Economic empowerment increases women’s access to economic resources and opportunities, including jobs, financial services, property and other productive assets, skills development, and market information. For women and girls who have experienced Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and are at risk of it, economic empowerment is critical to mitigating its effects and expanding options and opportunities.  Young women and teenage girls are at elevated risk of SGBV, which results not only in infections with HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) but result in the ever-increasing numbers of teen and young mothers who reflect the unending circle of poverty evident in school drop-out, transactional sex, malnutrition for young/teen mothers and their children, and child neglect. Therefore, targeting women and girls is not only the smart thing to do but also the right thing for impact and sustainability.

This project aims to reach 10,000 women, including young and teen mothers, with business skills, start-up kits, access to credit, and mentorship support to increase their income and reduce their risk to SGBV.