How inclusive finance can boost women-owned businesses in Sri Lanka

#LeadershipatCrossroads:#ReflectionsfromtheAfricaSDGReport2025 The Africa Sustainable Development Report 2025 (UNDP, AUC, AfDB, UNECA, UNEP) is more than a progress update—it's a wake-up call for policymakers and regulators across the continent. With just 5 years to 2030, Africa has made progress—but much of it is uneven and at risk. Health, gender equality, and economic recovery show promise, yet gaps in policy implementation, financing, and coordination persist. #WhatShouldAfricaPolicymakersandLeadersTakefromtheReport? 1. Policy without execution is not progress. Many strategies are sound, but implementation is lagging. Ministries must move from vision to delivery. 2. Data must drive decisions. Weak national data systems are holding us back. Without real-time, disaggregated data, we’re planning in the dark. 3. Financing must be strategic, not reactive. Domestic resource mobilization, smarter public investment, and leveraging blended finance are essential. 4. Inclusion is not optional—it’s strategic. Youth, women, and civil society must be at the center of planning, budgeting, and monitoring. 5. Regulation must enable growth. Unpredictable, fragmented regulation is stifling private investment in the green, blue, and digital economies. #WhatisNeededNow? ✅ Coherent, cross-sector policy implementation ✅ Strengthened local governance and delivery systems ✅ Incentives for sustainable innovation ✅ Adaptive regulation and leadership ✅ Regional cooperation for scale and resilience Africa’s success in achieving the SDGs will be defined not by global pledges, but by national leadership, smart regulation, and citizen-responsive governance. Let’s move beyond commitment—toward collaborative, courageous action. Have you engaged with the 2025 Africa SDG Report? What policy reforms do you believe are most urgent? Let’s continue the conversation. #AfricaSDG2025 #PublicPolicy #Leadership #Governance #Agenda2030 #Agenda2063 #UNDP #SDGs #PolicyImplementation #RegulatoryReform #PublicSector #DataDrivenLeadership #AfricaWeWant

Critical Reflection on UN Women’s Approach in Indonesia Indonesia’s journey toward gender equality remains fraught with structural challenges. Despite progress, only around 53 % of women participate in the labor force, maintaining a significant 30 percentage point gap compared to men . Moreover, gender-based violence remains pervasive approximately 1 in 4 women have experienced physical or sexual violence, and over 90 % of rape cases remain unreported. UN Women Indonesia has played a positive role, supporting the integration of gender perspectives into national policy (RPJMN 2025–2029) and facilitating gender-responsive budgeting frameworks. Yet, systemic disparities persist enforcement of laws and access to support services remain limited, especially for rural and marginalized women. We urge UN Women and partners to augment grassroots engagement, ensuring interventions address local norms, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and expand legal access for GBV survivors. Only then can policy promise translate into equitable reality. #GenderEquality #Diplomacy #SDG5 #UNWomen #Indonesia THE VISIONARIES GID25

FDI Center and United Nations ESCAP are proud to celebrate the first anniversary of the Gender Pledge, a global commitment by investment promotion agencies to advance gender equality in foreign direct investment. As we commemorate this milestone, we are pleased to welcome six new signatories to the Pledge: 🇱🇹 Invest Lithuania 🇧🇷 ApexBrasil 🇺🇬 Uganda Investment Authority 🇪🇪 Invest in Estonia 🇨🇷 Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER) 🇹🇳 FIPA - Tunisia With these latest commitments, the Pledge has expanded its representation across six continents. These agencies join our initial signatories, including Invest in Canada | Investir au Canada, Investment Fiji, Invest Bhutan, Department of Industry, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), BOI Sri Lanka, and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), which have worked over the past year to turn their pledges into meaningful, actionable outcomes. Read more about the Gender Pledge in our press release here: FDI Center: https://lnkd.in/dqqpinEj ESCAP: https://lnkd.in/dAmSbnPB ARTNET on FDI #FDI #SDG5 #GenderEquality #InvestmentPromotion #TGEinFDI

How Youth Can Drive Sustainable Development in Bangladesh 🇧🇩 Bangladesh has one of the largest youth populations in the world. With their energy, creativity, and digital-first mindset, our youth hold the key to shaping a more sustainable future. Here’s how they can play a transformative role: ✅ Entrepreneurship – Launching green businesses and startups that create jobs while protecting the environment. ✅ Digital Innovation – Using technology to solve challenges in education, agriculture, and healthcare. ✅ Community Leadership – Driving local initiatives on waste management, renewable energy, and social awareness. ✅ Advocacy & Awareness – Promoting climate resilience, gender equality, and inclusive growth through digital platforms. If properly guided, the youth of Bangladesh can become not just job seekers, but change-makers and nation-builders. 💡 The question is: Are we giving them the tools, opportunities, and platforms they need to thrive? #SustainableDevelopment #BangladeshYouth #SocialImpact #Innovation #Leadership

