Increasing the number of meaningful, dignified income generation and business ownership opportunities available to low-income women.
According to UNIFEM, women represent 70 percent of the world’s poor. And, in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, eight out of ten women workers are considered to be in vulnerable employment, with many global economic changes taking a huge toll on their livelihoods.
Almaz Negash , writing for Santa Clara University, observes that "female economic power enhances the wealth and well-being of nations. Women who control their own income tend to have fewer children, and fertility rates have shown to be inversely related to national income growth. Women are also more able - and generally more willing than male counterparts - to send daughters as well as sons to school, even when they earn less than men. In turn, a woman's level of education affects her decision-making process when it comes to questions about contraception, age of marriage, fertility, child mortality, modern sector employment and earnings."
Options for Life invites organizations that provide health, education and employment services to women to join us in public/private collaborations designed to increase the number of meaningful and dignified income generation and business ownership opportunities available to low-income women.
