Posts tagged ‘economic development’
U.S. Department of State Hosts Forum Nov. 16: “Investing in Women To Maximize Returns”
Press types, you can sign up to attend this event. I’m looking forward to hearing about Ambassador Verveer’s talk, “Corporate Citizenship: Women–The Optimal Investment”!
“The Department of State will host the Investing in Women To Maximize Returns forum at the Department’s George C. Marshall Center on November 16. Over 100 private sector executives, senior government officials, and nonprofit organization representatives, will meet to discuss strategic investments in women’s economic potential that the private sector is making to drive smart business growth. Participants will share best practices that go beyond corporate social responsibility programs and view investments in women and girls as critical business decisions. The forum will also identify new opportunities for advancing the status of women and girls through innovative public and private sector economic initiatives and programs.”
Read more: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/11/200559.htm
What Europe Can Teach the US (and Beyond?) About Gender in the Boardroom
“Smart organizations understand that in these tough economic times, no one can afford to curtail or shut out top talent, no matter their gender or ethnicity.” A Harvard Business Review look at women leaders in business.
What Europe Can Teach the US About Gender in the Boardroom
by Sylvia Ann Hewlett | 10:03 AM September 12, 2012
As the U.S. presidential campaign moves into its final months, newspapers are full of promises from both candidates. But there’s promising news from Europe that’s also worth attention.
A proposal being drafted by the European Commission and expected to be formally introduced next month by Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship, would force euro-zone companies larger than 250 employees or with more than €50 million in annual revenues to reserve at least 40% of their nonexecutive director board seats for women by 2020 or face fines and other sanctions…
Smart organizations understand that in these tough economic times, no one can afford to curtail or shut out top talent, no matter their gender or ethnicity. A McKinsey study found that across all industry sectors, companies with the most women on their boards of directors significantly and consistently outperform those with no female representation: by 41% in terms of return on equity and by 56% in terms of operating results. In other words, diversity — especially gender diversity — unlocks growth.
Read the full article: http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hewlett/2012/09/what_europe_can_teach_the_us_about_gender_in_the_boardroom.html
Egyptian grandmother turns eco-friendly online healthy-food entrepreneur #hwhtw
So many things to like about this story: great news for Egypt’s economy, human health, the environment, and women’s entrepreneurship!
Dried produce seller utilizes solar technology to create a healthy snacking alternative
“My grandchildren used to eat a lot of junk, and I’m not a junk food person, so I wanted to offer them something nutritious, and dried fruits in Egypt is limited to the typical variety of Ramadan food, so I started to dry apples and bananas at home,” Meebed said.
What began as snack time in Meebed’s kitchen has grown to become a thriving business utilizing solar drying technology and local produce, and empowering women in rural areas of Egypt.
Read the full article: http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/dried-produce-seller-utilizes-solar-technology-create-healthy-snacking-alternative
Study: “Overcoming the Gender Gap: Women Entrepreneurs as Economic Drivers” @TheWomanEffect #hwhtw
In a study for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Lesa Mitchell “explores the intersection of two issues that often are thought of separately: the need for sustained economic recovery in the United States, and the status of women’s entrepreneurship.” She concludes that “Women capable of starting growth companies may well be our greatest under-utilized economic resource,” and goes on to add:
“It is essential to see women’s entrepreneurship as an economic issue, not a gender-equity issue. When new companies and industries flourish, everyone benefits. And the returns will increase when more women contribute to the process by bringing their ideas to market and building high-growth firms around them.”
Read the full study here: http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedFiles/Growing_the_Economy_Women_Entrepreneurs.pdf
Thanks to InPowerWomen for the tip!
“Forget Foreign Aid, Focus on Foreign Investment In Women Entrepreneurs” by @startupbiztalk in @ForbesWoman #myAWD
Forget Foreign Aid, Focus on Foreign Investment In Women Entrepreneurs
Cheryl Isaac, Contributor
Foreign aid can sometimes account for over 90% of a country’s GDP; yet developing nations are quickly learning that foreign aid is not a long-term solution. And over the past few years, we’ve seen just how interconnected the global economy is: a misstep in one economy, affects the global economy.
Dambisa Moyo, economist and author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working And How There is a Better Way For Africa, argues that foreign aid to Africa is hurting, not helping the continent.
“Policymaking…has to set the environment to make it conducive for people to invest, be entrepreneurial and to innovate,” Moyo told Forbes Woman.
Investment in entrepreneurship—particularly women entrepreneurship—can lead to long-term growth in developing countries, the type of change that affects economic development, and a collaborative effort that influences innovation and empowers citizens to contribute to their nation’s GDP.
