. . . securing Fair Wages to promote economic development for the working poor . . . engaging government to extend Balanced Policies and level the playing field for small producers . . . adopting Sustainable Solutions so the poor too can benefit from green innovations . . . extending meaningful Social Standards to attract investment and protect vulnerable workers . . . removing barriers to create Equal Access to high-value, sustainable markets
PROGRAMS
Opening Markets in India
Gujarat, India: 
In partnership with the Self-Employed Women's Association, GFI is working with 27,000 woman farmers
to improve access to markets and eliminate policy barriers facing small producers.
...»
INNOVATIONS
The "Missing Middle"
Synapse: 
GFI's sister organization
The Synapse Market Access Fund is bridging the gap between micro-finance and commercial banking
by providing needed mid-level financing for small producers....»
NEWS
A Voice for the Informal Sector
GFI is fast becoming a leading voice on the realities and challenges facing informal workers in Central America
Guatemala City, Guatemala - Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A recent article drawing on GFI expert Otto Navarro highlights the problems faced by infomal workers,
and particularly women, in Guatemala.
CENTRAL AMERICA: Women Eke Out a Living in Informal Economy By Danilo Valladares...»
. . . . . . . .
Haiti Earthquake
We encourage all GFI supporters to extend your assistance to first response organizations and efforts in Haiti
Washington, DC - January 13
Our thoughts and support are with the people of Haiti and the response teams deploying to assist in
the humanitarian efforts centered in Port-au-Prince. Learn more about how you can help through the
Center for International Disaster assistance.
The Center for International Disaster Assistance...»
. . . . . . . .
2009 CGI Highlight
Investing in Agriculture and Supporting Small-Producers Stressed at 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting and Hallmark of Secretary Clinton's Keynote
New York City - September 27
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton empahasizes approch that is exemplified
in GFI's work...invest in small producers, support the work of women farmers.
See Clip of 2009 CGI Keynote...»
. . . . . . . .
August GFI Newsletter
Secretary Clinton highlights GFI Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative, AND Going Green...don't forget the working poor. Read the Newsletter ...»
. . . . . . . .
Secretary Clinton Visits GFI Program Partnership in India
Mumbai, India - July 19
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited with SEWA and GFI Board member Reema Nanavaty during a
recent trip to India and discussed key GFI/SEWA programs in India.
Read about the visit ...»
. . . . . . . .
Ambassador Dobriansky joins GFI
Washington, DC - June 30
Former Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs joins GFI Board.
Read the Press Release ...»
OPPORTUNITY
Grinding Out the Middle Man
Photo provided by SEWA
In agricultural communities throughout the developing world middlemen prey on poor families, charging excessive fees to process, package and transport products for famers who lack the resources for the grinders, carts and packaging needed to get products to market. Ending this cycle of exploitation means giving poor farmers ownership of the process that products take from harvest to market. GFI is working with organic spice and seed farmers to introduce high capacity grinders into communities and remove the need for middleman processing and middleman fees.
How You Can Help
One grinder can help a poor farmer increase their income by nearly a third, and in many cases by much more. By contributing to the GFI Grinders Project you can squeeze out the middleman and help break the poverty cycle in small-producer agricultural communities in India and throughout the globe where GFI works. To start grinding out the middleman click here and your contribution will be pooled with others to cover the cost of purchasing a grinder. ...buy a grinder »
FEATURE
The Life of Salt Worker in Northern India
Photo by Sally Painter
In the desert flats of Gujarat in northern India thousands of families earn their livelihoods extracting salt from the
the arid land earning an income of just dollars a day per household. Numerous policy and economic barriers
prevent salt farmers from increasing their wages and as a result social barriers have arisen that keep girls from
achieving a basic education, families from accessing healthcare and that significantly deepen the poverty cycle for
these marginalized workers.
...read more about the life of an Indian Salt Worker in the Washington Post Article 'This Is the Destiny
of Girls' »
How GFI is Helping