Gates Foundation strategy targets women's economic mobility

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is conducting a five-year strategy initiated in 2021 to increase the incomes of women living in poverty and strengthen their control over assets. The initiative focuses on rural women in India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, regions home to approximately 444 million women in targeted income groups.

The strategy moves away from isolated development programs—such as social protection, livelihoods, financial inclusion, and enterprise support—which often operate through separate institutions and funding streams. Instead, the foundation and its partners are examining how integrated support can address the interconnected obstacles women face, such as the need for childcare, insurance, and long-term financing alongside traditional business loans.