Read the full article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/worldviews/2012/07/06/forget-foreign-aid-focus-on-foreign-entrepreneurship-for-women/
“A world in balance requires gender equality, says @UN_Women” #genderequality #rioplus20 #hwhtw
A world in balance requires gender equality, says UN Women
Michelle Bachelet outlines policy actions needed at Rio+20 Conference to bring transformational change.
United Nations, New York, 14 June 2012 — Ahead of the UN Conference for Sustainable Development next week in Rio de Janeiro, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet has called upon world leaders for bold action and strong commitments to advance women’s equal rights, opportunity and participation. The Conference, also known as Rio+20, will bring together heads of state and government, and representatives of civil society and the private sector to build a road map for a sustainable future, aiming to reduce poverty and advance equality and environmental protection.
Read the full statement: http://www.unwomen.org/2012/06/a-world-in-balance-requires-gender-equality-says-un-women/
Event: “Women Entrepreneurs: Innovative Approaches to Financing New Businesses” @MilkenInstitute @GWtweets @SBAgov @samanthaettus
Interesting event coming up on Monday in DC!
The Milken Institute and the George Washington University Present
Women Entrepreneurs:
Innovative Approaches to Financing New Businesses
A panel discussion with special guests
The Honorable Karen Mills
Administrator, United States Small Business Administration
Peggy Wallace
Managing Director, Golden Seeds
Melinda Wittstock
CEO and Founder, NewsiT
Lisa Hall
President & CEO, Calvert Foundation
Leadership Council, AEO One in Three Initiative
and
Moderator
Samantha Ettus
Best-selling Author and Contributor, Forbes
Founder, Working Moms Lifestyle
Women entrepreneurs are a growing force in the economy. Between 1997 and 2011, the number of women-owned businesses in the United States grew at twice the rate of men-owned firms. Nevertheless, one of the fundamental challenges facing any entrepreneur today is finding the capital to launch and grow a business. Do women entrepreneurs face unique challenges or issues in obtaining start-up financing and growth capital? Are there policy or market solutions that can help to facilitate the flow of capital or credit to start-up enterprises and small businesses, especially those owned by women? We welcome our distinguished panelists to explore these and related questions.
Read more and register: http://www.cvent.com/events/women-entrepreneurs-innovative-approaches-to-financing-new-businesses/event-summary-b01fb1da72d44664ac858de7d621ce75.aspx?goback=%2Egde_40662_member_122863129
“The United Arab Emirates – a Fertile Frontier for Financial Women” via @VitalVoices @HuffingtonPost #hwhtw
Anne Izzillo of the HuffPost reports that the UAE is the place to be for women entrepreneurs:
“This is what we found: If you are a woman looking to start a business in the UAE — this is your moment. Today, women are forming start-ups in the region that range from multi-million dollar private equity funds and tech start-ups to western-inspired fashion labels and successful yoga studio chains. The opportunities are ripe for local and foreign women alike, thanks to several key factors that are leading a female business boom in the region.
“It starts with the government’s commitment to providing a high standard of education for both men and women. Today, the literacy rate for UAE women is 90 percent. Also, it is encouraging that the UAE Constitution promotes gender equality, including equal pay for equal work under the Labor Law and the right for women to inherit property. All of these factors have created a fertile environment for the seeds of female entrepreneurship to grow.”
Read the full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-izzillo/united-arab-emirates_b_1522362.html
“Malian Women Create Beauty and Profit Through Local Fabrics” via @Africa_com #hwhtw @MakeWomenCount #myAWD
Love this article on Malian women fashion entrepreneurs! Some highlights:
“Hand-dyeing bazin can be labour-intensive for the women who produce it. First they import the fabric — mostly cotton, but sometimes silk or wool — from Germany, the Netherlands or China. Then they cut it to standard sizes. Next they knot tissues tightly into parts of the fabric so that those parts remain undyed when the cloth is dipped into buckets of pigment and fixative. When the fabric emerges it bears coloured spirals, rings or patterns.
“Maureen Gosling, a U.S. filmmaker, is collaborating with Maxine Downs, an anthropologist, to produce a film on bazin called Bamako Chic: Threads of Power, Colour and Culture. According to Ms. Downs, they want to show how “self-empowered African women turned their artistic creativity and resourcefulness into a force for alleviating their own poverty.”
“Ms. Downs visited Mali several times to meet some of the women in the burgeoning industry. “When I went to Mali, I was shocked by the women’s resilience, their ability to create something out of nothing,” she told Africa Renewal.”
