NICE, France — As more women take on leadership roles globally, their policy priorities are increasingly linked to stronger social and economic outcomes, highlighting the role of women in leadership roles fighting global poverty. From the Caribbean to Northern Europe and East Africa, women leaders are shaping policies that transform lives and expand opportunity. Here is information about some of the women behind initiatives to reduce global poverty.

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados

“We is we. That’s the most powerful three words,” stated Mottley.

This Bajan saying reflects the spirit of togetherness, community and accountability that has shaped Mottley’s leadership in Barbados. She has carried that same spirit to the global stage through climate-responsive economic policies that strengthen financial stability and advance social development. Her leadership illustrates how women’s leadership and poverty reduction are closely connected, particularly in countries where climate insecurity and systemic social inequality continue to drive poverty.

The Bridgetown Initiative reforms the way wealthier countries provide climate aid by reducing debt burdens and expanding access to funding for vulnerable nations. It also promotes more socially and politically responsive financing by recognizing how gender, food insecurity and income inequality shape aid distribution. These fairer structures help ensure that support can be invested in essential services while also strengthening protection against future climate-related disasters.

Domestic debt restructuring in Barbados has also been crucial. Supported by the International Monetary Fund, the reforms protected social spending while helping reduce debt levels, which had reached 140% of GDP in 2017 after years of low economic growth and climate-related shocks across the region. These pressures were contributing to a severe financial crisis.

Once the restructuring negotiations were completed, the government gained greater fiscal capacity for sustained reinvestment. Since Mottley’s election in 2018, that debt-to-GDP ratio has steadily declined and is expected to continue falling, a sign of stronger fiscal autonomy. In turn, that greater flexibility can help fund social services and support poverty reduction.

Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland

Sanna Marin is another of the women behind initiatives fighting global poverty. In Finland, strengthening the welfare system has been key to preventing poverty rates from rising. In 2020, Marin’s government pledged to reprioritize budget allocations and invest in active, means-tested social welfare programs for Finnish citizens. The goal was to better protect lower-income households from falling into poverty before it happens.

Most notably, her 2022 Parental Leave Reform provides more equal access to paid parental leave for primary caregivers following the birth of a child. The reform helps redistribute caregiving responsibilities, supports women’s return to work and strengthens household income stability. Measures like this can also help reduce child poverty by protecting statutory pay for new parents, highlighting how women’s leadership can advance poverty reduction through welfare policy.

Poverty rates in Finland have declined since Marin’s social welfare expansions were implemented. The country is among the most effective in Europe at reducing poverty through the redistribution of resources. Over the past 15 years, poverty has declined by 27 percentage points, while child poverty rates have fallen by one-third by 2025.

Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania

After being sworn in following her first electoral victory in early 2026, Tanzania’s first female president made progress in reversing restrictive policies imposed by previous administrations, allowing for greater reinvestment in education and health care. The Borgen Project has previously reported that poverty in Tanzania is driven largely by rapid population growth, preventable life-threatening diseases and a declining workforce, issues Hassan’s reforms aim to address.

World Bank research suggests that universal education policies, such as those upheld under Hassan’s leadership, can play a key role in reducing poverty. Equal access to education removes financial barriers for children, especially girls, for whom schooling can help prevent child pregnancy, forced marriage and restricted social mobility. Regular school attendance also supports public health efforts by making it easier to vaccinate children and raise awareness about infectious diseases. Together, these interventions strengthen early-life development, reduce long-term poverty risks and improve overall quality of life.

In 2023, Tanzania passed the Universal Health Insurance Bill to strengthen its health sector and expand access to care. More recently, reforms supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) have focused on improving health data systems, strengthening service delivery and reinforcing health system preparedness. Tanzania has also reported decreased maternal morbidity rates, increased immunization outcomes and continued efforts to improve health care governance. This underscores the role of women’s leadership in poverty reduction and long-term development.

Conclusion

The importance of the work these female leaders do cannot be overstated. Change happens through targeted investment in social services such as education, health care and social protection, all of which are closely tied to poverty reduction. Combined with inclusive economic policies, these efforts are key to promoting growth and reducing inequality worldwide.

Mottley, Marin and Hassan are just a few of the many women behind initiatives fighting global poverty and implementing meaningful, lasting change in their respective countries, one policy at a time.

– Hannah Michie

Hannah is based in Nice, France and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr