Women's Economic Empowerment

"A healthy and empowered woman is the first foundation for families, communities, and nations to thrive." ~ CSI Founders

Women's History Month (March 1–31, 2017): Read messages from influential women leaders #BeBoldForChange

CSI's low-cost effective and efficient grassroots programs are centered on improving women's access to health services and information plus economically empowering them to save and afford necessary basic services. When a woman is economically empowered to contribute to household income, the well-being of her children also improves, she's likely to have fewer children and spaced births, she is empowered to contribute to household decisions, and be active in her community.

Women's economic empowerment or independence is a driver to address several challenges faced by women and children such as accessing health services, paying tuition for girls to go to school, being able to afford adequate and proper nutrition to ensure growth and development of their children, and purchasing basic needs such as clothing, shoes, and school supplies. To reduce preventable maternal and child deaths, reduce teenage pregnancies, reduce gender-based violence, increase use of family planning services, reduce intergenerational poverty, and increase number of female trained healthcare workers, women need a secure and sustainable source of income. CSI's Women's Economic Empowerment program focuses on connecting women to resources, creating safe learning spaces, and building women's confidence and skills in business mostly in small-scale agriculture, animal farming, home-based businesses, and strategic investing for the well-being of their families.

Sustainable Actions for Financial Independence (SAFI) College

Women's economic empowerment begins with recognizing women have the right to safe spaces to learn, acquire basic skills, and be supported to achieve financial independence to meet their day-to-day needs and those of their children and loved ones.

SAFI College in Nalugala, Entebbe in Uganda is CSI's legacy program to educate and empower women, adolescent girls and youth who were forced to drop out from the traditional school system yet still have big dreams. Financial independence is a fundamental need to achieve better and improved health, education, economic, and social outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and societies at large.

Opening Ceremony on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Visit SAFI College to learn more.

SUPPORT WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND GIRLS' EDUCATION

Women's economic empowerment opportunities and health programs should be inclusive to equally benefit women with disabilities. On International Women's Day 2018, CSI CEO Tausi Suedi spoke at Voice of America in Washington, DC about women's access to health services and information focusing on women with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries because they are often marginalized resulting in poorer maternal health outcomes and being disproportionately economically disadvantaged. Global efforts and community programs need to be inclusive for all women and girls. CSI's women-focused programs: Reproductive Health & Family Planning; Saving Lives at Birth; Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarships; and Men for Women and Girls contribute to advancing women's economic empowerment.