Stimulating economic growth is the best way to create jobs, raise living standards and lift families out of poverty.  

When given the chance, women across the world have shown themselves to be highly effective entrepreneurs, investing their returns in their communities and their families.  

But a wide range of barriers - both legal and rooted in tradition - can make it far more difficult for women than men to access the capital they need to set up or expand businesses.

The creation and expansion of micro-finance institutions is helping women establish small businesses.  

However women also need access to bigger loans and bank credit to enable them to grow and compete on equal terms with men. Helping them to do so is an investment in all our futures.