{"id":22395,"date":"2018-12-07T09:13:27","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T08:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fundacionmicrofinanzasbbva.org\/en\/la-fundacion-microfinanzas-bbva-premio-ciudadano-corporativo-las-americas-2018-la-organizacion-los-estados-americanos\/"},"modified":"2019-12-04T12:37:36","modified_gmt":"2019-12-04T11:37:36","slug":"la-fundacion-microfinanzas-bbva-premio-ciudadano-corporativo-las-americas-2018-la-organizacion-los-estados-americanos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fundacionmicrofinanzasbbva.org\/en\/la-fundacion-microfinanzas-bbva-premio-ciudadano-corporativo-las-americas-2018-la-organizacion-los-estados-americanos\/","title":{"rendered":"BBVA Microfinance Foundation, recipient of the Corporate Citizen of the Americas 2018 award from the Organization of American States"},"content":{"rendered":"

The BBVA Microfinance Foundation (BBVAMF) has just received the \u201cCorporate Citizen of the Americas 2018\u201d award, from the Trust for the Americas and the Organization of American States (OAS)<\/a><\/strong>, for their contribution to women\u2019s access to opportunities, allowing them to progress. With the Foundation\u2019s support, more than one million women entrepreneurs have access to microcredits,<\/a> savings accounts and financial education to improve their lives.<\/strong> They represent 60% of the two million people served by BBVAMF in Latin America: 41% of these women possess primary education at best, 45% are heads of households with dependants under their charge and 26% live in rural areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen\u2019s empowerment is about recovering the dignity of women as individuals,\u201d shared the Foundation\u2019s CEO, Javier M. Flores in Washington DC. He also stated that: \u201cOur experience shows that given the same conditions as men, their businesses perform better, they save proportionally more, and they spend better on nutrition, health and education for their children.\u201d<\/strong> The award has been handed to him by OAS secretary general, Luis Almagro, who noted that \u201cthe Foundation\u2019s cross-cutting strategy encourages women\u2019s economic empowerment, listens to their concerns, their needs and obstacles they face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Secretario

Secretary general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, hands to BBVA Microfinance Foundation’s CEO, Javier M. Flores, the Corporate Citizen of the Americas 2018 award<\/p><\/div>\n

For instance, the Foundation in Peru<\/a> offers Palabra de Mujer<\/em> (Woman\u2019s Word), consisting of a loan provided in groups, so that women living in remote areas and who are excluded from the financial system could have access to credit, learn the importance of savings and manage their small businesses. In the Dominican Republic,<\/a> Agromujer <\/em>loan allows female farmers to work and develop a livelihood in rural areas. BBVAMF also supports victims of gender-based violence, in alliance with the Dominican State Prosecutor\u2019s Office, so they could rebuild their lives through entrepreneurship. And in Chile<\/a>, where women represent more than 80% of the entrepreneurs locally served by the Foundation,<\/strong> the Escuela de Emprendimiento <\/em>(School for Entrepreneurs) gives a two-year training course in business management, empowerment and family well-being.<\/p>\n