EMPOWERMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EQUITY
EDUCATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Pillars of Women's Advancement
Every programme, workshop, event, and resource we offer is anchored in five interconnected commitments, serving as a complete framework for women's growth, from the inside out and the local to the global.
Building confidence, voice, and leadership so women can step forward with clarity and purpose.
Turning ideas into ventures by providing guidance, networks, and practical business support.
Advocating fairness, inclusion, and equal access to resources and representation everywhere.
Expanding knowledge and skills that open doors to lifelong growth and opportunity.
Enabling financial independence and sustainable prosperity for women and their communities.
Where It Began
Founded in 1977 by Shirin Hussain, a visionary leader and psychologist, the organization was rooted in her belief that education and self-reliance don't just transform a woman’s life, they also strengthen her footprint in the country's economy. She empowered women to build skills, start businesses, and stand independent while also advocating for those facing inequality and domestic hardship.
Today, her legacy lives on, through continued efforts in education, empowerment, entrepreneurship, equality and economic development inspiring women to rise with confidence and shape their own futures.
Signature Programmes
Five structured programmes — each designed to meet women at a specific stage of their journey and drive measurable transformation.
Strategic guidance, skill development, and community for women navigating leadership at every stage.
Mentorship and support for women entrepreneurs from first idea to established enterprise.
A safe space for healing — supporting women through trauma, stigma, and wholeness.
Holistic well-being — physical, mental, and emotional resilience for sustained growth.
Transformative digital literacy for senior women, personalised to engage meaningfully in the digital age.
Ways to Engage
F.O.W.E.S has a place for everyone. Whether through programs, events, business initiatives, or collaborative platforms, every path leads to a stronger ecosystem for women.
Access the full spectrum of benefits: programmes, market opportunities, mentorship, and the global FOWES network.
Our volunteers are the force behind the change. Bring your time, skills, and passion to the mission.
Subject-matter experts are the catalyst for empowerment. Join our panel and help bring the change.
Fuel the force of empowerment. Your support helps sustain programmes, workshops, and women-led initiatives worldwide.
Collaborate, co-create, and co-invest. Strategic partnerships amplify our collective impact across regions and industries.
Every woman carries a story worth telling. Submit yours for a monthly spotlight feature in our Women of Substance series.
One Mission.
No Borders.
Global chapters create connection. Local communities create impact. Together, they create spaces where women are supported, connected, empowered, and given opportunities to grow, lead, and collaborate.
Global Headquarters. A multicultural nexus of entrepreneurship and community leadership.
Where it began. Founders, corporate leaders, and professionals at the intersection of scale and resilience.
A global crossroads of opportunity, cross-border collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership.
A global centre of finance and thought leadership for women at the highest levels of business.
A strategic gateway to the Gulf promoting leadership development and economic participation at scale.
A rising hub for innovation and sustainability, attracting future-forward thinkers and founders.
Different industries. Different cultures. Different ambitions.
One shared mindset.
Programmes build skills. Initiatives build visibility.
The Global Artisan Welfare Collective™
A global fund created to support artisan communities — ensuring fair income, healthcare, education, and financial stability. Business success and artisan welfare, hand in hand.
Explore the CollectiveFOWES Women of Substance
An initiative dedicated to making women visible — spotlighting resilience, growth, leadership, and impact across four story series. Not just sharing stories; structuring visibility with intent.
Discover Their StoriesChamber of Business & Economic Development
A strategic platform dedicated to strengthening women-led enterprises through structured support, capital readiness, market access, and economic integration — from idea to institution.
Sign Up for W|CBEDIn the Spotlight
Every woman carries a story shaped by resilience, courage, determination, and strength, and these stories deserve to be seen. Through four story series, we profile women who Thrive, Scale, Rise, and Lead across industries and continents.
"Visibility isn't vanity. It's proof. Every woman made visible makes the next woman's path a little less lonely."
Latest News & Resources
A dedicated global fund support securing the welfare, wellbeing, and sustained growth of artisan communities worldwide.
A wellness initiative reconnecting women with the rhythm of nature within themselves and around them.
FOWES
Events
Learning workshops, leadership retreats, wellness circles, and networking gatherings designed for real connection.