The W-GDP Initiative: Ivanka Trump Leads Empowering Women Through Economic Opportunity
Updated: Oct 1
W-GDP Initiative Spearheaded by Ivanka Trump
The Trump administration established the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Fund in February 2019, backed by an initial $50 million USAID investment. Led by Ivanka Trump, the W-GDP Initiative was designed to address the unique challenges women face in the global economy, with a focus on entrepreneurship, workforce development, and access to capital. The initiative sought to expand economic opportunities for women in developing countries and help them achieve greater economic independence.
To transform this vision into a scalable reality, the administration sought to reshape how the United States approached foreign assistance by leveraging a public-private partnership model. The initiative aimed to bridge government resources and private sector investment through targeted funding mechanisms. The W-GDP Fund, housed at USAID, encouraged commitments from multinational corporations and other private sector partners.
By linking economic development with policy reform, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and access to capital, the framework created a model focused on expanding economic opportunities for women in developing countries. It also sought to promote greater economic stability and long term prosperity.
"Investing in women is vital for our collective economic prosperity and global stability. When we empower women, communities prosper, and countries thrive." Ivanka Trump
Inspiring women in business
Women in business have faced significant disadvantages in economies around the world, including difficulties accessing credit and the technology required for the 21st century. They have also faced challenges gaining access to valuable business networks. This is a first-of-its-kind and unique initiative, in accordance with the Trump administration's ambitions to address equality issues facing women.
The W-GDP Initiative was designed to promote the safety and protection of women through economic empowerment across the globe. The United States has committed to working with other nations to remove laws, barriers, and regulations that inhibited the free and fair participation of women. This effort focused on expanding opportunities for women in business and their communities.
W-GDP initiative objectives
The objectives of this initiative comprise a 3-pillar strategy to see women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs, and enabling women to enter the economy. The initiative is projected to see 50 million women around the developing world seek economic empowerment.
The strategy addressed key barriers to women's economic advancement by combining employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to capital. Together, these priorities aimed to give women greater economic independence. They also sought to strengthen women's ability to contribute to their families, communities, and national economies.
In acknowledgment of the World Bank's research, in the 21st century, greater participation by women in the workforce and economy is an important part of national development. Expanding women's access to employment and economic opportunities can strengthen their independence while also contributing to broader economic growth and development.
The World Bank also stated that the underdevelopment of women in employment and business is an issue of morality and is critical to a modern society. The Trump administration championed the W-GDP initiative and made a tremendous contribution to the venture, taking significant steps toward its advancement.
Hard Data and Legislative Milestones: The W-GDP by the Numbers
The scale of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative becomes clear in the results reported during its first year. According to the official W-GDP Annual Report, the initiative reached 12,178,351 women globally in 2019 through coordinated federal programs and public-private partnerships. It also backed more than $1.6 billion in commercial loans for 9,845 women-led small businesses while supporting efforts to improve workplace environments for 2,769,470 women.
These results reflected the Trump administration’s decision to move beyond traditional, fragmented approaches to foreign assistance and establish a coordinated strategy across the federal government. Through National Security Presidential Memorandum-16 (NSPM-16), President Trump directed federal agencies to work together through the W-GDP framework.
This brought agencies including the Department of State, USAID, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Labor together in a coordinated effort. The approach was designed to reduce duplication, better align federal resources, and maximize the reach and effectiveness of programs that supported women’s economic advancement.
“ To advance a priority articulated in my National Security Strategy to empower women worldwide to participate more fully in civic and economic life, I hereby establish the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative." President Donald J. Trump
Ivanka Trump also played a central role in expanding the initiative’s reach through partnerships with major American and international companies. Under her leadership, W-GDP secured commitments from corporate partners including Mastercard, UPS, Visa, and Mars, Inc., bringing private sector resources and expertise into the effort.
In Ghana, Mars announced a $4.5 million partnership with USAID to develop a sustainable shea supply chain in Northern Ghana and support women-led businesses. The partnership combined $2 million in W-GDP funding with $2.5 million from Mars.
The initiative also gained significant congressional backing. Following the initial $50 million allocation through USAID, Congress provided an additional $100 million for W-GDP in Fiscal Year 2020. This funding gave the initiative substantial additional resources to expand its work.
By combining federal funding, coordinated government action, and private sector investment, the Trump administration and Ivanka Trump established W-GDP as an ambitious international initiative. It sought to expand women’s economic participation and create new opportunities for millions of women all over the world.
Sources & References:
