IFU’s Post

I truly enjoy working with a partner like Climate-KIC on embedding a gender lens into climate innovation. We try to make it so practical for companies, it becomes irresistible to work on. Read a few of our practical tips that may help kickstart your journey in the below article.

Digital Inclusion: An Imperative for Attaining the 2030 Global Goals By ATER, Solomon Vendaga The nations of the world under the umbrella of the United Nations (UN) in 2015 just after the completion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mission that began in 2000, set out to pursue an inclusive and more sustainable world by 2030 where no one irrespective of age, status, religion, political and economic levels will be left behind. This global pledge is hinged on achieving the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is, however, pitiable that about eight years after these supposedly committed efforts to include everyone in the development of the world, women especially those in Africa are not carried along as they should be especially in areas of digitalization and technology which are reflected in digital skills. There has not been any substantive change as the gap continues to become even wider than ever before. The fear is that, if we continue with this trajectory, it will be difficult to... Read More via: https://lnkd.in/drSNhUyH #SDGs #DigitalInclusion #womenempowerment #Inclusion #2030agenda

Investing in women entrepreneurs presents an opportunity to accelerate an inclusive, green transition. Many organisations express willingness to work on gender and diversity but often cite a lack of resources or time as reasons for not being able to do more. So, how can organisations effectively integrate gender considerations across all aspects of their operations? 💚✨ At EIT Climate-KIC, we're dedicated to advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), as demonstrated by our gender bias training and comprehensive action plan. Last month, we outlined five actions organisations can take to become gender-smart. In our latest article, we delve deeper into the first action: reflecting internally. We talked to our partners Lotte-Marie Brouwer from NGO Bopinc, Manuela Boma Atta from impact investment group Investisseurs & Partenaires - I&P-, and our Gender Programme Manager, Wallis Grant, who shared their insights on embedding a gender lens into everyday work. Drawing from our collective experience, we've compiled practical tips to help you reflect internally and kickstart your organisation's journey towards gender-smart practices. Find out what they are here: https://bit.ly/3TZQcap #GenderEquality #ClimateEntrepreneurship #ClimateAction #LeadershipDevelopment

Speaker announcement : Yunche Wilson Empowering Women Through Sustainable Businesses The panel discussion on "Empowering Women Through Sustainable Businesses" explores how sustainable businesses play a pivotal role in advancing women's empowerment. These businesses provide long-term economic opportunities for women, offering stable income and financial security. They actively contribute to gender equality in the workplace, fostering an environment where women can thrive and excel. Sustainable businesses also prioritize investment in women's leadership and entrepreneurship, recognizing the potential for innovation and growth. Additionally, they promote women's financial inclusion, ensuring that women have access to financial services and resources. Ultimately, these businesses extend their impact beyond their premises, actively contributing to women's empowerment within their communities. GCPIT (UK) Limited Global Council for The Promotion of International Trade (GCPIT)) Global Alliance for Digital MSMEs Global Alliance for Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (GAADRC) Global Alliance for Digital Innovation, Economy and Governance (GADIEG) Global Alliance for MSME Advancement and Sustainable Prosperity (GAMASP) Invest Africa Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade NPC Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade LLC Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade OU Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade (UAE) Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade Pte Ltd Call for speakers/ Partners - Global Impact Summit 2024 (Virtual Live) on 7th-9th March'2024: Nominate as speaker/partner : https://lnkd.in/gXHHufy4

The transition to a net-zero carbon economy presents an opportunity to advance gender equity through corporate #sustainability strategies. Measures like hiring and promoting women, implementing gender-sensitive practices, incentivising #diversity, and partnering with women's organisations. Clear regulations and oversight are needed to prevent unintended harm. In order to drive sustainability and #socialjustice efforts, gender considerations must be at the centre of decarbonisation. A collaborative multistakeholder approach is key to ensuring the transition empowers women and marginalised groups. Read more here : https://lnkd.in/dBbZkBBG ViveK K Singh Centre for Responsible Business #Decarbonisation #Diversity #GenderEquity #JustTransition #WomenEmpowerment #netzero

