Our microfinance programs have helped more than a million women work their way out of poverty.
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For over 20 years, the Foundation for Women (FFW) has lifted families out of poverty through microcredit globally. Modeled on the Grameen-style micro-lending concept, FFW spearheaded the launch of microfinance in Liberia, bringing a new level of economic empowerment and independence to over 35,000 women since the program’s inception in 2006.
FFW’s microcredit program includes business training, tailored loan products, and business support and coaching for female, and some male, micro-entrepreneurs. Women come together in groups of 30 and apply to FFW for a business loan. A loan product is fit to the unique needs of the business and the entrepreneurs. First-time loans are generally in the range of $100 USD, repaid over the course of 8-12 months. Weekly meetings serve as the repayment venue, but also a time for women to come together to improve their community and to unlock the creative and community-driven potential of these powerful women. |
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Over the years, FFW’s microcredit program has planted the seeds for extraordinary stories of resilience, innovation, leadership, and empowerment. Together, Liberian women have grown retail businesses, service operations, rebuilt schools, planted community gardens, and supported each other to realize vital household income.
We Invest In Women
Around the world, women suffer from economic exclusion – compounded by inadequate health care, educational disparities, cultural discrimination, and gender-based violence. Despite being the center of families and communities, women are too often considered on the periphery of economic growth. The microfinance revolution changed that, and from India to the United States to Liberia, the Foundation for Women (FFW) has been instrumental in bringing the benefits and rewards of microfinance to underserved communities.
The data is indisputable: when women work, they invest 90% of their income back into their families (compared with 35% for men). Further, closing the gender gap in education adds half a percent to a country’s per capita gross national product. For 20 years, the Foundation for Women (FFW) has worked to spur economic growth in emerging markets and to empower women as the economic engines of society and, in so doing, to create a new future for women and girls.
The data is indisputable: when women work, they invest 90% of their income back into their families (compared with 35% for men). Further, closing the gender gap in education adds half a percent to a country’s per capita gross national product. For 20 years, the Foundation for Women (FFW) has worked to spur economic growth in emerging markets and to empower women as the economic engines of society and, in so doing, to create a new future for women and girls.
Our Work In Liberia
After 15 years of extraordinary, life-changing work reaching over 1,000,000 women in the US, Africa and Asia, the Foundation for Women (FFW) scaled back the breadth of the program to focus on depth of impact in one of the most urgent, important places in the world today: Liberia.
After decades of civil war, Liberia has struggled to recover from the destabilizing impact of economic instability, corruption, and social upheaval. FFW first entered Liberia with microfinance programming in 2006 and has grown the program from 100 micro-loans in its first year, to over 50,000 in investments in the past decade. While the Ebola epidemic of 2014-2015 was a devastating set-back for Liberia’s growth, the nation is re-emerging and integrated development strategies are being embraced as the path forward in Liberia to build a strong and resilient private sector.
Today, FFW’s model is four-pronged: microfinance, education, healthcare, and housing. Working with extraordinary and collaborative partners, FFW is embarking on a new phase of growth, Strategic Plan 2022, which will grow the organization’s impact in Liberia to ensure broad-scale economic vitality across the catchment area of over half a million urban Liberians.
After decades of civil war, Liberia has struggled to recover from the destabilizing impact of economic instability, corruption, and social upheaval. FFW first entered Liberia with microfinance programming in 2006 and has grown the program from 100 micro-loans in its first year, to over 50,000 in investments in the past decade. While the Ebola epidemic of 2014-2015 was a devastating set-back for Liberia’s growth, the nation is re-emerging and integrated development strategies are being embraced as the path forward in Liberia to build a strong and resilient private sector.
Today, FFW’s model is four-pronged: microfinance, education, healthcare, and housing. Working with extraordinary and collaborative partners, FFW is embarking on a new phase of growth, Strategic Plan 2022, which will grow the organization’s impact in Liberia to ensure broad-scale economic vitality across the catchment area of over half a million urban Liberians.
Programs
Schools
FFW works in partnership with Edify to provide loans to schools in Liberia and build long-lasting sustainability. Since 2013, the program has helped over 600 schools and is growing steadily as a model of improving the quality of education. In the program’s first 5 years alone, we provided over $275,000 in loan capital for training and technology, improving the educational outcomes of over 18,000 students. Learn more.
Healthcare
Liberia’s healthcare system has been ravaged by decades of war and economic instability. In a country of almost 5 million people, with over 80% living below the poverty line, very few have access to health services. Responding to this urgent need, FFW launched a 3-pronged initiative in 2018 in an effort to build health care capacity in the private sector, where over 70% of Liberians seek care. Learn more.
Housing
FFW works in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International to bring housing help to Liberian families. Affordable safe housing is a huge challenge in this country where the majority of the population lives well below the global poverty level of $2/day. We are thrilled that of all possible partners, Habitat chose the Foundation for Women – a true testimony to the quality of our work. Learn more.
Agriculture
Coming soon. Learn more.
FFW works in partnership with Edify to provide loans to schools in Liberia and build long-lasting sustainability. Since 2013, the program has helped over 600 schools and is growing steadily as a model of improving the quality of education. In the program’s first 5 years alone, we provided over $275,000 in loan capital for training and technology, improving the educational outcomes of over 18,000 students. Learn more.
Healthcare
Liberia’s healthcare system has been ravaged by decades of war and economic instability. In a country of almost 5 million people, with over 80% living below the poverty line, very few have access to health services. Responding to this urgent need, FFW launched a 3-pronged initiative in 2018 in an effort to build health care capacity in the private sector, where over 70% of Liberians seek care. Learn more.
Housing
FFW works in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International to bring housing help to Liberian families. Affordable safe housing is a huge challenge in this country where the majority of the population lives well below the global poverty level of $2/day. We are thrilled that of all possible partners, Habitat chose the Foundation for Women – a true testimony to the quality of our work. Learn more.
Agriculture
Coming soon. Learn more.