2021
Year in
Review
2021
Year in
Review
The power of partnerships
to drive recovery, inclusive economic opportunities and innovation in Latin America
The power of partnerships
to drive recovery, inclusive economic opportunities and innovation in Latin America
A Message From
Ana Demel and Carmen Correa
Ana Demel
Board Chair
Carmen Correa
VP & COO in 2021 and CEO as of January 2022
Dear Friends & Partners,
Despite the enormous challenges that impacted communities around the world in 2021, Pro Mujer made remarkable progress toward advancing gender equality in Latin America, continuing our mission of over 31 years.
Achieving such meaningful impact would have been impossible without the support and the trust of the private and public sector partners around the globe that make our work possible. It is inspiring to see how the power of partnerships can drive Latin America’s development and recovery, and help create a more just, equitable, and inclusive future for everyone.
Throughout 2021, Pro Mujer continued to provide access to financial services, health and well-being services services, and skill-building opportunities as part of our efforts to support women as they realize their full potential, improve their living standards, and become agents of change within their communities.
This report offers an overview of our impact in 2021, as well as vivid accounts of our primary accomplishments across our key areas, as shared by the women who are catalyzing Latin America’s progress and development.
The evidence is clear: we still have a long way to go until there is equity and equality for everyone in Latin America. Gender equality cannot be ignored or postponed anymore. All of us have an essential role to play in making gender equality a reality, and the time to be active participants is now.
Thank you for your ongoing support and belief in our mission.
Ana & Carmen
A Message From Ana Demel and Carmen Correa
Ana Demel
Board Chair
Carmen Correa
VP & COO in 2021 and CEO as of January 2022
Dear Partners & Friends,
Despite the vast challenges that communities around the world faced in 2021, Pro Mujer has continued to make remarkable progress in advancing gender equality in Latin America, as it has been doing for over 31 years now.
We could not have had such a meaningful impact without the support and the trust of private and public sector partners across the globe that make our work possible. It is inspiring to see how the power of partnerships can drive Latin America’s recovery and development, creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive future for everyone.
Women Impacted with Financial Services
People engaged via skill-building opportunities and entrepreneurship workshops
People provided health and well-being services
Total Loans Disbursed (USD)
2021 At a Glance
Impacted
women through access to financial services
Provided
health and well-being services
Engaged with
people via skill-building opportunities and entrepreneurship workshops
Disbursed
in loans
- 30% of people in Latin America lack access to health care (Pan American Health Organization).
- Nearly 54% of women work in the informal sector, leaving them without any access to healthcare (UN Women).
PRIORITIZING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
AND WELL-BEING
In 2021, Pro Mujer continued to expand our partnerships to provide women and their families access to comprehensive and inclusive health and well-being services that help them lead longer,healthier lives. Learn more about how we increased access to preventive care and regular health screenings, expanded health education, and delivered digital health services to reach more women during the COVID-19 pandemic:
400,000 Health Services Provided
7,800 Pap Smears
12,200 Clinical Breast Exams
75,000 Blood Pressure Tests
68,000 Body Mass Index Assessments
49,000 Glucose Tests
54,000 Counseling Sessions
PRIORITIZING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
AND WELL-BEING
In 2021, Pro Mujer continued to expand our partnerships to provide women and their families access to comprehensive and inclusive health and well-being services that help them lead longer,healthier lives. Learn more about how we increased access to preventive care and regular health screenings, expanded health education, and delivered digital health services to reach more women during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 30% of people in Latin America lack access to health care (Pan American Health Organization).
- Nearly 54% of women work in the informal sector, leaving them without any access to healthcare (UN Women).
Tod@s por Ellas
In partnership with Avon and Pfizer, Pro Mujer is making breast cancer prevention and treatment accessible in Latin America through Tod@s por Ellas. In 2021, the initiative provided:
- education on breast cancer prevention through online workshops and a health chatbot that reached 8,669 women in Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, and Nicaragua.
- 9 women with a timely breast cancer diagnosis thanks to the health chatbot.
- personalized support to more than 347 women in Mexico.
- free mammograms to 3,172 women in Mexico and 50 women in Argentina.
- psychological support and guidance to 21 women with active breast cancer as they navigated Mexico’s complex public health care system.
- guidance on how to develop successful crowdfunding campaigns to cover the cost of their treatments.
- support for partnerships with 16 organizations, including Mamotest, Voz MCM, Fundación Merced, La Cana Proyecto de Reinserción Social AC, Salud Digna, and FUCAM, as well as with local governments, to strengthen the program and expand the scope of our preventive activities and chatbot.