Read the full article: http://www.africa.com/blog/blog,malian_women_create_beauty_and_profit_through_local_fabrics,667.html
Event: “When Women Lead Africa: A Roundtable” @VitalVoices #hwhtw @MakeWomenCount #myAWD
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Cordially invites you to a roundtable discussion
Featuring:
Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Eva Muraya, and Kah Walla
We are delighted to welcome Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Eva Muraya and Kah Walla to Vital Voices for a panel discussion on the unique contributions of women’s leadership, changes in public perceptions of women leaders, and the opportunities and challenges for a new model of leadership in Africa.
Monday, May 21, 2012
5:30PM – 7:30PM
Location: Vital Voices Global Partnership
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Or watch live via Ustream!
Learn more or register: http://www.vitalvoices.org/get-involved/events/when-women-lead-africa-roundtable-discussion
Event: ICRW Champions for Change Gala with Ashley Judd and Cherie Blair @ICRW @AshleyJudd @CherieBlairFndn @Solar_Sister #hwhtw
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is celebrating its annual Champions for Change Awards Gala on Wednesday, May 23rd! ICRW’s signature event celebrates the possibilities of a gender equitable world and to honor the leaders and visionaries who help make it a reality. Please join ICRW and special guests – actor Ashley Judd and former British First lady Cherie Blair – to honor this year’s Champions for Change Awardees:
Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S Secretary of State (special video acceptance)
ExxonMobil Foundation
Thunderbird Emerging Markets Lab of the Thunderbird School of Global Management
Solar Sister
Learn more and buy tickets: http://champions4change.eventbrite.com
Ban Ki-moon: “The Best Investment a Country Can Make” @UN #hwhtw #maternalhealth
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently spoke at a reception for the in support of “Every Woman Every Child”, in Mumbai, India. He congratulated India on its efforts to eradicate polio, and challenged the crowd to put the same resources toward maternal and child health, calling it a “common sense approach”:
“[W]e share the same conviction that saving women’s and children’s lives is the best investment any country can make. If a person is ill, or their child is sick, anyone with resources would not think twice about spending them on health care. But, somehow, Governments often miss this common-sense approach to what matters in life.”
Read the full speech: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14261.doc.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ungen+%28UN+gender+equality+news+feed%29
Global Marketplace at the NMWA, May 12-13 @WomenInTheArts #hwhtw #dc @dcculture #passportdc
What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than by supporting women artisans from all over the world at the National Museum of Women in the Arts?
“The Global Marketplace features jewelry, ceramics, personal accessories, and home decor created by women artisan groups living in emerging economies throughout the world. Exhibitors representing the craftswomen will also discuss the arts as a powerful vehicle of economic development.
“Celebrating its 25th anniversary, NMWA hosts its third annual Global Marketplace in conjunction with Passport DC.
“The Global Marketplace is part of NMWA’s Empowering Women through Art initiative, and proceeds from the two-day event go directly to the women artisans. Countries represented include: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Laos, Mexico, Peru, Swaziland, Turkey, Vietnam among others.”
For hours, directions, and more info: http://www.nmwa.org/events/global-marketplace
“Why Women Are a Foreign Policy Issue” @mverveer #hwhtw
U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer has penned a brilliant and compelling piece on women for Foreign Policy. A must-read!
Why Women Are a Foreign Policy Issue
The most pressing global problems simply won’t be solved without the participation of women. Seriously, guys.
On a trip to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, not long after my appointment as the U.S. State Department’s ambassador at large for global women’s issues, I stopped for dinner with a group of Afghan women activists in Kabul. One woman opened our conversation with a plea: “Please don’t see us as victims, but look to us as the leaders we are.”
Those words have stuck with me as President Barack Obama’s administration has endeavored to put women at the heart of its foreign policy. For generations, the United States too often viewed the world’s women as victims of poverty and illiteracy, of violence and seemingly unbreakable cultural traditions — essentially, as beneficiaries of aid. Women’s issues existed on the margins, segregated from the more “strategic” issues of war, peace, and economic stability. Now, in a time of transformative change — from the rise of new economic powers to a growing chorus of voices against repressive regimes in the Arab world — promoting the status of women is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one; it’s essential to economic prosperity and to global peace and security. It is, in other words, a strategy for a smarter foreign policy.
Read the full article: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/why_women_are_a_foreign_policy_issue
The Impact of Women in Business, Three Ways @CatalystInc #hwhtw
McKinsey & Company and Catalyst have issued two new reports and a video on the role of women as business leaders.
