Empowering Women Eco-Entrepreneurs

Galápagos Conservancy offers GRANTS to women-owned small businesses focused on sustainability in Galápagos. We strive to center, resource, and support resident entrepreneurs, recognizing that empowering women through conservation can create positive, sustainable change in the Archipelago for people and ecosystems alike.

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Project Location

Galápagos Islands
Program Launch

2021
Funded Projects to Date

68
Partners

Goldman Sachs, Intrepid Foundation
and Golden Galapagos

Investing in Women through Conservation Transforms Communities

The Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (WISE) Program provides critical capital and promotes business education for Galapagueñas. We work closely with awardees as they develop and execute their business ventures, providing operational support where needed to maximize each project’s chance of success.
Each awardee is encouraged to enroll in 10,000 Women. With ten online courses in Latin American Spanish from experts at Goldman Sachs, 10,000 Women features learning modules in all aspects of business, from financial planning to leadership to negotiation skills.

By inviting women to join our collaborative learning cohort, Galápagos Conservancy hopes to support the growth of an entrepreneurial allyship network of women conservation leaders that can rise to meet the changing and often urgent conservation needs unique to Galápagos.
Empowering women to be environmental stewards while prioritizing their education and economic development will have positive ripples affects throughout the Islands. The WISE Grant Program strives to create a more equitable and sustainable future for Galápagos.

Project Overview

Partnership

With staff experienced in women-led sustainable development projects, Galápagos Conservancy partnered with Goldman Sachs, Intrepid Foundation and Golden Galapagos to create a program tailored to empowering women in conservation through education and entrepreneurship, like Karina Bautista of Huerta Luna Farm, a research farm focused on discovering the agroecological techniques best suited for farming in Galápagos.

Current Status

Around the world, women are powerful drivers of sustainable economies and resilient communities. That’s why we’ve strengthened this program over time, investing in more than 70 women-led initiatives across Galápagos. Among them is Selene Loayza’s community education project, which fosters environmental awareness and a stronger sense of stewardship for children and families in the Islands.

With support from Galápagos Conservancy, Selene’s project integrates learning, creativity, and sustainability to inspire everyday actions that protect local ecosystems. Her work embodies the spirit of WISE — empowering women to lead change and build a sustainable future for Galápagos. We will continue expanding the scope of WISE in 2026.

Expected Outcomes

The WISE Program hopes to lay the foundation for a cultural shift towards women’s empowerment and leadership in the sustainability and conservation space in Galápagos.