Mary Kipsang’ lives in Mitume area within Trans Nzoia County Rift Valley, Kenya. She is one of those women entrepreneurs who have always dreamed of venturing into a business but were scared of failure. This fear was mainly nurtured by the lack of sufficient capital and business knowledge. After some period of unemployment, she decided to attend a workshop called Jitihada Business Plan Training for Entrepreneurs during which she closely interacted with some of the participants. She was inspired … [Read more...]
Commission of Status of Women – March 4-15, 2013, NYC
January 2, 2013 by
Women’s Empowerment Principles–Equality means Business The Women’s Empowerment Principles offer practical guidance to business and the private sector on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Developed through a partnership between UNIFEM and the United Nations Global Compact, the Principles are designed to support companies in reviewing existing policies and practices — or establishing new ones — to realize women’s empowerment. The private sector is a … [Read more...]
We-conomy is the future of our world, Invest in Women
December 8, 2012 by
The future of the world economy lies increasingly in female hands “WHY can't a woman be more like a man?” mused Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady”. Future generations might ask why a man can't be more like a woman. In rich countries, girls now do better at school than boys, more women are getting university degrees than men are and females are filling most new jobs. Arguably, women are now the most powerful engine of global growth. In 1950 only one-third of American women of working … [Read more...]
Targeting efforts to meet MDG expectations by 2015
July 2, 2012 by
With three years remaining until 2015, the 2012 progress report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) released today highlights progress in many important areas including poverty reduction, access to safe drinking water and reduced levels of child mortality. “‘There is now an expectation around the world that sooner, rather than later, the Goals can and must be achieved,” stated Sha Zukang, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General. The Official MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Goal 1: … [Read more...]
Gujarat state of India, poor women are being empowered
September 8, 2011 by
Listen / Download Jamuben has worked in the arid lands of Gujarat for the last 40 years In the rural areas of the Gujarat state of India, poor women are being empowered to stand on their own, raising their families and building their houses. This is thanks to the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) which has been fighting for the empowerment of women workers in India since 1972. Recently staff from the economic and social development department at the UN’s Food and … [Read more...]
Empower Women Representatives in Odisha State, INDIA
August 9, 2011 by
UN Women Signs Agreement to Empower Women Representatives in Odisha State of India Bhubaneshwar—A single, Dalit woman from the tribal Gajpati district in Odisha, Sochara Karzi has made great strides since her appointment as a sarpanch (head of village council). She has ensured that almost 4000 farmers got free maize seeds, 200 people received jobs cards under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 500 acres of land were planted with mango trees, 3000 … [Read more...]
UNICEF Executive Board eyes gender equality, child protection and urban safety
June 25, 2011 by
2011 Annual Session: Day 3 By Tim Ledwith NEW YORK, USA, 23 June 2011 – A trio of interconnected issues – gender equality, child protection and urban safety – rounded out the agenda at yesterday’s meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board in New York. The meeting at UN headquarters marked the third day of the Executive Board’s 2011 Annual Session. It featured a progress report on UNICEF’s global efforts to advance gender equality, as well as an in-depth discussion of results on protecting … [Read more...]
BOLIVIA: Communal Banks extend credit, Empower Women
June 1, 2011 by
Communal banks extend credit, empower women and build equity in rural Bolivia Communal banks extend credit, empower women and build equity in rural Bolivia POCOATA, Bolivia, 23 May 2011 – It takes money to make money. Just ask Pilar Rueda, 38, a Quechua mother of two from this remote rural town in the Bolivian department of Potosí. She and much of her community have lifted themselves out of extreme poverty through ‘Bancos Comunales’ – Communal Banks – an innovative project developed by … [Read more...]
UN Women – Women's Empowerment Principles
April 11, 2011 by
Equality Means Business The Women's Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, part of UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact. The development of the Principles included an international multi-stakeholder consultation process, which was launched in March 2009. Sub-titled … [Read more...]
UN Women: What does this mean to YOU?
April 1, 2011 by
Focus Areas All human development and human rights issues have gender dimensions. UN Women focuses on priority areas that are fundamental to women’s equality, and that can unlock progress across the board. Violence against Women This fundamental violation of women’s rights remains widespread, affecting all countries. Women need strong laws, backed by implementation and services for protection and prevention. Read more: Programme and Technical Assistance Policy and Normative Support … [Read more...]
Blackout-Proof Cairo – 17,000 donors, Wow!
February 25, 2011 by
Wow - over 17,000 donors, and we've got 15 blackout-breaking satellite internet kits -- some already in Libya and more headed to other countries now! Let's keep going into Cairo -- donate below! Dear friends, An extraordinary wave of people power is flooding the Middle East, but autocratic regimes are responding with violence -- and Egypt-style internet blackouts. Let's blackout-proof the protests by providing satellite communications technology and support teams to key … [Read more...]
