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<p>The United Nations says eliminating violence against women and girls is key to achieving gender equality and women empowerment – it is also vital to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, explore solutions to issues affecting the Nigerian girl-child, Founder of Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Kemi Dasilva-Ibru joins CNBC Africa.</p>


WARIF Founder Kemi Dasilva-Ibru on tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria


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<p>By Olga Arara-Kimani, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand &amp; Marketing for Standard Chartered in Africa and the Middle East</p>



<p>In recent years there has been significant improvements
towards empowering women in Africa and the Middle East (AME). Despite these
steps towards inclusion, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Global
Gender Gap index<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>,
it will take more than 150 years to close the gender gap between men and women
in Africa and the Middle East. The effect of gender divide means women often
face barriers and end up in insecure, low-wage jobs, and constitute a small
minority of those in senior positions.</p>



<p>The divide hasn’t gone unnoticed. Regional
governments are increasingly moving ahead with progressive policies and
legislation, whilst Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been instrumental
in providing women with new skills and spurring attitudinal change. A solid
foundation has been laid for women to maximise their potential, however
government legislation and NGOs will not suffice if we are to truly level the
playing field. For this to occur, the private sector must be engaged as a key
partner to deliver on female equity. </p>



<p>To begin with the public sector, governments across the region have moved to increase female participation in the workplace in recent years.  In the UAE, the government recently passed a resolution to increase women&#8217;s representation in the Federal National Council (FNC) to 50 percent<a href="#_ftn2">[2]</a>, whilst South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa has just announced that government plans and budgets will have to include gender-specific delivery targets.  Governments across the region have also been instrumental in introducing legislation to encourage women both in, and into, the workplace. For instance, Lebanon has increased paid maternity leave from 49 to 70 days. Progressive policies are not only helping women enter and stay in the workforce, but in the long-term will have a positive impact on the region’s GDP. In the GCC alone, some estimates tout a 50 percent boost to economic output if women participate in the workforce to the same extent as men.  International organisations have also contributed to significant advances in female economic empowerment across Africa and the Middle East, with a significant impact on attitudes towards equality. The United Nations (UN) has led this charge, with gender equality high up on its agenda as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the Middle East, UN Women awarded 200 youth volunteers at HeForShe for reaching 20,000 commitments on women’s empowerment<a href="#_ftn3">[3]</a>, and in Africa, the organisation aims to empower up to two million women through various initiatives aimed at increasing income, wealth and business leadership skills. Beyond the UN, a large number of international organisations have also been instrumental in empowering women across the AME region. Oxfam, for example, has launched a global campaign called Raising Her Voice (RHV) which aims to promote women’s rights. This included a budget in Pakistan of over US$500,000
between the years of 2008-2013<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>.
In South Africa, the RHV campaign received roughly US$50,000 annually for
training and workshops that involved feminism and advocacy skills<a href="#_ftn2">[2]</a>.</p>



<p>Local NGO initiatives have also been key in
the advancement of female inclusion throughout the AME region. As an example, five
Lebanese NGOs and the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB) teamed up in
2016 to form Girls Got IT, an NGO to provide female students with access to hands-on
tech workshops, talks by industry leaders and tutorials on digital innovation. To
take but one of many examples from Africa, a Tanzanian NGO called ‘Village
Enterprise’ works on ending extreme poverty by helping women in rural areas
through entrepreneurship and innovation. The group has been working successfully
and achieved a milestone of one million lives transformed in May 2019<a href="#_ftn3">[3]</a>. </p>



<p>It’s clear that governments and civil society have done much to integrate women into AME economies, positively affecting millions of lives along the way. Nevertheless, much remains to be done. Female labour force participation rates vary widely among African states, with South Africa at 49 percent<a href="#_ftn4">[4]</a> and Tanzania at 80 percent<a href="#_ftn5">[5]</a>. On the other hand, in the GCC, women comprise just 19.2 percent of the workforce according to one study<a href="#_ftn6">[6]</a>. In this context, the private sector, with all of its economic might, constitutes perhaps the most crucial element in addressing the balance. A recent study by Deloitte showed that Africa’s private sector represents 75 percent of generated wealth and 90 percent of all employment opportunities in the continent<a href="#_ftn7">[7]</a>. Fortunately, there are encouraging signs that companies are stepping up across AME and pursuing a concerted effort to empower women with new skills and opportunities. Standard Chartered stands as a case in point. The Bank has committed to raise USD50 million, between 2019 and 2023 through fundraising and Bank-matching, to empower the next generation to learn, earn and grow via its Futuremakers programme. By no means is Standard Chartered satisfied to merely provide financial donations – it also actively implements women’s empowerment programmes such as Women in Tech, aimed at promoting the economic and social development of women entrepreneurs. To date, this programme operates in five countries with entrepreneurial female participants from Pakistan, Nigeria, the US, the UAE and my home country, Kenya. The Bank is also committed to creating a more inclusive environment to help working parents balance work and family responsibilities; its staff can enjoy the benefit of flexible working policy, a parental paid leave of up to 140 calendar days for the mother and two weeks for the spouse.</p>



<p>Achieving gender equality is an important moral principle and acts as a catalyst to other development outcomes such as poverty reduction, well-being and health<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>. Governments and NGO’s have been active in empowering women; however, change will take a collective partnership between government, NGO’s and private enterprise across the region to elevate women to an equal status. The outcome of maximising women’s potential and achieving gender equality will result in greater contributions being made and benefits to the entire region.</p>



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<p> <br></p>


Op-Ed: What are the steps needed to challenge the gender divide ?

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<p>Gender equality and women empowerment is not just an economic issue but it is about how society evolves, gets more efficient and sustainable. This is according to Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director at Access Bank. To discuss the role of women to the financial services sector, he joins CNBC Africa’s Christy Cole on the sidelines of the 59th Annual General Conference of the NBA for more.</p>


Access Bank’s Victor Etuokwu on the role of women to the financial services sector

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<p>Women empowerment was one of the topics on top of the agenda at the Essence Festival Durban. Dumile Cele, CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce says a lot more needs to be done to bridge the gender equality gap.</p>


Durban Chamber of Commerce CEO on closing the gender gap

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<p>Women Advancing Africa is a new Pan-African flagship initiative hosted by the Graça Machel Trust. This initiative aims to acknowledge and celebrate the critical role women play in shaping Africa&#8217;s development agenda.</p>


Graça Machel talks on new initiative that celebrates women’s role in Africa

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<p>The Graca Machel Trust officially launched the Women Advancing Africa Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today. The Forum will bring together women from across the continent. It aims to build a common agenda for the economic advancement of women.</p>


women empowerment

WARIF Founder Kemi Dasilva-Ibru on tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria

Op-Ed: What are the steps needed to challenge the gender divide ?

Access Bank’s Victor Etuokwu on the role of women to the financial services sector

Durban Chamber of Commerce CEO on closing the gender gap

Graça Machel talks on new initiative that celebrates women’s role in Africa

Graca Machel trust launches women advancing Africa forum

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women empowerment

WARIF Founder Kemi Dasilva-Ibru on tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria

Op-Ed: What are the steps needed to challenge the gender divide ?

Access Bank’s Victor Etuokwu on the role of women to the financial services sector

Durban Chamber of Commerce CEO on closing the gender gap

Graça Machel talks on new initiative that celebrates women’s role in Africa

Graca Machel trust launches women advancing Africa forum

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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