Cherie Blair, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CGI 2010)
About the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
The charity was set up in 2008 in response to Cherie’s experiences meeting women around the world and the realization that, with the right support, women can overcome the challenges they face and play an important part in the economies and societies in which they work and live.
Supporting women entrepreneurs in Africa, South Asia & the Middle East
The core of our work is strengthening the capacity of women entrepreneurs in countries where they lack equal opportunities. We focus our support on women in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, where we can add value and where we see clear potential for women in business to become self-sustaining in the longer term. We rely on local knowledge and resources wherever possible, working in partnership with local organizations based in the countries we work in.
Why our work is important
Backing women’s rights isn’t just good ethics, it’s sound economics. When men and women work together, businesses, economies and societies prosper.
Yet women are often excluded from the labour market, from access to finance or from education and as a result are under-represented in the world of business. Women account for just two per cent of land owned and ten per cent of credit extended globally. The world is missing out on a huge pool of talent.
The Foundation is a response to these challenges.