Women’s Economic Empowerment in El Salvador: Barriers, Opportunities, and a Path Forward

Efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment yield the best results when they address a country’s challenges while capitalizing on its strengths, available resources, and women’s personal and business assets. To highlight good practices and uncover obstacles that frustrate the achievement of women’s economic rights in El Salvador, the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) consortium conducted a multifaceted assessment of opportunities and challenges that Salvadoran women entrepreneurs face when launching and growing sustainable businesses. 

This study was undertaken in support of WAGE's pilot project, "Reducing Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment in El Salvador and Honduras Initiative", led by one of its four core partners, the Grameen Foundation, and funded by the United States Department of State, Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI). The findings of the assessment present a rigorous analysis of data on the complex interplay of national laws, policies, sociocultural norms, and practices that impact female business owners in El Salvador. The assessment serves as the evidence base for reform efforts and technical assistance projects aimed at empowering Salvadoran women entrepreneurs implemented by WAGE, its local partners, and other stakeholders.