In Argentina, Pro Mujer partnered with Mamotest, the first femtech company in Latin America, to give more than 3,000 women access to high-quality mammograms at less than half the cost of other services, with results available in less than 24 hours.
400,000 Health Services Provided
7,800 Pap Smears
75,000 Blood Pressure Tests
54,000 Counseling Sessions
12,200 Clinical Breast Exams
68,000 Body Mass Index Measurements
49,000 Glucose Tests
COVID-19 Vaccinations
In partnership with the Ministry of Health of Argentina, Pro Mujer launched a pilot program to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations, providing 376 shots to patients in 2021. Pro Mujer will continue to partner with communities across Latin America to address the challenges of the pandemic and provide more COVID-19 vaccinations, including by offering complementary virtual counseling and services to those who lack access to health care or are hesitant to get the vaccine.
Mujer Segura
In response to the over 40,000 cases of gender-based violence reported by the Bolivian government during the pandemic, Pro Mujer launched Mujer Segura, a free, nationwide helpline that provides women experiencing violence with access to legal and psychological counseling. Since its launch in July 2020, the Mujer Segura helpline has received approximately 5,282 calls, providing nearly 82% of callers with counseling and referring 6% to lawyers and 12% to community advocates.
Community Health Workers
In partnership with Horizon Therapeutics, Pro Mujer trained more than 346 women to become community health workers. These women provided preventive medical care and health education via more than 26,000 health screenings. As part of our COVID-19 response efforts, they provided more than 2,200 health screenings at local COVID-19 vaccination sites to help diagnose chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Community Health Workers
In partnership with Horizon Therapeutics, Pro Mujer trained more than 346 women to become community health workers. These women provided preventive medical care and health education via more than 26,000 health screenings. As part of our COVID-19 response efforts, they provided more than 2,200 health screenings at local COVID-19 vaccination sites to help diagnose chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Tod@s por Ellas
In partnership with Avon and Pfizer, Pro Mujer is making breast cancer prevention and treatment accessible in Latin America through Tod@s por Ellas. In 2021, the initiative provided:
- education on breast cancer prevention through online workshops and a health chatbot that reached 8,669 women in Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, and Nicaragua.
- 9 women with a timely breast cancer diagnosis thanks to the health chatbot.
- personalized support to more than 347 women in Mexico.
- free mammograms to 3,172 women in Mexico and 50 women in Argentina.
- psychological support and guidance to 21 women with active breast cancer as they navigated Mexico’s complex public health care system.
- guidance on how to develop successful crowdfunding campaigns to cover the cost of their treatments.
- support for partnerships with 16 organizations, including Mamotest, Voz MCM, Fundación Merced, La Cana Proyecto de Reinserción Social AC, Salud Digna, and FUCAM, as well as with local governments, to strengthen the program and expand the scope of our preventive activities and chatbot.
In Argentina, Pro Mujer partnered with Mamotest, the first femtech company in Latin America, to give more than 3,000 women access to high-quality mammograms at less than half the cost of other services, with results available in less than 24 hours.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
In partnership with the Ministry of Health of Argentina, Pro Mujer launched a pilot program to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations, providing 376 shots to patients in 2021. Pro Mujer will continue to partner with communities across Latin America to address the challenges of the pandemic and provide more COVID-19 vaccinations, including by offering complementary virtual counseling and services to those who lack access to health care or are hesitant to get the vaccine.
Mujer Segura
In response to the over 40,000 cases of gender-based violence reported by the Bolivian government during the pandemic, Pro Mujer launched Mujer Segura, a free, nationwide helpline that provides women experiencing violence with access to legal and psychological counseling. Since its launch in July 2020, the Mujer Segura helpline has received approximately 5,282 calls, providing nearly 82% of callers with counseling and referring 6% to lawyers and 12% to community advocates.
SKILL BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
For more than 30 years, Pro Mujer has provided networking, skill-building, and mentorship opportunities to women entrepreneurs across Latin America to help them start and grow their businesses.
In 2021, we impacted more than 150,000 women through skill-building opportunities and entrepreneurship workshops.
Increasing the number of women in the economy has the potential to increase the region’s GDP per capita by 16% (Inter-American Development Bank).
