Rural women in South Africa not only face higher poverty rates, they also often have little to no resources available to them; with access to water, irrigation tools and seedlings a constant challenge. For those women looking to start a business in the agricultural sector, it’s even more of a challenge, with many struggling to gain access to financial assistance to start their enterprises, because they often have no assets to put up as necessary surety. In 2008, the government partnered with Old Mutual’s Masisizane Fund to set up the R100 million Isivande Women’s Fund which invests directly in women enterprises by offering loans at lower interest rates, as well as offering non-financial support.