For a lot of women, walking down the aisle or raising a family on their own often marks the beginning of a slow exit from the paid economy. Not always by personal choice, or due to a sudden love for domestic roles, but because of the very real challenges that come with trying to balance family life and paid work. From societal expectations to inflexible workplaces, lack of support systems, and limited exposure to modern, adaptable work options, many women are simply worn down by the pressure. Eventually, some give up. Another capable woman steps away from the economy, and this quiet exit continues to weaken not just her financial independence but the economy as a whole.
That is what WomanIncluded Economy was created to change.
We ask the hard question: How can women managing the realities of home and family still thrive in the paid economy? And we work actively to find and implement answers.
WomanIncluded Economy is flagship project of the Ciara Prince Economic Development Foundation. It is an advocacy and empowerment initiative dedicated to promoting the economic participation of women navigating family life, whether married, divorced, or single. We recognize the untapped economic potential of these women and the systems that often fail them. Through education, reorientation, workplace advocacy, flexible work exposure, and practical support, we are working to ensure that more women are included, equipped, and empowered to contribute to, and benefit from, the economy.
Encourage: our primary audience is the woman. We encourage women, particularly those managing home, and family to actively participate in the paid economy. This includes applying their skills, training, and expertise across business, employment, leadership, governance, and politics. We create awareness around the evolving opportunities in today’s economy: freelance work, remote roles, flexible jobs, digital entrepreneurship, and alternative career paths. By showing what’s possible, we help women see how economic inclusion can coexist with domestic life. This effort also extends to young girls and students, who must be introduced early to a mindset of possibility, professional ambition, and the confidence to dream beyond traditional roles.
Empower: our audience includes the government, private organizations, donor agencies, professional networks, business accelerators, and learning institutions. We advocate for structural support including training, mentorship, funding, policy reform, and access to enabling resources to help more women managing domestic responsibilities enter and thrive in the labor force. We work to ensure that empowerment is not performative but practical and sustained. We also recognize the role of the media and storytellers in empowering women, and we advocate for the intentional telling of stories that highlight women’s work, capabilities, and contributions, stories that help reshape societal narratives and broaden public perception.
Enable: our audience includes workplaces, families, religious institutions, cultural influencers, and communities. We advocate for shifts in workplace policies and conditions that reflect the realities and needs of women, such as flexible work arrangements, on-site childcare, parental leave, mental health support, and inclusive hiring practices. To families and society at large, we push for mindset shifts from seeing the woman’s place only in the home to understanding that enabling her full participation in the economy benefits everyone. We encourage shared responsibility, partnership in the home, and community-based support systems that allow women to work without guilt or penalty.