Our history

We are extremely proud of our history, and have been leading the charge for women to be economically equal to men for 15 years.

The story so far, from present day to back where it all began!

2023

We launch our ambitious 2023-2026 organisational strategy 'Ready for Business', alongside a new goal: to revolutionise business opportunities for one million women entrepreneurs by 2030.

2022

100,000 Women Campaign comes to a close with a total of 100,274 women having been supported.

Participants pose for a group photograph at the Road to Growth programme for women organised by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women happening at Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos, Nigeria on 15, February 2023. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women's Road to Growth programme has supported over 3,000 women entrepreneurs to build and develop their businesses.

2022

Our Road to Finance programme, supporting women with knowledge, skills and confidence to secure business investment, was launched in Nigeria and Guyana.

2021

Road to Leadership, our flagship leadership and influencing programme, was launched in Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria and Kenya.

2021

First research into the impact of gender stereotypes on women entrepreneurs published alongside the Foundation’s global Women Entrepreneurs Mean Business Summit.

2021

HerVenture won Digital Innovation of the Year at the Third Sector Awards.

Trinh Thi Tuyet

2020

Our first Annual Audit report of women entrepreneurs in low and middle income countries: Levelling the Playing Field, was published.

2020

Won a contract with USAID for our first public-private partnership. WEAVE will deliver women's economic empowerment programmes in Vietnam and Indonesia to over 15,000 women.

2020

The 100,000 Women Campaign launched in Davos, alongside the World Economic Forum.

2019

Our three year strategy 'Women entrepreneurs redefining the future' was launched on International Women's Day in March.

2018

HerVenture, our flagship business skills app, launched in Vietnam.

HerVenture user in Nigeria

2016

Delivered a commitment to the UN’s first ever High level panel on women’s economic empowerment.

2015

Our flagship Road to Growth programme was piloted in Nigeria.

Ekaete-Augustine Edet, a Road to Growth trainer, poses for a portait after class at the Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos Nigeria, on 27th January 2021. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women continues to support women entrepreneurs across many African countries, including Nigeria, through their blended learning programmes, like Road to Growth and HerVenture.

2013

Engaged in the 'Beyond 2015' campaign, ensuring women’s economic empowerment was highlighted within the UNs discussions post-2015.

2012

Launched our first business skills mobile app for entrepreneurs, Business Women.

2011

Our flagship Mentoring Women in Business programme launched.

Mentor and Mentee pair

2010

Published the first detailed global study of the gender gap in mobile phone usage across low and middle income countries with the GSMA.

2009

First projects for women entrepreneurs in Palestine, Kenya and Malawi were launched.

2008

Cherie Blair CBE KC set up the Foundation to support women entrepreneurs in low and middle income countries.