A publication of International Finance Corporation's Gender Program
Fourth Quarter Edition, Global Newsletter: October 2007
Introduction
IFC's gender program welcomes you to its twelfth quarterly newsletter designed to keep businesswomen in touch with key events, relevant research and, most importantly, each other! We provide brief descriptions of news, events, and online resources that will involve, inspire and inform you and others like you. Wherever possible and appropriate, we provide a link to further detail.
News from IFC's Gender Program and the World Bank Group
Doing Business 2008 Strengthens Focus on Women This September the World Bank Group published its fifth Doing Business report, which ranks countries around the world on the ease of doing business. This year's report includes a stronger focus on gender issues, and commits Doing Business to a two-year research program on reforms that improve job and career opportunities for women. Initial findings indicate that greater regulatory reform has especially large benefits for women, who often face regulations that may be aimed at protecting them but are counterproductive in effect, forcing them into the informal sector. Read more...
Two New Gender Studies Launched in Tanzania Nearly 200 women attended the formal launch of the Tanzania Gender and Economic Growth Assessment (GGA) and the Voices of Women Entrepreneurs report in Dar es Salaam and Arusha this August. Commissioned by Tanzania's Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Marketing, the studies commend the government for progress in addressing gender inequalities in policy and legislation. But they also suggest that Tanzania could gain a percentage point of growth by removing remaining obstacles to women's entrepreneurship. With the reports identifying access to finance as a key issue for businesswomen, the IFC recently provided a $5 million line of credit to Exim bank for on-lending to women entrepreneurs. The team has also provided training for women on accessing international markets. IFC has carried out similar studies in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. Read more and download the reports...
Africa-America Institute (AAI) Annual Awards Gala Honors Tanzania At the 23rd annual AAI gala, hosted this September in New York, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, accepted the AAI African National Achievement Award on behalf of the people of his country. IFC's Voices of Women Entrepreneurs report was presented to all the event participants as background information on Tanzania's women in business. Read more...
Government of Rwanda and IFC Host Forum on Women's Enterprise Development
Organized at the invitation of Rwanda's First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, this one-day workshop focused on involving women in economic transformation in Rwanda. Opening the workshop, Mrs. Kagame remarked that empowering women financially boosts development in countries. "All winning nations involve women their developmental policies. But we need to educate, employ and advance credits to them," Mrs Kagame said. Read more...
IFC Celebrates Women's Day in South Africa
The IFC office in Johannesburg hosted a lunch time discussion this August on the subject of "Women and Black Economic Empowerment: Financing Transformation in South Africa." For more information, contact Natalie Africa.
IFC Sponsors Women to Attend Symposium for African and Chinese Businesswomen Vital Voices Global Partnership, with the support of Standard Chartered Bank, brought 18 African women to Shanghai, China this September for a three-day program to develop partnerships that further economic development and trade while fostering social responsibility. Read more...
Saudi Banks Enforce Segregation Rules That Harm Women's Careers New rules enforcing Saudi segregation of the sexes are forcing female bank employees to work in space separate from their male counterparts. Read more...
Harvard Business Review Explores Obstacles Facing Women in Leadership A new article in the Harvard Business Review argues that the metaphor of the "glass ceiling," a catchphrase to describe organizations' failure to promote women into top leadership roles, has outlived its usefulness. Read more...
Clinton Global Initiative Hosts Annual Meeting Coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting brought together 1,000 leaders from business, NGOs, foundations, and government, to share insights into global problems and enable productive action in education, energy and climate change, global health and poverty alleviation. Read more...
International Federation of University Women (IFUW) International Awards IFUW isoffering a number of international fellowships and grants to women graduates for postgraduate research, study and training. The current competition is offering awards for research to be undertaken during the period of May 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. Application deadlines vary by country. Read more and download an application...
New Study Focuses on Growth Needs of Women Business Owners What do established women business owners say they need to grow their businesses to the next level? A recent pilot study announced by US-based Womenable provides the answer: each other and business management development. Read more...
"Gender inequality is a classic economic issue and addressing it can have significant benefits not only for women, but for the Tanzanian society as a whole."
- Dr. Florence Tuluka, Tanzania's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing
Agaseke Promotion Project in Rwanda Situated on the floor of a large room in which each inch of space is used, hundreds of Rwandan women spend their daily hours together weaving baskets. Rwanda's peace baskets, a commercial success with Macy's that even got the attention of Oprah, are a source of new hope for 3,220 women that are part of the Agaseke Promotion Project. Supported by the Mayor of Kigali and Rwanda's First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, the project was set up in 2007 to provide income generating activities that economically uplift poverty-stricken women and their families through handicrafts, including traditional basket weaving and beadwork.
Even though it has been in operation for just a few months, the project has made some impressive strides, mobilizing over 3000 women, setting up facilities, hiring staff and printing promotional materials. Women from three districts in Kigali are receiving training in basket weaving, as well as in literacy, public health, nutrition, hygiene, family planning, and management. Exceptional spirit and dedication of the women weavers and the high level government support that they are receiving marks the women's daily work. Yet the project is still working to address issues of marketing, product development, as well as looking for buyers for its handicrafts that not only tell a great story, but are also a beautiful decoration for any home.
IFC's gender program has hired a consultant to assist the project's marketing team and staff to have a better understanding of the dynamic and requirements of the export market and to improve their access to markets through product development and direct linkages with international buyers. If you are interested in supporting the project or in purchasing its products, please contact Natalie Africa.
Each newsletter we spotlight either a women's business association that has developed an innovative idea or process that promotes women's entrepreneurship, or an enterprising woman who has achieved success. If you have a success story to share, please email us with the details. We look forward to sharing your stories.
IFC is looking for women and men experienced in the field of private sector development and gender for future short-term assignments. If you have relevant experience and would like to be included in our database, please email us.