Two US-based NGOs, Opportunity International and the UPS Foundation, recently partnered to launch the Unstoppable Women Initiative to support female entrepreneurs in underserved communities in Colombia, India, Indonesia and Nigeria. The program includes training, business support and financial services intended to help participants increase their incomes and to stimulate economic growth in general. The partners plan to engage local financial institutions to serve about 48,000 women – roughly half via digital financial services – over three years.
Founded in 1971, Opportunity International serves people living in poverty with financial services such as loans for education and farming. During 2022, the NGO was active in 30 countries, reaching 19 million people – nearly all women – though a range of services, including loans totaling USD 2.7 billion.
Established in 1951, the UPS Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the shipping company UPS. Its focus areas are: (1) Health and Humanitarian Relief; (2) Equity and Economic Empowerment; (3) Local Community Engagement; and (4) Planet Protection. During 2022, the foundation expended USD 112 million, including to support recovery from 45 disasters in 76 countries.
By Pranav Agarwal, Research Associate
Sources and Additional Resources
Opportunity International press release on Unstoppable Women Initiative
https://opportunity.org/news/press-releases/opportunity-international-and-the-ups-foundation-forge-a-3-year-partnership-to-empower-over-48000-women-entrepreneurs-in-the-global-south
Opportunity International homepage
https://opportunity.org/
Opportunity International 2022 Global Metrics
https://opportunity.org/our-impact/impact-metrics/global-metrics
UPS Foundation webpage
https://about.ups.com/ca/en/social-impact/the-ups-foundation.html
UPS Foundation’s 2022 Social Impact Report
https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/social-impact/the-ups-foundations-social-impact-report/2022/The-UPS-Foundation-2022-Social-Impact-Report.pdf
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