Pacific, Reserve Bank of Fiji: RBF Releases Gender Inclusive Finance Report Highlighting Progress and Challenges The Reserve Bank of Fiji has launched its Gender Inclusive Finance Report, marking a significant advancement in promoting an equitable financial ecosystem in Fiji. The report, developed in collaboration with the Fletcher Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion at Tufts University and the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, provides a detailed analysis of the barriers hindering women's access to formal financial services. It highlights progress in female financial inclusion, noting an increase in female account ownership from 52% in 2014 to 82% in 2022, and a reduction in the gender gap in account ownership. However, it also points out ongoing challenges, such as the disparity in loan accounts between men and women. Governor Ariff Ali emphasized the report as a call to action for equitable access to financial services, while National Gender Champion Ms. Eseta Nadakuitavuki highlighted its importance in guiding national efforts towards gender equality and empowerment, aligning with Fiji’s National Development Policy. Source: https://lnkd.in/g_ykCFQ7

The new UNDP Strategic Plan 2026–2029 sets a bold direction around four priorities: prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and a healthy planet, powered by accelerators like digital & AI transformation, gender equality, and sustainable finance. In South Africa, we are working alongside government and partners to bring this vision to life by: ✅ Expanding green and digital skills for youth to thrive in a just energy transition ✅ Strengthening governance systems that build trust and deliver services more effectively ✅ Supporting resilience in communities vulnerable to climate shocks, unemployment, and inequality ✅ Scaling nature-based solutions and sustainable finance models for inclusive growth With the right financial and technical support, we are within reach of prosperity in South Africa. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eFCuEs9F

Pakistan ranked last among 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025, achieving a gender parity score of just 56.7%. The data tells a clear story: women are present, but power and leadership remain overwhelmingly out of reach. True progress means more than participation — it means representation where decisions are made. #GenderGap #GenderEquality #Pakistan #WEF #Leadership #Inclusion #SocialImpact #DataForGood

United Nations ESCAP and FDI Center are proud to celebrate the first anniversary of the Gender Pledge, a global commitment by investment promotion agencies to advance gender equality in the #FDI ecosystem. 🌍Six new signatories have joined the Pledge, expanding its reach across six continents: 🔹Invest Lithuania 🔹Invest in Estonia 🔹Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER) 🔹ApexBrasil 🔹FIPA - Tunisia 🔹Uganda Investment Authority Over the past year, the #GenderPledge has fostered collaboration among investment authorities, policymakers, and global investors to promote inclusive investment practices, enhance women’s economic empowerment, and strengthen institutional leadership on gender equity. The initial signatories, including Invest in Canada | Investir au Canada, Investment Fiji, Invest Bhutan, Department of Industry, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), BOI Sri Lanka, and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), have spent the past year translating their commitments into tangible actions. 🔗 Learn more about this milestone and the growing global community committed to equality in FDI: https://lnkd.in/gY_HWkNf #ForeignDirectInvestment #SDG5

ECONOGENESIS is advancing understanding of the economics of climate change, the costs of adaptation, and bankable adaptation finance projects, including the analysis of gender equality and social inclusion. A key focus of the project has been to highlight the equity and distributional issues around adaptation finance, and who ultimately pays for adaptation. Through co-creation and deep stakeholder engagement, ECONOGENESIS generates policy-relevant insights that inform national strategies and global negotiations. ECONOGENESIS is being implemented in Rwanda, Nepal, and Zanzibar, and contributes at the global level to the UN Environment Programme #AdaptationGap Reports, as well as negotiations under UN Climate Change. CLARE Programme is co-funded by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Research, Science and Technology and International Development Research Centre (IDRC). #CLimateAdaptationREsilience

🌍 Webinar Invitation | Gender Lens for Business Sense: The Rallying Cry for Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) African women-led agribusinesses are leading the way in climate-smart, community-driven innovation—but often lack access to the capital, infrastructure, and recognition they deserve. The Rallying Cry, through the CGIAR Ukama Ustawi Initiative, has supported businesses to integrate Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) into their models—making them more inclusive, resilient, and growth-oriented.  🔹 Learn how GESI-driven business strategies are transforming enterprises  🔹 Hear real examples from SME leaders and gender researchers  🔹 Discover tools like gender action plans and self-scoring GESI checklists  Speakers:  👩💼 AnnRita Njiru- Mugo, The Rallying Cry  🌱 Frazer Handondo, Forest Africa Zambia  👩🔬 Ojong Enokenwa Baa (PhD), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 📅 September 30 | 🕒 3:00–4:00pm CEST 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/d5Sf25Fz Join us to explore how inclusivity fuels business success and climate resilience.  #GESI #Agribusiness #WomenInAg #ClimateResilience #InclusiveGrowth #Webinar