The World Benefits When One Woman is Empowered

One woman empowered by information, training, micro lending, technology and the advocacy of their basic rights can uplift families and communities. Millions of women given access to a larger world of support and enabled to participate in their local workplace can transform whole economies and regions.

The world benefits when one woman is empowered. In an extraordinary fusion of public and private sector knowledge, know-how and assets, the potential of women to enrich and renew whole regions of the world can be unleashed.

With the pragmatic goals of engaging 10 corporate partners and working with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, our objective is that some $100 million dollars will be applied to empower women to achieve a local difference and a global impact, in five years.

The Basic Elements Underscore Inclusive,
Visionary Pragmatism

What: The One Woman Initiative —
An International Women’s Empowerment Fund

This joint public-private effort supports existing initiatives in Muslim majority countries and countries with large Muslim populations; and, focuses on key empowerment issues including justice, opportunity and leadership.

Why: To foster peace and prosperity in the Muslim world

With women’s political and economic empowerment come stronger family units, communities, and economies—key to freedom from terror for all societies and key to economic development for many potential business interests. Rule of law and access to justice allow women to become full partners in their respective countries.

Duration: Five years initially

Who: Private sector co-chairs and government partners

Private sector co-chairs set strategic direction with cross sector leaders from government and philanthropy providing complementary, advisory roles. Funds are raised for grants to be given to achieve the objectives of the partnership. Individual and corporate contributions to the Fund are managed through a separate section 501 (c) (3) designated organization, Charities Aid Foundation, which specializes in international philanthropy. Government partners and CAF work with the private sector members to identify potential grant recipients; confirm their track record of success; and, advise private sector co-chairs on the international aspects of the Fund management. It is envisioned that the leadership of the Fund will grow as we show successes achieved by grant recipients.

Fund Leadership

Fund Chair

Carly Fiorina, CEO Carly Fiorina Enterprises, former CEO of Hewlett Packard

U.S. Government Partners

• USAID’s Administrator
• The Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for Women’s Empowerment
• USAID’s Bureau for Asia

Private Sector Co-Chairs

• Pat Mitchell, CEO The Paley Center for Media, former CEO, Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
• Sheila Johnson, CEO Salamander Hospitality, Global Ambassador for CARE, and co-founder Black Entertainment Television (BET)
• Farooq Kathwari, CEO Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. and philanthropist

About The OneWoman Initiative:

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