Association of Lady Entrepreneurs (ALE) T/2012/90/48 is a registered Non Governmental Organization under Ministry of Home Affairs Maldives, working for the economic empowerment of women in Maldives. ALE is focusing on island women and youth to change their lives through entrepreneurship. Educating and enhancing their capacity to face the hurdles and stand on their own foot. Empower Maldivian women to work and be free from the domestic violence. Founder members of Association of Lady Entrepreneurs (ALE) Raheema Adam & Shathira Ahmed started working for the women’s economic empowerment during 2004.

 ALE formed to perform as an independent organization that will fully reflect women’s empowerment especially in Atolls. Following the successful years in this challenging male dominated environment, the two founder members decided to form an independent organization that will continue its previous work to encourage, support and empower women to achieve financial independence.

Businesses owned and income generated by women is an important part of the development of our nation. ALE will continue to focus on creating and enhancing a commercial climate in the country and beyond its borders that is conducive for the development of women owned businesses.

For all their potential though, women entrepreneurs in Maldives still face a number of challenges when scaling their businesses, including social and cultural challenges, and other factors such as lack of autonomy, business skills, and mentorship and professional networks. As a result, many promising businesses do not mature.

Women entrepreneurs in developing countries are currently hailed as the new rising stars of their economies. And as they scale their businesses, their success not only leads to economic growth through direct jobs and investments in their own companies, but also promotes inclusive development and growth. There for ALE is focusing to those women who are talented, hardworking but difficult to move on because of the challenges that they face.

ALE will work towards achieving the right social and regulatory framework for the development of women entrepreneurs, organizing national and local initiatives such as access to support schemes, counseling and guidance, and providing access to physical resources and markets.