CARE’s New Strive Women Report Finds Digital Divide, Financial Stress and Household Responsibilities Limit Business Success in Emerging Markets

Women entrepreneurs in emerging markets face considerable barriers that hinder their long-term success. While difficulties accessing small business credit and training are frequently cited challenges by small business owners, CARE’s latest Strive Women report—based on the experiences of nearly 2,500 businesswomen in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam—highlights that access to finance during a crisis, digital tools, and support networks are equally crucial factors for woman entrepreneurs’ business growth. The report uncovers how business outcomes for women are deeply tied to four interconnected factors: financial resilience, business management and growth, confidence and control, and quality of life.

Strive Women, a four-year program led by CARE and supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, is aimed at strengthening the financial health of women-led small businesses. Women entrepreneurs are vital to economic growth, yet systemic barriers continue to undermine their overall financial health. To better capture the realities that drive or hinder their success, Strive Women has developed a comprehensive Financial Health Framework—grounded in research and designed to reflect the full scope of women business owner’s lived experiences.