1. Microenterprise: Lifting Women out of Poverty

2. Current Conditions Microenterprise: Lifting Women out of Poverty Photo courtesy of Pro Mujer

3. Microfinance —Gained momentum in the 1970s —Describes a range of financial services —Formerly known as “microcredit” —Targeted at low-income populations, and in particular, women Microenterprise

4. Setting the Stage —Women repay their loans in higher rates than men —Women are more likely to use their loans to improve their businesses —Women spend their income on healthcare, education, their families Microenterprise Credit: Pro Mujer and Jenna Mulhall-Brereton

5. Current Conditions Ask Yourself Microfinance Jenna Mulhall-Brereton

6. Ask Yourself —How does microfinance contribute to poverty alleviation? —What are the positive and negative impacts of microfinance on poor women? Microenterprise

7. Praise and Criticism —Microfinance provides economic opportunity —Offers a range of financial services —Distracts from other antipoverty initiatives —Cannot solve the need for structural change Microenterprise

8. Learn More at www.imow.org Podcast: Jessica Jackley Essay: feminist economists Photos: women who benefited from microcredit Essay on Macro solutions: Zainab Salbi Microenterprise

9. What You Can Do Microenterprise Support Pro Mujer in Latin America Connect yourself to CARE Make a direct loan through Kiva.org Spread the word about this issue

10. Microenterprise Follow us online www.imow.org facebook.com/InternationalMuseumofWomen twitter.com/IMOWomen