Studies by the World Bank and the United Nations show that helping women develop their potential, enhance the well-being of their families and have a positive impact on the economic development of their communities and countries. This led ExxonMobil to create the Educating Women and Girls Initiative in 2005, which provides training, resources and support to women to help them improve their economic standing and become agents of development. Since then the ExxonMobil Foundation has supported women in over 50 countries through leadership programs.  In partnership with the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), the ExxonMobil Foundation extends the Global Women in Management Program to local community organizations. In 2009 the program was hosted in Rio de Janeiro and included 27 female leaders from 10 countries in Africa and Latin America. They were given the tools to overcome challenges in microfinance, the environment, business development, education and domestic violence.