Toribia – a 54-year-old mother of eight from the Western Highlands of Guatemala – has long been a leader in her family, who strives to make a consistent income with their land and livestock. Because families in the Western Highlands are typically producers and consumers of their own food, they are reliant on agricultural activities to survive and can be heavily impacted by cyclical climatic shocks and natural disasters. They also face high levels of food insecurity, child malnutrition, low literacy rates and health crises.

Like many women of her generation raised in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountains, Toribia never attended school or learned to read or write. She always looked for ways to increase her knowledge and skills, but in her remote community, opportunities for women are not readily available. Agricultural and business training is infrequent and often only accessible for men. When Global Communities’ staff visited Toribia to present the opportunity to join an advanced business skills training program called Project META, she was thrilled.

Developing Business Skills

Global Communities implemented Project META across 16 communities in the Chiantla and Malacatancito municipalities of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. After a gender-focused needs and market assessment, the project team identified opportunities for women who had been a part of the savings and lending groups under Global Communities’ signature Women Empowered Initiative. Between December 2020 and December 2021, Project META offered resources and education to over 150 women with the goal of strengthening their agricultural skills, developing greater access to local markets and generating sustainable sources of income.

Project META supported them in developing technical productive skills, business management and financial literacy, while leveraging their existing skillsets and expertise. Individualized work plans were created for every participant, and they had access to project mentors through texting and calling, virtual and face-to-face sessions, learning tours and group workshops.

Addressing Unequal Gender Norms

Toribia and her husband also participated in Journeys of Transformation – a gender-transformative intervention adapted to the Guatemala context by Global Communities in partnership with Equimundo. The intervention facilitated couples’ dialogues, which helped shift social norms that limit women’s economic empowerment. The dialogues proved successful in improving couples’ communication as well as equity in household decision-making and care work, while reducing the acceptance of intimate partner violence.

Project META shows that supporting women entrepreneurs with individualized and holistic interventions can help them overcome multiple barriers to economic success, leading to increased productivity and incomes. It also strengthens women’s confidence and decision-making power within their households.

Read the full article about overcoming barriers to women’s entrepreneurship at Global Washington.