Girls are not just the future. They are the present. Yet across Africa, millions of girls grow into womanhood without access to the economic opportunities, skills, and networks they need to thrive. According to the World Bank, closing the gender gap in the workforce could boost global GDP by over $160 trillion. At BusinessDay Foundation, we are committed to changing this by creating pathways that connect girls and young women to skills, visibility, and enterprise opportunities; unlocking their potential as innovators, leaders, and wealth creators. Because when girls rise, economies do too. #BusinessDayFoundation #internationaldayofthegirl #internationaldayofthegirlchild

Bangladeshi Muslim feminist, writer, and social reformer Begum Rokeya penned Sultana's Dream in 1905. The story of the feminist utopian under the brilliantly sardonic masterwork Sultana's Dream, women are portrayed as working and earning while men are under purdah. Women were not allowed to pursue education in Bangladesh during Begum Rokeya's time. In order to get an education in her own home, she herself went through challenges. She transformed the dream of a reversible social order for women into the Sultana's dream by defying this strict veil tradition. Despite significant changes over the past 120 years, women continue to be underrepresented in the fields of education, skill development, and employment. In this backdrop from October 6–7, 2025, HERizon Fest 2025: Celebrating Women, Skills & Employment was hosted by Bangladesh’s National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) with technical support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Nearly 500 people attended this Fest, including representatives from the Chief Adviser's Office, ministries, development partners, Skills Training Providers (STP) representatives, academia, industry and private sector skills council leaders, civil society, women's networks, youth groups, and print and electronic media. Two advisers (Ministers), More than 100 senior bureaucrats including six secretaries, and the Federal Republic of Germany's ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, delivered motivational speech. International experts from Nepal, the United States, Austria, and Germany and dozens of national experts joined in to exchange global and national perspectives on inclusive vocational education and future skills for women. These insights informed NSDA's strategy to increase the labor market participation of young, vulnerable, and disadvantaged women. The event highlighted discussions on a women-friendly and inclusive approach to skills development in Bangladesh. Through various panel discussions, workshops, and cultural programs, the event showcased women’s leadership, skill enhancement, and opportunities for inclusive employment. By bringing together public and private partners around a table to discuss challenges connected to expanding women's participation in all skill development activities/ settings and their equitable access to the job market, this event has created huge momentum, opened everyone's eyes and created storms in minds. For many days to come, this storm will drive the turbine wheels and supply energy for women's growth and autonomy. The country will make significant progress in empowering women. #HERizonFest

Building the Blueprint for Equity UN Women India has launched a new think tank for women’s equity, a powerful step toward making inclusion measurable, actionable, and scalable. The initiative will focus on driving research, policy, and collaboration across sectors to reduce gender gaps and strengthen women’s roles in India’s economic and social fabric. For India’s women entrepreneurs, professionals, and change makers, this is more than policy, it’s infrastructure for equality. When data meets design, and collaboration meets conviction, progress isn’t a dream, it becomes a framework. At RizingHer, we believe equity doesn’t emerge from intention alone; it’s built through systems that see, support, and scale women’s potential. #WomensEquity #GenderInclusion #UNWomenIndia #RizingHer #WomenInPolicy #EquityInAction #InclusiveGrowth #WomenLeadership

Excited to announce that I've just wrapped up a transformative 3-week Capacity Building Training Workshop on Gender Transformative Programming. This experience has equipped me with essential tools to drive more equitable and impactful initiatives in my work and beyond. Here's a snapshot of the key insights I gained: 1. Gender Analysis: Deep dives into examining women's and men's access to and control over resources, uncovering hidden disparities. 2. Gender Inclusivity: Strategies for ensuring men and women are equally valued and integrated as key players in all projects. 3. Gender Balance: Achieving equitable representation of women and men across all organizational levels to foster diverse perspectives. 4. Gender Responsive Programming: Tailoring programs to address the unique roles, relations, needs, and interests of women, men, girls, and boys -meeting immediate needs while advancing equal rights, opportunities, and outcomes. 5. Gender Transformative Approaches: Bold efforts to challenge and shift harmful gender and social norms, tackling inequalities at their root. 6. M&E for Gender Transformative Programming: Practical methods to monitor progress, measure outcomes, and evaluate impact, ensuring programs dynamically respond to evolving gender realities. I look forward to putting this knowledge into action in my dedication to champion for women empowerment in digital skills and apply responsive M&E frameworks to track how our initiatives empower underrepresented groups in Kenya’s digital economy. Grateful to the APHRC for this opportunity to grow and contribute to positive change. #GenderEquality #ProfessionalDevelopment #AjiraDigital #TransformativeLeadership

