into the fabric of the microfinance industry, was highlighted.
The Microfinance CEO Working Group welcomes two new members: : Lauren Hendricks (CARE’s Access Africa program) and Shameran Abed (BRAC).
Women’s World Banking held the inaugural meeting of its Africa Advisory Council, a group helping refine its strategic work who serve as ambassadors for women’s financial inclusion issues within their personal and professional circles.
Senior Associate Jaclyn Berfond shares her thoughts on the themes that emerged from a recent e-workshop on using gender performance indicators.
Rural women in Malawi provide significant earning power within their families but so many of them have no access to a safe place to save their money. Through a new innovative mobile savings account, Malawi’s NBS Bank Ltd. is working with global nonprofit Women’s World Banking to bring banking to the doorsteps of local low-income communities and families.
Twelve high-profile African leaders, including Nigerian Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have joined with global nonprofit Women’s World Banking to form a new advisory council with the common goal of bringing economic empowerment to low-income African women.
With support from global nonprofit Women’s World Banking, three financial institutions in Peru, Colombia and Paraguay are successfully tapping a historically under-served market: low-income rural women.
Today Women’s World Banking, in partnership with UNIFIM A.C. and supported by McGraw Hill Financial, is hosting an exclusive roundtable in Mexico City to discuss how well-designed individual microenterprise loans can grow Mexico’s financial services sector, extending much-needed credit and growth opportunities to low-income microentrepreneurs.
A partnership between Women’s World Banking and BSR’s HERfinance program will increase workers’ financial skills and awareness and create new financial products and services tailored to the working poor.
The volunteers were in Bolivia as part of DB’s Corporate Community Partnership (CCP) Program, a volunteer program aimed at providing employees an opportunity to use their skills to support a DB partner organization in a meaningful way. Given Women’s World Banking’s long relationship with DB, we were honored to facilitate Pedro, Costina and Katharina’s engagement with FUNBODEM. This is the eighth time over the last six years that DB employees have volunteers to work work with a Women’s World Banking Network member.
Floods that hit Bosnia and Herzegovina last week inflicted enormous material damage to citizens. The real damage will not be known for a long time. MI-BOSPO launched emergency actions to assist its clients and employees. We have been collecting information on how many clients have lost their homes and property, in order for us to try to find ways to assist them.
Women’s World Banking announced today that it has joined the Better Than Cash Alliance, committing to work with its 39 network members in 28 countries around the globe to ensure that at least one million low-income people shift to electronic money channels in the next five years.
Support Women’s World Banking in honor of Mother’s Day and help low-income mothers worldwide build a better future for themselves, their families and communities.
Our President and CEO Mary Ellen Iskenderian weighs in on Bloomberg”s latest look at the glass ceiling facing women around the world. Excerpt: Disparities exist at both ends of the economic scale around the world. In 2012, a Gallup poll for the World Bank showed that only 47 percent of
Women’s World Banking hosts the Women in Leadership Program in Mexico City, Mexico. With support from MetLife Foundation, the five-day program aims to improve professional development among talented women microfinance leaders.
In honor of IWD, Women’s World Banking is holding a series of digital events throughout the week preceding the 8th.
Meeting women microentrepreneurs inspires an NYC highschool student to seek new opportunities
Financial literacy for Hispanic women Twice a week I head down to volunteer at the Los Sures Social Services office, situated next to the local senior citizen home, to help at the food pantry. We distribute food to people in my neighborhood. Many are familiar faces. Many are middle-aged Hispanic
Being a junior and learning about different colleges and careers makes it hard for me to only be interested in one field, but in my eyes business is one of the few majors that will allow me to explore most of the careers that I am currently interested in. Ten
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah attended Women’s World Banking’s Building Women-Focused Finance: Middle East and North Africa Conference in Amman, Jordan. Queen Rania attends global conference to build women-focused finance by JT AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday attended a global conference that aims to promote financial
Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, stakeholders from around the world gather in Amman to promote financial inclusion for low-income women
Britain will forge a new partnership between east Africa, leading businesses and the London Stock Exchange Group to boost development in the region, Justine Greening announced as she headed DFID’s first business delegation.
Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) today announced a new partnership with global non-profit Women’s World Banking to bring 1.3 million people from Sub-Saharan Africa into the formal financial services sector for the first time.
Women’s World Banking is among MetLife’s first round of grant recipients as part of their new global campaign to bring financial inclusion to low-income communities in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the U.S.
There is nothing like celebrating our collective accomplishments with our closest friends and supporters. We had just that honor at our annual benefit last October 9th at the IAC Building in New York City, kicking the night off with a rockstar panel of luminaries (Andrew Ross Sorkin, Anne Marie Slaughter,
Women’s World Banking today announced the 2013 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award, funded by the Citi Foundation. Microfund for Women (MFW), based in Jordan, is honored for building an institution that ensures that women are well-represented in the organization’s workforce, leadership and governance while maintaining its commitment to serve every ambitious woman.
