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Economic Growth

Helping women earn, save, and invest.

A Vietnamese woman pours grains from a large green bucket.

Aid alone can't end global poverty. We must make markets work for everyone.

CARE’s Economic Growth team works with the private sector, government, associations, and more to make markets more equal and sustainable. We tap into CARE’s local expertise, partners, and networks to expand economic opportunities with a particular focus on women and girls. Our economic growth work supports long-term economic stability by helping individuals and communities earn, save, and invest in economic growth.

Our impact

Program highlights

  • For every $1 invested in CARE’s savings groups, members generate $9-$18 in income.
  • Programs increased incomes 175%, savings 153%, and entrepreneur business sales 15%.
  • More than 150,000 entrepreneurs have improved access to finance or skills.
  • More than 375,000 people in supply chains have improved policies on equality for women and girls.
  • 21.6 million people are in a CARE savings group.
  • 68% of people reached were women/girls.

Help people earn more and increase control of their income.

Help people increase their savings and assets to build resilience.

Invest in businesses that drive positive economic impact and opportunity.

Our programs

Village Savings and Loan Associations

VSLAs act as a springboard for community interventions. These transformative programs help women build savings.

Village Savings and Loan Associations

Learn more about VSLAs

Women's Entrepreneurship

CARE improves financial security and economic empowerment for 3 million entrepreneurs and employees by 2030.

Women's Entrepreneurship

Learn more about women’s entrepreneurship

Financial Equality and Cryptocurrency

In 2022, CARE successfully completed pilots to test the use of cryptocurrency in Kenya and Ecuador.

Financial Equality and Cryptocurrency

Learn more about crypto

Learn more about our work

Economic Growth Designed for Women

We design programs to ensure women have access to and control of finances to improve their lives and their communities.

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Private Sector Collaboration for Women’s Economic Resilience

Our local expertise helps companies create profitable social impact embedded into the core business.

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Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Opportunity

By removing barriers and addressing prohibitive social norms our programs ensure the digital economy benefits everyone.

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Earn. Save. Invest.

Want to learn more? Contact us at EarnSaveInvest@care.org.

 

CARE Economic Growth

 

CARE works to defeat poverty, operates in more than 100 countries, and reached 53 million people last year.

CARE’s Economic Growth team brings businesses and local organizations together to create lasting solutions for development. Our work connects the private sector with public and community partners, ensuring markets benefit everyone. By focusing on practical, market-driven approaches, we help businesses and development efforts work hand in hand to build stronger, more sustainable futures for all.

CARE’s Economic Growth programs deliver the greatest economic return for people per dollar invested – with a particular focus on women and girls. We believe that when women control economic resources, they will transform their lives and communities. CARE’s Economic Growth team uses partnerships, tests business models, and works with markets to solve development and humanitarian challenges for the long term and the greatest number of people. Our programs help people gain money, skills, and access markets to improve their prosperity and economic resilience.​

Our approach is guided by our belief that investment must deliver a strong multiplier effect to have the greatest economic impact.​

Our economic, financial, and commercial programs are designed to maximize economic impact per dollar of donor investment.​

Delivering these results requires a central focus on shifting norms around financial decision-making authority, equal markets, and access to investment and capital.​

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