Quartz: Melinda Gates: When money flows into the hands of women, everything changes
Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…I am convinced that we’ll never reach our goals if we don’t also address the systematic way that women and girls are undervalued. With a new focus on women’s economic empowerment, connecting women to markets, making sure they have access to financial services, and empowering them to help themselves, we aim to help tear down the barriers that keep half the world from leading a full life. We’ll spend $170 million over the next four years to help women exercise their economic power, which the evidence suggests is among the most promising entry points for gender equality. Simply put, when money flows into the hands of women who have the authority to use it, everything changes. … Our role, as we see it, is to make targeted investments that give women the opportunity to write new rules. First, our new gender equality strategy will seek to link women to markets. … We also want more women to use digital bank accounts. … Finally, we’ll support self-help groups where women and girls teach one another about everything from launching a small business to raising healthy children — and reimagine their standing in society…” (3/5).