Economic Empowerment
DFC prioritizes investments in women and other underrepresented groups to advance economic security and the well-being of all people. This focus spans all the sectors in which we invest.
Underserved or marginalized groups—including women, low-income and rural individuals, refugees, and indigenous peoples—are less likely to have access to high-quality employment opportunities, credit, affordable housing, and many other essential services.
DFC supports projects that create job opportunities, enhance access to capital, and foster economic resilience. We make these investments because it’s good business and to ensure all people can realize their full potential in the world.
Since 2018, DFC has invested nearly $10 billion through our flagship 2X Women’s Initiative, supporting women as entrepreneurs, leaders, and vital members of the workforce and society to unlock the multitrillion-dollar opportunity they represent.
Investment Stories
![African woman holding grains of rice](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2024-06/Investment%20Story%20Banner_NBS%20Bank_0.png?itok=9kmsu4Px)
![Nepalese farmers standing in a field](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2024-04/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Laxmi.png?itok=v07RpKno)
![Woman standing in pyrethrum field](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2023-09/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Kentegra.png?itok=h7E8R7Ne)
![Supporting the world’s smallest farmers](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-05/Africa-Remote-Areas_0.jpg?itok=TViiXBM0)
![woman in red and orange outfit smiling](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2023-03/Investment%20Story%20Banner_WLB5.png?itok=5MOmWJsE)
![SA Taxi minibuses undergoing maintenance](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2023-01/Investment%20Story%20Banner_SA%20Taxi.png?itok=_480RaNp)
![Copia sales agent with customer](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-12/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Copia_0.png?itok=xu-h2wC-)
![Cargo ship in ocean](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-12/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Trella.png?itok=Kl1QtyBS)
![Pakistani farmer in a field](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-11/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Pakistan%20InsuResilience.png?itok=Fnefh67t)
![Two Jibu employees smiling in front of a van](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-08/Investment%20Story%20Banner_jibu.png?itok=_BDYSU72)
![Indian farmer using mobile phone](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-07/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Agrostar.png?itok=LS_uM3iq)
![Woman loan recipient](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-07/Investment%20Story%20Banner_CABEI.png?itok=j1YtVi82)
![Female doctor measuring heartbeat of female patient](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-06/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Femme.png?itok=IktP0gJ7)
![Indian man on a video call with a doctor](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-05/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Portea.png?itok=Fup2omxg)
![Indian woman standing in the doorway of a home](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-03/Investment%20Story%20Banner_ManiBhavnam.png?itok=29lU5n18)
![Woman holding a cup of water](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-03/Investment%20Story%20Banner_WaterEquity.png?itok=sTGI73JC)
![Woman smiling and holding basket](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-03/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Lendable.png?itok=9cAZ0h0r)
![Woman smiling in store](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-03/Investment%20Story%20Banner_NEF.png?itok=qqG3CzTr)
![Nepalese woman using tablet](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2022-01/Investment%20Story%20Banner_Dolma_0.png?itok=0gRvcDvQ)
![Interior view of a dialysis center](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-12/AHN%20Banner.png?itok=w9p8_zn3)
![Women members of the International Bank of Liberia's senior management team](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-11/Investment%20Story%20Banner_liberia%202.png?itok=sh_TavD8)
![A smiling female Vitas Jordan client](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-08/Investment%20Story%20Header%20Image_VitasJordan.png?itok=KcgMejjo)
![Guatemalan woman smiling in a store](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-06/bancoindustrial_2.png?itok=p2X9jnjq)
![Ugandan woman on the street](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-05/SEAF%202.png?itok=km5QbRP8)
![woman from Lebanon woodworking](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-03/banner%20image.png?itok=Di2crSgm)
![Indian dairy farmers processing milk](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-03/MM_banner.png?itok=jyF80ChC)
![kasha delivery driver on motor bike](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-02/Kasha%20banner.png?itok=uYDtF2jD)
![cordaid woman business worker](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2021-02/Cordaid_Banner.png?itok=4qae6QiU)
![photo, woman creating jewelry and smiling](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-08/DFC_GlobalParnterships_2_1440x480.jpg?itok=_B5DhrCL)
![photo, Indian woman standing in front of building and smiling](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-07/DFC_Aviom_1440x480.jpg?itok=TL0fKU_h)
![photo, woman smiling and checking on crops](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-07/RootCapital_Gumutindo_1_1440x480.jpg?itok=Sz8fhSN6)
![Expanding access to clean water in El Salvador](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-04/Azure_woman_dishes_1_rs.jpg?itok=lYpjGr8E)
![Supporting a female entrepreneur in Mongolia](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-02/Goyol_Cashmere_sewing_2.jpg?itok=GVaxAShB)
![Supporting loans to female borrowers](/sites/default/files/styles/dfc_investment_story_homepage_700px_x_470px_/public/2020-01/Kiva_HP_image.jpg?itok=H_iSWFov)