Time and again, the data have shown that, when women are able to enter the workforce and have the skills, assets, and support to do so, economies improve. However, in many of the world’s poorest economies, there are barriers to women achieving economic parity.

We work in communities to challenge harmful gender norms that keep women from finding work, earning an equal salary to that of their male counterparts in similar job roles, and from thriving in their livelihoods. We provide supplies to women farmers, such as tools and seeds, as well as training in methods of conservation agriculture that can help them increase their harvests.

For women displaced by conflict, such as the millions of Syrian women living as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq, we offer skills trainings in areas like dairy production and sewing and embroidery, as well as coaching in basic business and job-finding skills. This allows them (many of whom are now the head of their household) to earn a steady income while living in displacement, and also gives them practical skills that will be equally vital when they return to rebuild their home country and economy.

Sustainable change happens at the community level. Through Mother Care Groups (also known as Mother-to-Mother Groups and Mothers’ Support Groups), we bring women who are pregnant and the mothers of young children together to create a system of support. Their meetings allow for discussions on nutrition, breastfeeding, postpartum health, and the other questions that many new mothers face on their own.

Concern supports group leaders and organizers (also members of their communities) to be trained on topics like how to spot signs of malnutrition in an infant. This knowledge then cascades down among group members.

For instance, in Malawi, diets mainly consist of a few crops (often maize). This means that young bodies don’t receive the nutrients they need to grow. When this was covered as a topic with mother’s group leaders, that training on the six essential food groups was then shared among their individual groups. “As mothers, we now know how to diversify our diets and include the right mix of foods,” one group leader, Ireen, told us.