Pro Mujer Inc.

12/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2024 22:00

Pro Mujer and Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva reach over 2,500 Colombian women entrepreneurs and announce expansion for 2025

Pro Mujer and Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva reach over 2,500 Colombian women entrepreneurs and announce expansion for 2025

Pro Mujer, in partnership with the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva, has successfully concluded the first phase of its Emprende Pro Mujer program in Colombia, which has managed to train and graduate more than 2,400 women entrepreneurs throughout the country, consolidating its commitment to promoting economic autonomy and the inclusion of thousands of Colombian women.

The national coverage of this initiative-which reached 100% of Colombian departments in just one year-positively impacted more than 2,200 women who took one or more courses in the digital modality, and another 210 who graduated from the hybrid modality.These results not only reaffirm the success of the program but are also the driving force behind a second stage of the partnership, which will reach more territories and strengthen the empowerment processes focused on Colombian women.

The digital modality has allowed women of all ages and social backgrounds to access key tools to grow their businesses. Meanwhile, the hybrid modality, focused on the departments of Guainía, Guaviare, and Vaupés, was essential to reach Indigenous and rural communities, ensuring that participants receive support tailored to their specific needs and contexts.

Thanks to this inclusive approach, more than 15% of the graduates in the digital modality identify themselves as Afro-descendants, a population that has managed to exceed the program's certification average, and 34% of the hybrid graduates belong to Indigenous communities.

"These achievements are proof of the transformative impact of Emprende Pro Mujer in territories where opportunities are limited," said Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer, adding that "each woman who graduates represents a step toward building a more inclusive and equitable Colombia."

With this consolidation, Pro Mujer and the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva have signed an agreement to extend the program to a second phase.In addition to the hybrid and digital modalities, through which we expect to train 1,200 new women, this stage will include an innovative project to train facilitators: 76 leaders will be trainedin Bogotá, Cali, and Barranquilla to become mentors in their communities.

These facilitators will be multiplying agents of the methodologies and knowledge shared on the Emprende Pro Mujer platform and will provide support to approximately 2,300 additional women throughout the country in their training, contributing to the economic and social development of their territories and ensuring that the knowledge acquired is transferred and consolidated in the long term.

Maria Fernanda Reyes, Executive Director of the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva, said: "Every autonomous woman transcends her enterprise; she impacts communities, energizes local economies, and contributes to strengthening the social fabric. Programs such as Emprende Pro Mujer, with its five modules (ideation, pre-incubation, incubation, acceleration, and business strengthening) are key to closing gender gaps and recognizing and strengthening business, financial, and digital skills."

The Emprende Pro Mujer program in Colombia is designed with a gender perspective that recognizes the specific barriers that women face in starting a business. Through its two modalities, Pro Mujer and the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva seek to create a supportive environment in which participants can access training in business, financial, and digital skills, and thus achieve economic independence that transforms their lives and those of their families.

Registration open for the digital modality

Pro Mujer and the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva invite all interested women to register for the digital Emprende Pro Mujer program, a platform accessible from anywhere in the country that will allow women to strengthen their business, financial, and digital skills. Through this modality, participants will be able to learn at their own pace and receive support in the development and growth of their ventures. To register, visit https://emprendepromujer.org/

About Pro Mujer

Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that for more than 34 years has been providing services and tools to women in Latin America so that they can reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and become change agents for their communities.

Operating through a holistic and comprehensive model that seeks to expand women's access to health services in the region, increase their financial inclusion, and provide 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 and deliver tangible results in eight of those SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 16.

More information available at www.promujer.org

About the Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva

The Fondo Mujer Libre y Productiva is a program of the Colombian government that implements public policies aimed at promoting women's economic autonomy across the national territory. Its mission is to design and implement financial and non-financial actions and tools to support and fund projects and initiatives that foster autonomy, economic empowerment, and dignified work for women in Colombia. This is achieved through entrepreneurship, formalization, and business strengthening, contributing to closing economic gaps.

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