Founded in 2008, the Global Fund for Widows, GFW, is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to serving widows. It focuses on serving this highly vulnerable group in low- and middle-income countries through economic and legal empowerment. Having earned United Nations Economic and Social Council accreditation, GFW has been advocating widows’ rights on a global scale.
Upon the death of their husbands, widows are often denied access to justice and credit. They are also frequently subjected to harmful traditional practices. To change this trajectory, GFW innovated a micro-banking model, called Widows’ Savings and Loan Associations or WISALAs. This model offers widows business and legal skills training, as well as capital to become entrepreneurs. Owned and operated by widows, WISALAs provide a repeating cycle of capital. This enables widows to launch businesses and make investments in their families’ health and education. By pooling their capital, widows have established computer centers and schools, bought farms and houses, and even became landlords.
UNFCU Foundation is supporting GFW to establish and capitalize more WISALAs in Kenya. By fostering financial inclusion and their owners’ access to capital, the initiative ensures that widows meet their families’ basic needs. Women also gain full agency over their financial futures. Additionally, the project drives legal and social change by training women to obtain Community Paralegal Certification. With an understanding of their legal rights, women can demand access to justice and successfully reintegrate into their communities.
