Theory of Change

The Challenge

In Portuguese-speaking African countries (Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé & Príncipe), women and girls face serious obstacles to education, work, and opportunity. For example:

• In Angola, 18 % of women have never attended school, and literacy rates are only 65 % for women (UNICEF, 2025).

• 30 % of women aged 25–49 marry before 18, often forcing them to leave school early and limiting their economic opportunities.

• Women are more likely than men to work in informal, low-paid, and unstable jobs, trapping them in cycles of poverty.

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These countries (except Mozambique) also receive less support than other African nations, leaving programs in education, skills development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship under-resourced. Without these opportunities, women and girls struggle to transform their potential into meaningful economic and social participation.

 

In Belgium, immigrant women, especially those from outside the European Union, face similar barriers:

• Only 49 % of non-EU women are employed, compared with 75–79 % of Belgian women.

• Language barriers, unrecognized qualifications, caregiving responsibilities, and discrimination limit access to employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship.

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Our Approach

Femme Incroyable empowers women and girls to overcome these barriers through:

• Mentorship and access to professional networks

• Vocational skills training and education sponsorship

• Entrepreneurship support

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We also develop essential life skills that formal education often does not provide, including confidence, leadership, assertiveness, communication, problem-solving, and resilience. By combining practical tools with personal empowerment, we equip women and girls to achieve independence and transform their communities.

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Our Impact

With your support, Femme Incroyable aims to directly impact 500,000 women by 2030, helping them:

• Access education and training opportunities

• Secure stable, meaningful employment or start businesses

• Build confidence, leadership, and resilience

• Take control of their lives and actively participate in their communities​

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Through these interventions, we create sustainable change, breaking cycles of poverty and opening pathways for women and girls to thrive independently of external support.

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