Our Impact on Globally Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment
Impact Snapshot as of: Q1 2025
(Based on available data as of: 05/15/2025)
87 Million Women and Counting
To date, we have reached more than 87 million women in emerging markets through our programs, helping to change not only their lives but the lives of their households, communities, and businesses.
What do we mean by reached?
Women’s World Banking uses the term “reached” to describe any woman who benefits from our programs to enhance financial inclusion, defined as giving women the choice to access and capability to use financial services. This includes:
- Women who have access to new or enhanced products or services, delivered directly in partnership with financial services providers.
- Women projected to benefit from products, services, or policies that deepen their financial inclusion, through investment and influence with financial service providers and policymakers.
Discover Our Impact by Year
2022
Expanding our Influence and Reach Across the Globe to Accelerate Women’s Financial Inclusion
2020
Women’s World Banking is revolutionizing financial inclusion by integrating gender lens investing strategies to empower women in emerging markets. By directing capital towards inclusive financial institutions that prioritize women’s needs, we’ve reached over 86 million women, transforming not just individual lives but entire communities. Our approach involves direct equity investments in institutions committed to serving women, coupled with technical assistance to enhance their outreach and effectiveness. Through our Capital Partners Funds I and II, we’ve invested approximately $115 million across Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, and Latin America, enabling our portfolio companies to serve over 10 million women.
Gender lens investing isn’t solely about social impact; it’s a strategic financial decision. Studies indicate that advancing gender equality could add $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030. Moreover, financial institutions that embrace gender diversity often see improved performance metrics, including higher return on equity and revenue growth. Despite these benefits, nearly 1 billion women remain underserved by the financial sector. Women’s World Banking is committed to bridging this gap by continuing to invest in and support institutions that champion women’s financial inclusion. Join us in our mission to create a more equitable financial landscape. Explore our Impact Snapshot to learn more about our initiatives and the transformative power of gender lens investing.