Download the Catalyst report, “The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance and Women’s Representation on Boards (2004–2008)”, here: http://www.catalyst.org/publication/479/the-bottom-line-corporate-performance-and-womens-representation-on-boards-20042008
Read the article by Joanna Barsh and Lareina Yee of McKinsey, “Unlocking the full potential of women in the US economy”, here: http://www.mckinsey.com/Client_Service/Organization/Latest_thinking/Unlocking_the_full_potential.aspx
Watch the video featuring McKinsey partners Joanna Barsh, Sandrine Devillard, Emily Lawson, and Jin Wang, “Achieving the promise of women executives”, here: http://www.mckinsey.com/Features/Women_Matter
“Five Poverty-Fighting Women to Watch” #hwhtw @Daily_Good @AshleyJudd @leila_c @Samasource @pooreconomics @jnovogratz @acumenfund @hpglobalcitizen
A fantastic article from Daily Good! Props to Ashley Judd for retweeting.
“These five women are fighting poverty in a serious way, but they’re not handing out aid. We hope to see them scale up their models this year and make an even bigger impact.”
Here’s the list:
- Leila Janah of Samasource
- Esther Duflo of MIT’s Poverty Action Lab (see post: “Women as Policy Makers”)
- Jacqueline Novogratz of Acumen Fund (one of my favorite speakers from TEDWomen!)
- Gabi Zedlmayer, leader of Hewlett-Packard’s global social innovations team
- Shainoor Khoja, who is using technology to address the world’s poverty challenges
Read more! http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=206
Be the Change: Make a Loan on Kiva for FREE! @kiva #hwhtw #IWD12
In honor of International Women’s Day, you can make a micro-loan to a woman entrepreneur on Kiva for free. What a great way to get started as a microfinancier!
From Kiva:
Consider the Facts
Women are a significant untapped resource for creating opportunity that can change lives. And yet millions struggle to access the resources they need and deserve to jumpstart change.
The results of that lost opportunity are profound:
- Over 1 billion people live in extreme poverty – 75% are women and girls.
- 76 million primary school-age children are not in school – 60% are girls.
- There are 876 million illiterate adults in the developing world – over 65% are women.
- Women produce half the world’s food, but own only 1% of the world’s farmland.
But when you invest in her future, the story changes dramatically:
- Research shows that when a woman contributes to her family’s income, she reinvests the majority of of her earnings to build a better future for herself and her children.
- Every additional year of education for a girl yields a 20% increase in her future earning potential.
- A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
Often only a relatively small amount of money stands in the way of Kiva borrowers and their dreams. Whether it’s a Kenyan farmer who needs $500 in order to double her grain production, or a young Bolivian woman who lacks the $1,500 tuition for nursing school, Kiva lenders provide a hand up to these and countless other borrowers.
Join us and make a loan today: http://www.kiva.org/women?utm_source=jg&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=jg_Empower+Women+with+a+%2425+Free+Trial+Loan+%28271568409%29&utm_content=allisonasplin%40hotmail.com
Reporting Live from “The Bottom Line: How Big Business is Empowering Women and Girls”
Tonight I’m attending a women’s economic empowerment panel discussion hosted by ICRW. The superstar panel has knocked our socks off with stats and case studies from their experience. Most excitingly, we learned that big announcements are forthcoming tomorrow from Calvert investments and Women’s World Banking! Stay tuned…
Be The Change: Shuba and the Cyclone #hwhtw
A great holiday gift idea: Shuba and the Cyclone, a new children’s book that features the creativity of 20 girls who participate in BRAC’s SoFEA (Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescents) program in Damrai, Bangladesh. The book follows the adventures of Shuba, a Ganges River dolphin who must find her way home after a cyclone.
20% of sales of Shuba and the Cyclone will automatically be donated to BRAC and an additional 20% of sales will be donated if you enter promo code BRAC at the time of purchase.
Buy it here: http://www.dot-to-dot-books.org/shop/shuba-the-river-dolphin/
“The Third Billion” #hwhtw
The Third Billion
As growing numbers of women enter the economic mainstream, they will have a profound effect on global business.
A huge and fast-growing group of people are poised to take their place in the economic mainstream over the next decade, as producers, consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs. This group’s impact on the global economy will be at least as significant as that of China and India’s billion-plus populations. But its members have not yet attracted the level of attention they deserve.
If China and India each represent 1 billion emerging participants in the global marketplace, then this “third billion” is made up of women, in both developing and industrialized nations, whose economic lives have previously been stunted, underleveraged, or suppressed…
Read the full article: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/10211?gko=98895
Helping Women Helps the World 