Sita Devi, and many other women in Sundarpur Ratwara village in Bihar, India, used to walk several miles to the riverbank and wait for the local boatman to ferry them across the river to reach the nearest bank branch to deposit money, repay loans, and access other important financial services. Domestic responsibilities, long hours of inconvenient travel, and loss of daily income or wages from their small businesses incurred during travel often discouraged women from actively using financial services.
Rural women contribute significantly to economic growth through farming, livestock rearing and small businesses, yet face challenges in accessing financial services to invest in their micro-enterprises. This is mainly due to a lack of documentation of business operations, inadequate access to technology, and insufficient knowledge.
Digital channels can enable rural women entrepreneurs to access critical financial services, invest in their small businesses, enhance their income, and build a resilient future for their families.
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Today, after decades of improvement, global poverty and inequality are on the rise, making our mission more urgent than ever.