Pro Mujer Surpasses 2009-2013 Clinton Global Initiative "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty" Commitment

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pro Mujer, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to providing women in Latin America with vital financial, health and human development services, today announced the completion of its 2009 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty" Commitment. In addition, the organization launched a new Commitment to expand its geographic footprint and high-quality, low-cost primary health care services in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru by the end of 2015.   

At the 2009 CGI Annual Meeting, Pro Mujer made a three-year commitment to provide 350,000 clients with a holistic package of services that includes: small loans, savings and insurance; business and empowerment training, preventive health education and high-quality, low-cost primary health care. Pro Mujer completed its commitment at the close of 2011 – one year ahead of schedule – by cumulatively reaching 358,946 microentrepreneurs. During the commitment, the organization:

• Disbursed half a billion dollars in small loans averaging US$369 to help microentrepreneurs start or expand their businesses;
• Taught educational and life skills workshops to 358,946 clients and reached their more than 1.4 million children and family members;
• Provided 272,806 medical consultations with a particular emphasis on chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, sexual and reproductive health issues, and breast and cervical cancers;   
• Facilitated savings accounts, which grew from $18.1 million in 2010 to $20.8 million in 2011, providing clients with an essential financial safety net against life's unforeseen emergencies;
• Maintained a combined average loan repayment rate of 98.9% in all five countries of operation.

In making the announcement, Rosario Perez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pro Mujer said, "We are delighted to announce the completion of our 2009 CGI commitment, something we wouldn't have been able to do without the steadfast support of our corporate, private foundation and individual partners, as well as our more than 1,800 employees. While we have completed our 2009 CGI commitment, we are far from finished. Pro Mujer remains dedicated to providing as many women as possible with the opportunities they need to be the leading protagonists of their own destinies. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of many more women and their families across Latin America."    

At this year's CGI Annual Meeting, the organization launched a new Commitment with the support of GlaxoSmithKline and Vitol Foundation titled, "Pro Mujer:  A Market-Based Solution to Tackle Chronic Diseases in Latin America." As part of this commitment, Pro Mujer will expand its geographic footprint in its five countries of operations.  

Additionally, Pro Mujer will continue to standardize and expand its new health care model – launched in Nicaragua in 2010 – and will focus on screening for chronic diseases and providing primary care. The emphasis on screening is particularly relevant to the countries where Pro Mujer currently operates, where chronic illnesses account for 47% to 75% of health-related loss of productivity.

The 2009 CGI Commitment was made possible with technical support from Freedom from Hunger, Harvard Business School, Harvard School of Public Health, the Ministry of Education of Peru and PATH. In addition, Pro Mujer received generous financial support from: Anglo American Group Foundation; Calvert Investments; Citi Foundation; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Global Partnerships; Microsoft Unlimited Potential–Community Technology Skills Program; JPMorgan Chase Foundation; Oikocredit; Weberg Trust; and Whole Foods Market's Whole Planet Foundation. 

ABOUT THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE (CGI)   
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

ABOUT PRO MUJER   
Founded in Bolivia in 1990, Pro Mujer also operates in Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru and is headquartered in New York City. Over the past 22 years, Pro Mujer has disbursed more than US$1 billion in small loans and reached more than 1.6 million women and their 6.4 million children and family members with its integrated services.

For more information, please visit www.promujer.org or join the conversation and subscribe to our blog, "Like" us on Facebook or "Follow Us" on Twitter. Pro Mujer is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization.

For more information, please contact: 
Joshua Cramer-Montes, Director of Communications, Pro Mujer   
Telephone:  +1-646-626-7000, x114 / Cell:  +1-917-674-3510        
[email protected]

SOURCE Pro Mujer