Emprende Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer partnered with the Visa Foundation to launch Emprende Pro Mujer, a digital, on-demand platform for women entrepreneurs in Latin America who are pursuing economic autonomy through entrepreneurship. The platform offers women the opportunity to: To make this program more accessible to women across Latin America, Pro Mujer partnered with ANDE Gender Labs to offer scholarships to women entrepreneurs. We also partnered with Siglo 21, Utel, and Platzi to create diverse content and offer unique mentorship opportunities. Pro Mujer partnered with the Visa Foundation to launch Emprende Pro Mujer, a digital, on-demand platform for women entrepreneurs in Latin America who are pursuing economic autonomy through entrepreneurship. The platform offers women the opportunity to: To make this program more accessible to women across Latin America, Pro Mujer partnered with ANDE Gender Labs to offer scholarships to women entrepreneurs. We also partnered with Siglo 21, Utel, and Platzi to create diverse content and offer unique mentorship opportunities.
Grandes Tenderas
In partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation, Pro Mujer implemented a project in Mexico to increase the capacity of “tenderas,” or small store owners, through an online program that offers targeted and proven financial and management skills-building workshops that help 25,000 women entrepreneurs build the hard and soft skills they need to grow their businesses.
Emprendiendo Juntas
Pro Mujer worked with Nacional Monte de Piedad to develop a course that provides women entrepreneurs with tools to strengthen their skills and improve their business management and sales strategies, particularly within the complex environment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from some of the female entrepreneurs who participated in the program: Luz Maria Ortiz Yisela Lomeli Gabriela Espinoza Pro Mujer worked with Nacional Monte de Piedad to develop a course that provides women entrepreneurs with tools to strengthen their skills and improve their business management and sales strategies, particularly within the complex environment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from some of the female entrepreneurs who participated in the program: Luz Maria Ortiz Yisela Lomeli Gabriela Espinoza In partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation, Pro Mujer developed a free, online course that women can complete at their own pace on either Facebook or WhatsApp. The course includes four modules – entrepreneurship, leadership and goals, digital sales, and financial health – as well as opportunities for women to access one-on-one guidance.EMPRENDIENDO JUNTAS CRECEMOS
EMPRENDIENDO JUNTAS CRECEMOS
EMPRENDIENDO JUNTAS 2.0
Expanding Financial Inclusion
Thanks to invaluable public and private sector partnerships, Pro Mujer has continued to drive women’s economic empowerment in Latin America by adding new products to its portfolio of financial services.
- At least 58 million women in Latin America are unbanked (World Bank).
- Around 140 million women do not have access to formal loans (World Bank).
Expanding Financial Inclusion
Thanks to invaluable public and private sector partnerships, Pro Mujer has continued to drive women’s economic empowerment in Latin America by adding new products to its portfolio of financial services.
- At least 58 million women in Latin America are unbanked (World Bank).
- Around 140 million women do not have access to formal loans (World Bank).
DRIVING DIGITAL INCLUSION AND INNOVATION
In partnership with leading technology firms and non-profit organizations, Pro Mujer is working to close the digital gender gap by supporting women’s entry into the digital economy.
- Worldwide, approximately 327 million fewer women than men have a smartphone and can access the mobile Internet (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development).
- The proportion of women using the Internet globally is 48% compared to 58% of men (International Telecommunication Union).
Mujeres Online
To expand women’s access to digital skill-building opportunities, Pro Mujer launched the “Mujeres Online” project in Bolivia, providing more than 1,000 scholarships for women and girls to attend “Get Connected,” a six-module, online course. Implemented in partnership with the CISCO Networking Academy, the course educated more than 120 people on a variety of topics ranging from entrepreneurship to cybersecurity in 2021.
Mujeres Online
To expand women’s access to digital skill-building opportunities, Pro Mujer launched the “Mujeres Online” project in Bolivia, providing more than 1,000 scholarships for women and girls to attend “Get Connected,” a six-module, online course. Implemented in partnership with the CISCO Networking Academy, the course educated more than 120 people on a variety of topics ranging from entrepreneurship to cybersecurity in 2021.
Financial Education Chatbot
Pro Mujer launched the first financial education chatbot in Nicaragua to provide easy access to information about financial well-being, including effective savings methods, financial planning, and more. The chatbot allows women to seek out financial advice on their own time and from the comfort of their own homes.
Mobile Wallet
In 2021, Pro Mujer created an app that enables women to apply for both group and individual loans online. The process takes just 10 to 15 minutes and eliminates the need for women to physically travel to apply for or access a loan, helping to advance women’s financial inclusion in the region.
SPEARHEADING GENDER LENS INVESTING IN LATIN AMERICA
Pro Mujer is a leader in developing innovative impact investment tools and strategies, collaborating with partners to support businesses as they work to incorporate gender strategies into their operations, with a focus on strengthening gender equity and transforming the financial sector in Latin America.
