Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative (WISE)

Women’s economic opportunities are linked to their ability to control, access, and use land, energy, and water, which in turn improves communities’ and economies’ food security and agricultural productivity. While women grow a majority of food around the world, they are less likely to own the land they farm and women entrepreneurs are less likely to have access to capital and markets. By supporting women’s work and leadership in the sectors critical to the future of our planet, we promote women’s economic security, and we advance work to address the causes and effects of climate change and bolster economic prosperity.

As part of a U.S. government-wide effort to advance women’s economic security, Vice President Kamala Harris launched the Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) Initiative in 2023. WISE is a public-private partnership that brings together governments, private sector companies, foundations, and civil society to bolster women’s economic empowerment globally by expanding access to employment, training, leadership roles, and financial resources in the industries critical to our future and the future of our planet.

To date, WISE has garnered more than $2 billion in commitments by governments, private sector companies, foundations, and civil society–with a total of $917 million in direct and aligned U.S. commitments–to bolster women’s economic participation in sectors such as clean energy, fisheries, recycling, forest management, and environmental conservation.