Poverty is not gender neutral. Throughout Latin America, structural gender inequalities continue to limit women’s access to economic, educational, and financial opportunities, perpetuating a higher risk of poverty through unequal distribution of care work, occupational segregation, and the gender pay gap.
According to recent data from the ILO, in the second quarter of 2024, the female labor force participation rate was 52.1%, significantly lower than that of men (74.3%), reflecting a persistent gap in access to paid employment. But beyond the labor market, Latin American women carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work, which severely limits their participation in the labor market and their economic independence, dedicating approximately twice as much time as men to unpaid work in the region.
The impact of these inequalities is reflected in the multidimensional poverty that disproportionately affects women. In Latin America, 27.4% of women live in multidimensional poverty, which rises to 58% in rural areas, where lack of access to basic services, decent employment, and digital connectivity further restricts their opportunities.
Financial Exclusion: A Barrier to Economic Inclusion
Limited access to financial services remains a critical challenge. According to the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, only 49% of women in Latin America and the Caribbean have a bank account, compared to 54% of men. Additionally, only 11% of women save through a financial institution, and just 10% have access to formal credit, restricting their ability to invest and start businesses.
In Mexico, poverty and financial exclusion impact Indigenous and rural women the hardest. According to CONEVAL, 44.4% of women in Mexico live in poverty. In rural areas, like the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, extreme poverty is three times higher than in urban regions. In these contexts, lack of access to credit and formal savings mechanisms perpetuates economic dependence and vulnerability among women.
Trickle Up’s Commitment to Women’s Economic Empowerment
On International Women’s Day, it is crucial to reflect on persistent inequalities and recognize that when women have resources and opportunities, they thrive.
Trickle Up is dedicated to breaking the cycle of extreme poverty by empowering women—particularly Indigenous and rural women—through financial inclusion, economic empowerment, digital agency and climate resilience. Using a gender transformative and intersectional approach, our work in Latin America is centered around economic inclusion programs and the implementation of the Graduation Approach. This proven methodology equips women with the tools, resources, and skills they need to achieve long-term economic independence.
At Trickle Up Mexico, we work with a gender and intersectional lens to economically empower Indigenous and Afro-descendant women in rural areas, addressing the multiple barriers that limit their development.
Our mission is clear: to promote financial resilience and economic empowerment, strengthen community leadership, and break the cycle of poverty and exclusion. Our impact speaks for itself. Over the past six years, we have directly supported 9,000 women in 151 communities across 40 municipalities in Chiapas and Oaxaca. Today, 236 community savings groups remain active, collectively saving $8.4 million MXN (approximately $411,000 USD). More than 3,200 women have launched or expanded their businesses, enhancing their economic autonomy and resilience. Additionally, 100% of participants have strengthened their financial decision-making skills, and 68% of businesses have diversified, reducing economic vulnerability.
Through initiatives like Trickle Up’s FUERTE project, we have deepened our understanding of the challenges women face and have developed tailored solutions. These results demonstrate that when women receive the right tools and comprehensive support, they can overcome historical and structural barriers, becoming key drivers of more equitable and sustainable development—even in contexts of poverty and systemic discrimination. In Latin America, women are breaking the cycle of poverty.
Gender Equality: An Urgent Agenda
Despite progress, the fight for gender equality remains an urgent challenge. Poverty, financial exclusion, and structural discrimination are not isolated problems; they stem from a system that has historically limited opportunities for women. Investing in women is a catalyst for social and economic transformation. When women gain economic autonomy, entire communities benefit, and cycles of poverty begin to break.
Looking to the future, progress will come from a collective effort to overcome the persistent barriers to women’s economic empowerment. We must move beyond traditional economic and financial inclusion models and focus on women’s agency, empowering them as decision-makers in the economic systems.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all women, regardless of their background, have the resources and opportunities to thrive. Because when women succeed, entire communities and generations benefit.