Why do we always want to raise a gender dimension to everything? Why are we talking about women and children as if men do not need water too? A good friend of mine asked me that question when we attended the “1st Research conference on the Economics of sustainable development” that was organised by the World Bank in collaboration with Elliott school of International affairs few weeks ago. Well that was a personal question but I decided to answer it in public because chances are that there are people out there like my friend who are asking the same question and do not see the relevance as to why women and children are being given such a priority. I see the need to providing awareness to our societies so that all the efforts adopted to bring about sustainable development will be easier and probably we may achieve these goals even before the targeted years. I agree with her on the part that men are also human beings and that they need to have access to all basic needs including water. Some of us are where we are right now because of the role that male figures related to us have played in our lives. However, if we need sustainable development, there is a need to take step-by-step actions including identifying which groups or areas are linked to almost all other sectors and then start working on the priorities. Yes, women and children happen to be the group that cuts across or other sectors such as education, agriculture, health, business, just to mention a few. Take for instance the education sector. Educating a woman means educating the world. A woman is the best teacher out there. The love and passion she has for her children cannot be measured. Once a woman is educated, she will realise how important it is to have quality education. That way, she will do everything possible in her power to send her children to school, which in turn reduces the number of illiterate people and hence alleviating poverty. The World Bank Women, Business and the Law 2023 report shows the importance of removing economic and legal hurdles for women entrepreneurs. The need to have legal reforms that encourage more women in business and the need of having favourable interest rates for women when taking loans are some of the things that will help in increasing the number of women entrepreneurs which in turn empower women economically and bring about gender equality. The report also shows how women contribute greatly to the economy of the country. So keeping them as the centre of everything solves a lot of issues that are stumbling blocks to the joint efforts in bringing sustainable development. So yes, there is a need to raise the gender dimension. Resources are always scarce and we need to utilise them effectively. Investing in key areas and groups of people that will have multiple effects on other areas as well is what is needed. Only then, can we effectively say that we are moving forward towards achieving our goals. 🥂

💡 Pursuing diversity and ensuring an equal role for women isn't just about rectifying past injustices—it's about shaping a more prosperous, sustainable future for all. 👫 The theme of #inclusion is more pertinent than ever, as it lies at the heart of our greatest global challenges and policy priorities. Inclusive, green economic growth is not just desirable; it's essential for sustainable prosperity, social cohesion, competitiveness, and geopolitical stability. Read more here at Project Syndicate 👉👉 https://lnkd.in/eYdjQZmX #WeCoCo #Diversity #SustainableFinance

👩💼 Can the mainstreaming of sustainability help with gender equality in finance?   Some time ago, I asked here about the perception of a female dominance in sustainable finance. The finance industry is still predominantely male-centric - especially in more senior positions. When we look at #sustainablefinance, we tend to see much more women, even in leadership roles. As promised, I did some reading on this topic, to find facts to my, unitl then, unfounded perceptions.   In 2021, BNP Paribas shed light on this, based on interviews with female sustainable finance professionals. To me, especially the below points stood out:   ◾ Sustainable finance isn't short of women, even at the top ranks.   ◾ Yet, it's critical to note that the seniority associated with 'Head Sustainable Investment' roles and the like can be put into perspective due to their typically non-involvement in vital management-related decision-making processes.   ◾ As reasons for more women in sustainable finance, gender-stereotypes are named, like a "friendlier" environment or more focus on collaboration.   ◾ Besides that, women entered this field opportunistically, because men saw it as a less lucrative or a lower-tier sector of the investment industry.   ◾ Given the emerging significance of sustainable investing and increasing demand for #STEM skills, the gender-balance could be shifting again.   ◾ Alternatively, women in finance could be pushed into sustainability as a result of it being perceived as more feminine.   What do I make of these points? 🤔   I love having more female peers since focusing on sustainability. But reading it might not just be my skepticism when I, on one hand, doubt the actual acknowledging of the value of #womeninfinance, and, on the other hand, suspect to already see men swoop in as the prestige of sustainability roles rises dampens my enthusiasm.   What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments. Also, if you have additional sources with statistics or facts on this topic, please feel free to share.   #genderequality #ecogendergap

🌟 This International Women's Day 2024, let's reaffirm our commitment to investing in #women to accelerate progress towards gender #equality! 🌍💼💪   Among the numerous challenges hindering #gender equality by 2030, access to #finance stands out prominently. Did you know that the annual global deficit to address gender inequalities amounts to a staggering USD 360 billion?   At Econoler, we're proud to contribute to addressing this gap. We support both international and national stakeholders in enhancing women's access to climate finance, to engage them in just transition.   🌱 In collaboration with IFC - International Finance Corporation, we conducted comprehensive studies in #Mexico and #IvoryCoast to assess investment costs for women entrepreneurs to make their businesses more energy-efficient and sustainable.   📊 For these studies, we also mapped existing #green financing products for energy transition and analyzed the #barriers women encounter in accessing such financial resources.   💼 Through the SUNREF project, we've been actively supporting #Ghana's banking sector and the Energy Commission to foster gender equality within these institutions. We delved into institutional assessments, including financial products, #investment portfolios, and #legal barriers hindering women entrepreneurs' access to #climate finance.   As we celebrate International Women's Day, let's continue championing initiatives that #empower women #economically and #environmentally. Together, we can pave the way for a more #inclusive and #sustainable future! 💫 #IWD2024 #JustTransition #GenderEquality #ClimateFinance