Artisanry as a Tool for Female Economic Empowerment

Worth over $32 billion every year, the artisan sector is the second-largest employer in the developing world after agriculture, according to the Artisan Alliance. Women especially are principally among the hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who participate in the artisan sector. In Peru, the majority of artisans are women working informally.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, particularly women, participate in the artisan sector. Artisan activity creates jobs and preserves ancient cultural traditions that in many places are at risk of being lost.

Still, artisan businesses are seldom recognized as drivers of economic growth. The majority of artisans served are women and small producers working informally. Artisan entrepreneurs lack access to the tools and resources needed to succeed in the global marketplace. Artisans work in isolated environments, without business skills, market access, and the financial tools needed to boost production and sales.

With proper tools, resources, and like-minded partners, there is a huge opportunity to strengthen the global artisan sector to create jobs, increase incomes and preserve ancient cultural traditions that respect the uniqueness of people and place.

The artisan sector is a major driver in advancing women’s economic empowerment for peace and security.  

The artisan sector offers the opportunity for tremendous economic stability for women, market access, improved skills, and capacity building.

The majority of artisans are small producers – often women – working informally which too often means this is an overlooked, undervalued and underfunded economic sector with still untapped potential.  At the same time, it is well recognized that women are key drivers of economic growth. According to USAID to eradicate extreme poverty and build vibrant economies in developing countries, women must gain access to and control of capital, land, markets, education and leadership opportunities.