International Women’s Day provides an excellent reminder that achieving parity for women across the global business landscape pays off. CIPE invests in women as forceful, beneficial, and innovative actors in the global economy. The World Bank notes that women have the power to raise global GDP by 20% – yet women experience business opportunity differently than men, with unique barriers to their access to education, information, capital, and markets. Despite these barriers, women are driving growth across industries. By investing in women’s economic freedom around the world, Americans at home also stand to benefit.
CIPE’s Investment in Women Makes America Stronger
CIPE’s global network of women’s business organizations includes local partners and potential American business allies working to unlock GDP in their countries by targeting support for women business owners and giving them a voice in the laws and regulations that govern them and their businesses. CIPE’s network includes hundreds of women business associations and women’s chambers of commerce in Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa.
It Makes America Safer
Through CIPE’s emphasis on the intersection of free markets and democracy, CIPE is reducing the key drivers of irregular migration and violent extremism by providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and community leadership. CIPE’s Women’s Business Resources Centers provide a safe space with childcare and coworking facilities where women can get the training, mentorship, and coaching they need to start up and scale up businesses and employ more citizens in their communities. Activities focused on entrepreneurship reduce economic hardship and physical insecurity while protecting U.S. national security and providing new business opportunities.
And it Makes America More Prosperous
CIPE is creating a more supportive business environment for women – and for global trade. Using CIPE’s enduring Guide to Business Associations, CIPE has supported dozens of women business support organizations and coalitions to prioritize barriers to women’s success in business, research and provide solutions, and advocate for passage with government officials. CIPE partners have informed legislation on such issues as access to credit, business registration needs, violence against women, and privatized care solutions. CIPE partners even established a legal definition of women’s entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan. This improves country-level data collection on women-owned businesses, a pathway from informal to formally registered businesses, and products and services for access to capital.
By opening more stable and dynamic markets in which American business and exports can compete, and by helping women entrepreneurs succeed, CIPE is contributing to America’s strength, safety, and prosperity in global markets.
Published Date: March 06, 2025