Inclusive Action Awards

Our Awards celebrate the power of gender-inclusive business in emerging markets, spotlighting SMEs that advance gender equality in their workforce, leadership, or customer base.

We couldn't be prouder of our outstanding winners and finalists of the 2025 Inclusive Action Awards, as well as the hundreds of organisations from over 60 countries who shared how they are creating more and better opportunities for women.

Deep thanks to our judging panel members and Visa Foundation, and to every participant, partner, and supporter who helped us reach more than 1,000 inspiring businesses across the globe.

2025 Edition: It’s a Wrap!

Meet Our 2025 Winners

2025 Global Award Winner:  The Vermi-Farm Initiative

The Vermi-Farm Initiative (Kenya) offers smallholder farmers sustainable agricultural tools and financial solutions that give them climate-resilient, reliable incomes.

Their impact includes:

  • 3,000+ women farmers use low-cost, climate-smart greenhouses that require 50% less manual labour and boost yields by 40%.

  • Community-based digital platform provides access to low-interest microloans, savings, and weather-indexed insurance; $150K disbursed.

  • 6,200+ women farmers have seen up to 3X earnings increase within two seasons.

  • 65% improvement in household income for service users.

2025 Mexico Award Winner: Kip Tik

Kip Tik (Mexico) is a platform that commercialises artisanal designs for a global market by training, employing, and elevating Indigenous and rural women as cultural, creative, and economic leaders. Based in Chiapas, Kip Tik empowers artisans to step into leadership across the artisanal value chain — not just as producers, but as entrepreneurs, mentors, and decision-makers.

Their impact includes:

  • Since 2014, they have supported 345 artisans in continuing their craft and achieving financial independence.

  • Over 75% of their beneficiaries are women.

  • Artisans have seen a 30% increase in their income.

  • They have reduced dependence on intermediaries by 40%.

  • They have increased women’s participation in community leadership spaces by 60%.

  • And enabled 50% more women to access business training programs.

2025 Awards Top 4 Finalists

Shecluded (Nigeria) is a fintech company helping women entrepreneurs grow their business by combining accessible finance with tailored business training.

  • Trained over 50,000 women across 4 African countries in financial literacy, investment readiness, and business skills

  • Disbursed $3M to 5,000+ women-led businesses, with 60% reporting revenue growth

  • Unlocked first-time credit access for 70% of recipients via alternative credit scoring

  • Enabled 500 women to transition from informal to formal businesses, creating 2,000+ jobs in underserved communities

HONORABLE MENTION

Athena FundX (Kenya) equips women entrepreneurs with the tools, confidence, and visibility they need to grow thriving businesses. 

  • Over 50,000 women in 27 countries have used AI-driven coaching platform, with 73% active user rate

  • Novel credit scoring system evaluates entrepreneurial potential alongside traditional financial metrics

  • 65% of platform users accessed credit for the first time and reported 30% higher revenues within six months

Kazi Yetu (Tanzania) has built Tanzania’s first women-run, cooperative-owned tea processing factory, transforming women’s role in the value chain.

  • Women farmers transitioned from informal tea-plucking roles to processing and packaging, while also gaining voice, ownership, and dignity in the workplace.

  • Earnings increased from $0.15 to up to $6 per kilo, by processing and selling tea directly

  • Women-run, community-owned factory adds value by blending and packing tea to sell in Tanzania, Europe, and the US

Avanza Sólido (Mexico) is a gender-focused microfinance institution advancing financial inclusion for rural women entrepreneurs through training, credit, and community-based support.

  • Trained 20,000+ women in Chiapas in financial and digital skills to strengthen economic autonomy

  • Disbursed credit to women living in extreme poverty, with 56.7% of clients in the Poverty Probability Index

  • 16.5% of their loan portfolio supported by integrated programs combining credit and social development

  • Uses multidimensional poverty measurement tools like Semáforo Avanzamos Contigo to track impact on women's lives

Frenkel Engineering (Mexico) is an automation and AI firm redefining who leads in industrial engineering by embedding gender inclusion into the heart of its operations.

Frenkel shows how even in male-dominated sectors, shifting internal culture and leadership can drive both performance and equity.

  • Achieved 90% retention of female talent, supported by inclusive policies and mentorship

  • Increased the share of women in technical roles from 10% to 35% in just three years

  • Women now represent 40% of mid-level managers and 53% of C-suite leadership

  • Diverse teams have improved project delivery times by 18%, linking inclusion with efficiency

HONORABLE MENTION

La Cana (Mexico) creates dignified employment and personal development opportunities for incarcerated women, breaking cycles of poverty and recidivism through inclusive economic empowerment.

  • Employed 1,400+ women across 10 correctional facilities in Mexico City and the State of Mexico over 9 years

  • Provides income-generating work, helping women support their families and build business skills while serving their sentences

  • Focuses on social reintegration through training, legal support, and personal development

2025 Awards Top 10 Finalists

Learn About Our Two Award Tracks: 

Global

Open to SMEs creating positive impact for women based in low- and middle-income markets (except for Mexico).

Global Award applications are now closed.

Open to SMEs creating positive impact for women based in Mexico.

Mexico Award applications are now closed.

2025 Judging Panel

Global Awards

  • Jacqueline Novogratz

    Founder & CEO, Acumen

  • Jessica Espinoza

    Jessica Espinoza

    CEO, 2X Global 

  • Simon Meier

    Simon Meier

    Director, BII Plus, BII 

  • Rebecca Fries

    Rebecca Fries

    CEO, Value for Women

Mexico Awards

  • Carmen Correa

    Carmen Correa

    CEO, Pro Mujer

  • Salua Garcia Fakih

    Salua Garcia Fakih

    CEO, Symplifica

  • Rebecca Fries

    Rebecca Fries

    CEO, Value for Women

  • Diego Serebrisky

    Founding Manager Partner, Dalus Capital

Inclusive Action Awards FAQ

  • The Inclusive Action Awards celebrate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) making significant strides in gender inclusion within their workforce, leadership, and customer base. The awards recognise innovative actions and measurable results that drive gender equality.

  • To be eligible for the Inclusive Action Awards, organisations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

    • Size and Growth Stage: Be a growth-stage company with under 250 employees.

    • Gender-Inclusive Practices: Demonstrate a track record of gender-inclusive practices.

    • Registration and Standing: Be registered and in good standing with local authorities.

    • Organisational Type: Not be a government entity, public organisation, or faith-based organisation with discriminatory objectives.

    • Geographic Scope: For the Global Award, operate in low- or middle-income countries, with a focus on Africa and Asia. For the Mexico Award, be based and/or operating in Mexico.

    • Global Award: Open to SMEs in emerging markets globally.

    • Mexico Award: Open to SMEs based and/or operating in Mexico.

    • Global Award: $5,000 cash prize, certificate, recognition via a virtual event, and media visibility.

    • Mexico Award: $5,000 cash prize, certificate, recognition at the GLI Forum Latam, and discounted access to the Forum, with additional media visibility.

  • Applications are now closed. Get notified for updates about our Awards and other timely Inclusive Action Hub news.

  • Applications are now closed. Get notified for updates about our Awards and other timely Inclusive Action Hub news.

  • Winners are selected by an expert panel based on scoring criteria, with additional consideration for narrative and alignment with the awards' mission.

    Applications are now closed. Get notified for updates about our Awards and other timely Inclusive Action Hub news.