Women’s World Banking’s online Leadership Community for Center for Microfinance Leadership Alumni was featured in a report in the Fall 2013 Research Edition of the MIT Sloan Management Review Journal.
Women’s World Banking was mentioned in a list of select participants invited to its third annual forum to be held in New York City in September. Chief Development Officer Anna Gincherman will be speaking on the panel entitled “Forging the Path toward an Inclusive Financial Sector.”
Women’s World Banking is proud to announce that three members of the Women’s World Banking network have been ranked in the top 20 list of microfinance institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean: Banco WWB, Banco ADOPEM and Fundación delamujer.
In celebration of our Community’s One Year Anniversary, we asked members to share photos of themselves working with their teams and to tell us their leadership philosophies. We are now pleased to share them with you through this video!
Today, the United States of America celebrates its 237th day of independence from Great Britain. While Americans all over the world reflect on the over 200 years of democratic liberty they enjoy, we at Women’s World Banking would like to encourage everyone to spend a few minutes to think about
On the evening of Thursday, June 20th, we invited our closest supporters for a sneak peek of our new brand, visual identity and website.
We are proud to share with you that two of the first MFIs to be certified by the Smart Campaign are members of the Women’s World Banking network. Please join me in congratulating MI-BOSPO (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Ujjivan Financial Services (India) on receiving the Client Protection Certification.
The head of Women’s World Banking, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, visited Australia this week to meet with staff, including AusAID’s Director General, Peter Baxter.
It is with great pleasure that I announce that Sandy Salama from network member The Lead Foundation (Egypt) has been selected as the first network representative in the Women’s World Banking Fellowship Program.
A good leader is humble, human, honest, funny and a hard worker. An enthusiastic delegation from Women’s World Banking attended the 17th Annual Wharton Leadership Conference on June 19, entitled “Rising Up to Leadership”. As is always true of this incredible annual event, the conference speakers offered their reflections on
I’m so excited to introduce our new logo and website today! For more than 35 years, we have been the authoritative resource for the needs of low-income women. In the evolution of our work, we are serving more women than ever before with the essential tools and resources that allow
Sarah Buitoni, Senior Associate at Women’s World Banking’s Center for Microfinance Leadership will be speaking at the Microfinance Club of New York’s event “Client Centric Approaches to Microfinance Product Design.”
Event description:
We are proud to announce that our founder Michaela Walsh is being honored by the Women’s Bond Club as the 2013 recipient of the distinguished Isabel Benham Award. Through its Isabel Benham Award, the Women’s Bond Club recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions in improving the lives of women.
Current President and CEO Mary Ellen Iskenderian was the recipient of the award in 2009.
Women’s World Banking is proud to co-present GOING BEYOND BUSINESS Opportunities and challenges in microinsurance
In January, Women’s World Banking joined its partners in the Microfinance CEO Working Group to announce its support for the Smart Campaign Client Protection Certification Program – a groundbreaking new effort that seeks to ensure that microfinance institutions keep clients at the center of their work.
Women’s World Banking is thrilled to announce that Dr. Jennifer Riria, chair of Women’s World Banking, Group Chief Executive of Kenya Women Holding Company Ltd (KWH) and a board member of network member and KWH subsidiary Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) was awarded one of the ten Ford Foundation Champions of Democracy Award in Nairobi on November 13, 2012.
On May 30, 2012, Women’s World Banking (WWB) and network member Interfisa Financiera celebrated the launch of NdeVale, a new loan product targeted at Paraguay’s rural women population. NdeVale was developed so that it can be issued to all clients who have a income-generating activity, with minimal documentation requirements and flexible collateral and duration. Through market research, we knew that collateral was a concern for women as assets, particularly property, are traditionally owned by men.
From April 16-20th, the WWB Center for Microfinance Leadership welcomed senior leaders in Philadelphia, USA for the 4th Annual Advanced Leadership Program. Participants hailed from 22 institutions in 19 different countries, representing all regions of the world.
Microlumbia Fund is a 501(c)3 organization run by Columbia Business School (CBS) students that provides growing microfinance institutions with pro-bono consulting services and debt capital while stimulating interest in the field among a new generation of future business leaders. Our mission is to help alleviate global poverty by providing the CBS community the means and opportunities to become lifelong contributors to the field of microfinance. For CBS students, we offer education, investment management and consulting opportunities.
As part of the Milken Institute 2012 Global Conference, Mary Ellen Iskenderian will participate in a session called “Global Banking Regulation,” currently scheduled for Tuesday, May 1 from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.
This year’s Milken Institute Global Conference will be held from April 29- May 2 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. A capacity crowd of 3,000 senior executives from more than 50 countries representing finance, business, government and the nonprofit world (including academia) is expected.
The book Saris on Scooters, which tells inspiring stories of women in India who have overcome many obstacles and successfully built businesses using small loans, features a foreword written by Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President of WWB.