WOMEN EMPOWEREMENT: BUILDING A FUTURE OF EQUALITY Women have always been the backbone of society, yet millions across India are denied opportunities for education, employment, and independence. Gender inequality continues to hold many women back from realizing their full potential. Recognizing this, Hamari Pahchan NGO, widely recognized as the best NGO in Delhi, has made women empowerment one of its strongest missions. Why Women Empowerment Matters When women are empowered, families thrive, and communities grow stronger. Providing women with access to education, vocational training, and financial independence ensures that they are no longer confined by societal limitations. This not only improves their own lives but also has a ripple effect, uplifting children, families, and the wider community. Hamari Pahchan NGO’s Initiatives Hamari Pahchan has launched several impactful programs aimed at empowering women, from teaching tailoring and handicraft skills to organizing workshops on digital literacy and financial awareness. These initiatives give women the tools to become self-reliant and confident in their abilities.The NGO also works tirelessly to raise awareness on issues such as domestic violence, menstrual hygiene, and workplace equality, providing safe spaces where women can learn, heal, and grow. Through these efforts, Hamari Pahchan continues to stand as a pillar of support for underprivileged women across India. Success Stories That Inspire Over the years, many women have transformed their lives through these programs. For example, women who once struggled to provide daily meals are now running small businesses, earning sustainable incomes, and even employing others in their community. These stories highlight how the right opportunities and support can turn struggles into success. How You Can Contribute Every individual can play a role in empowering women. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, your involvement can strengthen these initiatives. Supporting Hamari Pahchan creates more social work opportunities in India while also ensuring that women gain the recognition and respect they deserve. Final Thoughts Empowering women is not just about changing individual lives, it’s about reshaping society as a whole. By supporting Hamari Pahchan NGO, you are contributing to a movement that builds equality, dignity, and opportunity for women everywhere. Together, we can ensure that empowerment is not a privilege but a right for every woman. #womenempowerment #women #equality

Empowering Women in Jambudweep Bharat Khande: A Brief Overview In the cultural expanse of Jambudweep Bharat Khande, women's empowerment is advancing through education, financial inclusion, and civic participation—despite enduring patriarchal barriers. Government initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the Equal Remuneration Act, and self-help groups are driving change. Globally, India's leadership in G20 EMPOWER reflects its commitment to women's economic progress. 📊 Key Indicators of Progress: Bank Account Ownership: 39.2% of all accounts held by women; rural share at 42.2%. Labour Force Participation: Rose to 60.1% in 2023–24 from 49.8% in 2017–18. Secondary School Enrollment (Girls): Increased to 78% in 2023–24. Maternal Mortality Rate: Dropped to 97 per lakh live births (2018–20). Women-led Startups: Grew from 1,943 (2017) to 17,405 (2024). Voter Turnout (2024): Women outnumbered men in participation. Yet, challenges like illiteracy, safety concerns, and socio-cultural resistance persist. True gender equality demands sustained legal, institutional, and societal commitment. 🙏

