Educating girls is the best investment we can make to alleviate poverty and create a safer world.
Evidence shows that universal primary and secondary education could more than halve the number of people living in poverty worldwide – improving the lives of 420 million individuals. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions where inclusive, quality education could have the most transformative impact.
A woman’s economic inclusion means she can secure her own future, the future of her family, and help her community thrive. CAMFED is supporting young women to start sustainable enterprises, creating jobs, and improving the health and wealth of entire nations.
Video: The power of women's enterpriseWhile some countries have abolished school fees at primary and/or secondary level, household incomes often won’t stretch to covering the required school uniforms, stationery and other essentials. Where families have resources to support some but not all children, boys may be given priority, as they face fewer barriers to securing economic independence after school.
Women with a secondary school education will earn twice as much, on average, as women without an education.
Educated women will reinvest 90% of their earnings back into their families, compared with 35% for men.
Educated women will earn up to 25% more per year of secondary school.
Through the CAMFED Association — our peer support and leadership network — we equip young women with financial literacy and business training, grants, mentoring and support.
Young women experienced in business, and in navigating the challenges and barriers imposed by gender and economic disadvantage in their communities, are trained as Business Guides, delivering a structured program of support to their peers.
CAMFED also establishes linkages to business development services through our partnerships with local government, traditional authorities, private industry and financial service providers. These partners, in turn, can provide additional technical support, advice, and new opportunities for women to start and grow businesses. This multifaceted support is vital in a context where women are often expected to provide unpaid agricultural labor.
Through surveys, research, and learning opportunities we listen and learn from CAMFED Association members running businesses, so that we can collectively support women to overcome the hurdles they face.
The global pandemic further laid bare the need to respond flexibly to women’s needs — to address issues relating to loan repayments which can arise through health, economic, or climate crises; and to fortify young women’s livelihoods to withstand the longer term impacts of a crisis. This includes support to diversify businesses to meet local demand for goods and services, including basic sanitation supplies, and to pivot businesses to the agricultural sector and food production to tackle looming food insecurity.
The 'Shaping My Future' program was delivered by CAMFED Association members in Zambia between 2013 and 2017. 3,922 young women who had been supported by CAMFED at school participated in the program soon after they graduated from secondary school. Participants received business and life skills training and were assisted to develop business plans. They received a seed grant and mentoring to help them launch and grow their businesses. As a result:
CAMFED Association members participating in the program created 3,000 new businesses
CAMFED Association members participating in the program created 4,000 new jobs
CAMFED Association members participating in the program supported 10,000 children to go to school
CAMFED Executive Director Angeline Murimirwa introduces the revolutionary concept of ‘social interest,’ a whole new approach to lending, which allows young African secondary school graduates — considered ‘unbankable’ — to gain access to finance, paying forward their interest in service to vulnerable students and exponentially multiplying the impact of their loan.
This is the concept behind the flexible loan facility CAMFED makes available to Association members through our partner Kiva. As young women volunteer their time as Learner Guides and Transition Guides, for example, they can take the opportunity to grow rural businesses.
Watch Angie's TED Talk
By the end of 2023, 112,246 CAMFED Association entrepreneurs had started a business, bringing quality food, products, services and jobs to rural communities, and using profits to send more children to school.
Each member of the CAMFED Association, on average, supports another three girls to go to school with her own resources as well as mentoring and encouraging many more.
As part of an ambitious strategic plan we aim to create 150,000 new jobs, especially in climate-smart enterprises, so that more young women have secure livelihoods and more girls stay in school.
Today I am a successful female entrepreneur in Tanzania, a role model to other young women in my community. I mentor other women who want to become entrepreneurs, advising them to work together and pool their resources to be successful. Through farming I have been able to change my life to a great extent. I can provide for myself and my family’s needs, as well as supporting marginalized children in my community to go to school.Rehema, Learner Guide and Agriculture Entrepreneur
Ruka Yaro De-Liman and Priscilla Akoto-Bamfo were among just six leading female entrepreneurs selected to engage with the Vice President, during her recent three-day visit to Ghana.
CAMFED is excited to announce our new partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation to certify women-led shea butter businesses in Northern Ghana.
Citi TV — one of Ghana’s leading television channels — is shining a spotlight on young women entrepreneurs through a series of interviews on its popular Breakfast Daily show. Catch up on the broadcasts with CAMFED Association members as they share their experience of entrepreneurship: their challenges, successes, and hopes for the future.
Our exciting research collaboration with the International Labor Organization and the Mastercard Foundation reveals the agricultural value chains offering the greatest potential for female entrepreneurs.
Read about young women’s economic leadership in rural Tanzania, which is unlocking their growing power as local philanthropists.
See the highlights from CAMFED Zambia’s first ever business showcase, attended by partner organizations, government departments, the private sector and the media.
Read the report about our CAMFED Association, which lays out the wider value of young women’s entrepreneurship for entire communities.
This important study sheds light on the transformative impact that follows investment in youth enterprise, not least on the number of children in school.
Celebrate two successful businesswomen in Ghana, recognized with national awards for helping to grow local and national economies.
Send a girl to school, and help her on the road to economic independence.
Alan Wilson £57.4
Terina Martinez $26.6
Robin Gregory £5.4
Kate Machin $16
Jane Baker $3
Elaine Portzel $3
John Lamb $13
Harriet S Littleton $5.6
Emiliano Conde $403
Amy Michelle Cresswell $5.6
Timothy Pearson $42.4
Francesca Trabacca $5.6
Jacquiline Giden $3
Quinton Cole-Gillard $21.4
Akshata Rudrapatna $13