Gender lens investing is essential in Latin America. Watch the video to learn why.
- 70% of women do not have access to the capital needed to start businesses (World Bank).
- Only 6% of investment capital goes toward women-led businesses (International Finance Corporation).
Click below to learn more
Ilu Women's Empowerment Fund & Program
Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Forum LatAm 2021
Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Forum LatAm 2021
In collaboration with the Visa Foundation, Fondation CHANEL, Cartier Women’s Initiative, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Fundación WWB Colombia, Pro Mujer hosted the GLI Forum LATAM 2021 from November 9-11. This free, online event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and other leaders to discuss how gender lens investing can catalyze gender equality and create more inclusive economies in Latin America.
Participants
Entrepreneurs
Business leaders received key data and information to drive growth within their companies and create social impact
Speakers from 14 countries
LatAm countries connected simultaneously
SPEARHEADING GENDER LENS INVESTING IN LATIN AMERICA
Pro Mujer is a leader in developing innovative impact investment tools and strategies, collaborating with partners to support businesses as they work to incorporate gender strategies into their operations, with a focus on strengthening gender equity and transforming the financial sector in Latin America.
Gender lens investing is essential in Latin America. Watch the video to learn why.
- 70% of women do not have access to the capital needed to start businesses (World Bank).
- Only 6% of investment capital goes toward women-led businesses (International Finance Corporation).
Ilu Women's Empowerment Fund & Program
Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Forum LatAm 2021
Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund & Program
Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund
In partnership with Deetken Impact, Pro Mujer launched the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund in 2019. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high-impact businesses that promote women in leadership and governance, offer products and services that meet the needs of women and girls, develop gender-sensitive value chains, and support workplace equity.
The fund continues to grow year-over-year, and 2021 was our most impactful year to date:
Investors
Portfolio Companies
Countries from Mexico to Argentina
%
Annual Return
Million Committed Capital
Ilu Women’s Empowerment Program
- In 2021, the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund was awarded funding from USAID to develop the ILU Women’s Empowerment Program. This program seeks to increase gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean through three main components: incremental capital, technical assistance and knowledge dissemination, and advocacy.
- Within the framework of this program, Pro Mujer launched the Ilu Toolbox, an open-source platform featuring more than 30 resources that can help companies address gender gaps and implement strategies to attract gender lens investing using four different lenses.
COMMITTING TO ACTION THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR CENTRAL AMERICA
In response to the Call to Action launched by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Pro Mujer is working with leading organizations to promote inclusive economic opportunities and reach three million people in the Northern Triangle as part of the Partnership for Central America. Pro Mujer will provide access to financial services, health care and well-being services, entrepreneurship support, and digital inclusion, as well as launch blended finance vehicles to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are generating economic opportunity for under-resourced communities.
COMMITTING TO ACTION THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR CENTRAL AMERICA
In response to the Call to Action launched by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Pro Mujer is working with leading organizations to promote inclusive economic opportunities and reach three million people in the Northern Triangle as part of the Partnership for Central America. Pro Mujer will provide access to financial services, health care and well-being services, entrepreneurship support, and digital inclusion, as well as launch blended finance vehicles to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are generating economic opportunity for under-resourced communities.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022
Pro Mujer is proud of everything we accomplished in 2021, and we are looking forward to continuing to create transformational impact with our partners in 2022. Learn more about some of our upcoming programs, projects, and initiatives below:
Regional Expansion
Pro Mujer is furthering its commitment to the Northern Triangle through the Partnership for Central America. Additionally, thanks to high-impact partnerships with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Nacional Monte de Piedad, and others, we plan to expand the financial inclusion and skill-building opportunities we offer to women in southeastern Mexico, one of the most under-resourced parts of the country.
Pro Mujer Digital
In 2022, Pro Mujer will launch Pro Mujer Digital, a multi-channel, digital financial services platform offering Latin American women the opportunity to increase their access to finance and expand their financial education on the path towards economic autonomy. The platform will provide timely, unrestricted credit for women located anywhere in Latin America, access to a 100% digital mobile wallet for savings and payments, financial and digital education, mentorship opportunities, and additional resources to help improve digital financial inclusion.
New Resources for Investors
Pro Mujer will launch an open-source platform to provide investors with access to online workshops, strategies, case studies, and products that support the co-creation of innovative, tailor-made gender strategies focused on increasing women’s access to capital, promoting women’s leadership, and improving gender equity in the workplace.