Why Women Empowerment is Crucial – InAmigos Foundation’s Stand Breaking Barriers to Equality For generations, women have faced systemic barriers that limit their rights, aspirations, and opportunities. Issues such as gender-based discrimination, unequal access to education and healthcare, early marriage, workplace bias, and restricted financial independence continue to impede progress. These obstacles do not only affect women individually; they hinder society’s collective growth. When half of humanity is held back, social, economic, and political development cannot reach its full potential. Challenges Women Face Women confront multiple challenges daily. In education, girls often have limited access to quality learning, leading to lower literacy and skill development. In workplaces, wage gaps and glass ceilings prevent women from reaching leadership positions. Social expectations and cultural norms can confine women to domestic roles, restricting their choices. Additionally, limited access to financial resources prevents women from becoming self-reliant and contributing fully to the economy. Pathways to Empowerment Empowering women requires a multifaceted approach. Education is the cornerstone. Equipping girls with knowledge and skills enables them to break free from cycles of poverty and dependence. Economic empowerment through vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and access to credit fosters independence and confidence. Legal and policy reforms must protect women from discrimination and violence while ensuring equal opportunities. Mentorship, awareness campaigns, and community support also play vital roles in nurturing women leaders. The Transformative Impact on Society When women are empowered, society flourishes. Educated women make informed decisions for their families, improving health, nutrition, and education outcomes for future generations. Economically active women contribute to national growth, innovation, and poverty reduction. Socially, empowered women challenge stereotypes, inspire communities, and drive cultural change. The ripple effect of empowering women extends far beyond individual success—it strengthens families, communities, and nations. InAmigos Foundation’s Vision Through Project Udaan Project Udaan embodies the mission to uplift women by addressing educational, social, and economic barriers. Through training programs, awareness initiatives, and advocacy, InAmigos Foundation enables women to reclaim their potential. The project demonstrates that when women rise, society rises with them. Every step toward empowerment is a step toward equality, justice, and collective progress. 💚Her dreams matter. Her voice matters. Her rise matters. Support, empower, and celebrate women today! 💚 #InAmigosFoundation #ProjectUdaan #EmpowerHer #WomenWithInAmigos #RiseWithUdaan

Government women need motivation sessions more than corporate women - says a participant of the ChampionWoman workshops this month as we explore #worklifeintegration with #stressmanagement from our Tamil Nadu Department of Education. Why aren’t we given more opportunities to serve nation builders ?

NGOs play a vital role in empowering women by creating opportunities, promoting education, and breaking social barriers. From rural communities to urban centers, their efforts are shaping a more inclusive and equal society. Read our latest article on how NGOs are driving real change in women empowerment across Pakistan. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/drX8_xNa #WomenEmpowerment #NGOsInPakistan #GenderEquality #WomenRights #GilgitBaltistanWomen #WomenLeadership #EducationForAll #EmpoweredWomen #ShadFoundation #CommunityDevelopment #PakistanNGOs #WomenSupportPrograms

🎙️ Keynote from Pauline Rose today for Uganda National Conference on What Works in Girls’ Education: “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Evidence & Action for #GirlsEducation”. 6 main messages: 1️⃣ Differentiate between gender parity and equality: Even if progress in attaining equal numbers of boys & girls, when we look at disaggregation we see gaps in dissecting disadvantage. 2️⃣ Identify marginalisation at the outset: Only 5 years to SDGs ending. What next? We are getting better at thinking about marginalisation from the outset, with disaggregated data but need to build on this. 3️⃣ Tackle inclusion by prioritising early years: Data shows that coming from poorer backgrounds significantly disadvantages young children. Poorer girls need more targeted support to narrow learning gaps. 4️⃣ Promote targeted & system-wide approaches that are scalable: We need to address barriers for the most disadvantaged. Scaling needs to embed sustainable changes in systems and communities, and needs to specify who is meant to benefit. 5️⃣ Recognise higher cost of reaching most marginalised, and that this can be cost-effective: Need to look at costs but even though they can be higher for reaching most marginalised girls, there are gains that outweigh the costs. 6️⃣ ‘What about the boys’? Girls continue to face harmful social norms. If systems serve the most marginalised girls, they will benefit all. Inviting contributions for the new blog series on gender equality, disability and social inclusion from What Works Hub for Global Education https://lnkd.in/e3dC9P2x Uwezo Uganda Kyambogo University RELI Africa Mary Goretti Nakabugo