A Transformative Partnership: Pro Mujer and MetLife Foundation Empower Mexican Women

Pro Mujer, a social enterprise that has been working for over 33 years to advance gender equality in Latin America, has joined forces with MetLife Foundation, aiming to support 4,000 women in the Southeast of Mexico.

The MetLife Foundation is deeply committed to building healthy and resilient communities, recognizing the crucial role that comprehensive and sustained support plays. It works to strengthen the foundations of these groups, promoting programs and initiatives that enhance access to education, health, and basic services.

MetLife Foundation provided a grant for $500,000to boost Pro Mujer's health projects and entrepreneurial skill development initiatives that have been underway in the country since 2001.

Spanning 24 months, the grant will directly impact rural and indigenous women in vulnerable conditions, strengthening the organization's work in Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Yucatán, and expanding its geographical footprint to Veracruz and Quintana Roo. Both states report poverty rates exceeding 50% (Coneval), with marked social backwardness and lack of access to basic services.

Understanding the transformative power of female entrepreneurship, the project will positively impact the lives of 1,000 micro-entrepreneurs, who will benefit from entrepreneurial training opportunities through Emprende Pro Mujer. The platform offers educational content in hybrid and virtual models, depending on the stage of the business (from ideation to expansion), allowing them to acquire digital skills, leadership, management, personal development, finance, and sales skills. Thanks to digitalization, users connect with other entrepreneurs and businesswomen in the region, creating a network that strengthens their performance.

Since its implementation in 2022, the hybrid model has proven effective in the Southeast of Mexico. A comprehensive evaluation conducted by Grupo Impacta indicated that 84% of women significantly improved their business practices, and 73% feel empowered to make progress in their business.

Through a holistic approach, Pro Mujer will also provide support in health-related areas through various initiatives and awareness programs, expecting to reach more than 3,000 women.

Women will have access to 1,000 free mammograms, services related to breast cancer, diabetes, and sexual and reproductive health. Knowledge about preventive health and early detection will be reinforced with the support of 3 health chatbots, a digital tool focused on these diseases.

• "At Pro Mujer, we see women as agents of change, capable of creating, driving progress, and transforming their lives, those of their families, and their communities. Boosting our impact in the Southeast of Mexico, where 6 out of 10 women live in conditions of extreme poverty, is imperative for the organization, and I am proud to achieve it alongside an ally like MetLife," states Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer.

• "With great enthusiasm, we support the empowerment of more women through job opportunities, entrepreneurship, professional development training, and health care, thus building healthy communities in the southeast and securing a brighter future," stated Alfredo Esparza, President of the MetLife Foundation in Mexico.

About Pro Mujer

Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that for over 33 years has provided services and tools to women in Latin America so they can reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and transform them into agents of change for their communities.

It operates through a holistic and integrated model that seeks to expand the access of women in the region to health services, increase their financial inclusion, and provide them with training opportunities.

Through a deep understanding of the most pressing needs faced by women in Latin America, Pro Mujer designs innovative programs that seek to address issues such as gender-based violence and the digital gender gap. Pro Mujer is a pioneer in the region in promoting and raising awareness about Gender Lens Investing as an effective mechanism to close gaps and boost company productivity.

Pro Mujer's work is closely aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offers tangible results in eight SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 16.

More information atwww.promujer.org

About MetLife

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to promoting inclusive economic mobility. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned with three strategic focus areas: economic inclusion, financial health, and resilient communities while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help maximize impact. The MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, the MetLife Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to strengthen the communities where MetLife operates. For more information about the MetLife Foundation, visitwww.MetLife.org.

The Sweef Capital Gender ROITM identifies gender equality and diversity gaps and informs interventions to build resilience, equal opportunity and inclusion. This Insight Series explores how each indicator contributes to delivering social, financial, and economic returns: https://sweefcapital.com/gender-roitm/