PRO MUJER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Vice President Harris launches a call to action to the private sector to deepen investment in the Northern Triangle
Investing with a gender approach: how to empower female entrepreneurs in Latin America to benefit the entire region
Pro Mujer launches Emprende Platform to incubate women-owned microenterprises in Latin America
Harris to announce business investments in Central America
Pro Mujer seeks to break down labor and economic barriers for women who want to start a business
They work in the NOA to provide women with access to education, credit and health
Support women in empowerment
Vice President Harris launches a call to action to the private sector to deepen investment in the Northern Triangle
Investing with a gender approach: how to empower female entrepreneurs in Latin America to benefit the entire region
Pro Mujer launches Emprende Platform to incubate women-owned microenterprises in Latin America
Harris to announce business investments in Central America
Pro Mujer seeks to break down labor and economic barriers for women who want to start a business
They work in the NOA to provide women with access to education, credit and health
Support women in empowerment
2021 PRO MUJER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Ana Demel, Chair of the Pro Mujer Board, NYU School of Law
Vanessa Dager, Vice-chair of the Pro Mujer Board, Wells Fargo
Mark Roy McMahon, Secretary of the Pro Mujer Board, Independent Consultant
Camilo Mendez, Treasurer of the Pro Mujer Board, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
BOARD MEMBERS
- Zelma F. Acosta-Rubio, Interbank
- Jennifer Mary Brooks, Microsoft Philanthropies
- Tony Carr, Halloran Philanthropies (through June 2021)
- Maria Cavalcanti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pro Mujer
- Daniela S. Colaci, MD,MSC, Maven Inc.
- Ruth B. Cowan, Director Emerita
- Diego Cristancho, American Express
- Martha Herrera, CEMEX
- Kate Lauer, Stripe
- Jeffrey MacDonagh, Grandfield & Dodd, LLC
- Gillian Shepherd Mestre, M.D.
- Robert Rosone, Deloitte
- Christine Switzer, Fidelity Charitable
- Rosemary Werrett, Director Emerita
PRO MUJER FOUNDERS
- Lynne Patterson, Co-Founder and Director Emerita
- Carmen Velasco, Co-Founder
PRO MUJER UK BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Olivia Ha, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Eleva Capital
- Maria Cavalcanti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pro Mujer
- Carmen Correa, Sr. VP and Chief Operating Officer, Pro Mujer (joined October 2021)
- Baroness Gloria Hooper, House of Lords
- Marisol Mosquera, Aracari Travel
- Isabel Ruiz, University of Oxford
- Celia Szusterman, The Institute for Statecraft
2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Maria Cavalcanti, President and Chief Executive Officer
- Carmen Correa, Sr. VP and Chief Operating Officer
- Alexandra Blanco Sejas, General Counsel
- Lelio Di Geronimo, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer
- Rolando Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer
- Cruz Pemán, Chief Human Resources Officer
As of December 31, 2021
PARTNERSHIPS 2021
CONTRIBUTORS
AT&T Mobility
Cartier Philanthropy
Cogan Family Foundation
DAI
Deloitte
Facebook
Fondation CHANEL
Fundación Coca-Cola México
Fundación Grupo México
Fundación WWB Colombia
CONTRIBUTORS
Horizon Therapeutics
IDB Lab
Johnson & Johnson
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Microsoft Philanthropies
Nacional Monte de Piedad
Peruvian Connection
UN Women
Visa Foundation
Voz MCM
W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Women Forward International
PARTNERS
Acrux
Banco Santander Rio
Baruch College
Cisco Networking Academy
Colgate Palmolive
Deetken Impact
Design Thinkers Group
FOCAP Plan Lena
Hugo Business
IDB
PARTNERS
MICROWD
Mural Med
MuralMedics
NYU
Pacto Global
Platzi
ProMedic
REDCAMIF
SEDAL/Unilever
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Universidad Empresarial Siglo 21
Utel México
99 partners across 4 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Nicaragua):
INVESTORS
ADA
BAJIO
Banco BISA
Banco FIE
Banco Galicia
Banco Ganadero
Banco Nacional de Bolivia
Banco Union
Banco Comafi
Blue Orchard
CAF
Capital + Safi
Deetken Impact
Financiera Nacional de Desarrollo
FIPADE SAFI
Foncap
Glide Master Fund SPC Ltd.
Global Partnerships
IDB
ITAU
KIVA
Locfund
OikoCredit
SAFI Mercantil Santa Cruz S.A.Santander
Triple Jump
WCCN
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