The UN Women said this during a side event as part of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event’s theme is “The Future of Finance and Women’s Economic Empowerment. ‘’

It drew leaders and representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society organisations and financial institutions.

HeForShe, is UN Women’s solidarity movement for gender equality. HeForShe invites men and boys to build on the work of the women’s movement as equal partners.

Dr Beth Dunford, Vice-President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, AfDB Group, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to empowering women on the continent.

Dunford said the event marked a significant milestone in the collaboration between the Bank and UN Women as they joined forces to address women’s economic disparities on the continent.

She said, ” The AfDB is committed to implementing policies that promote gender equality and eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination across Africa.

“We must listen and amplify women’s voices while ensuring that Africa’s women have equal opportunity. Empowering African women is a moral imperative – as well as smart economics.

“UN Women announced that the Bank would become part of the UN Women-led HeForShe Alliance.

“The award to the AfDB’s president recognises his leadership in advocating for gender equality in Africa.”

The vice president highlighted the work undertaken by the Bank in accordance with its Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 and its Gender Strategy 2021-2025.

Dunford said the strategy placed women’s empowerment at the heart of its development agenda.

She said that the Bank approved 1.7 billion dollars of investments for women entrepreneurs across 43 countries through its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative.

She added that over 18,000 women-owned and led businesses had received financing via AFAWA-supported programmes.

The UN Women’s Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division, Sarah Hendriks, said that women’s economic empowerment was a matter of social justice and an economic imperative.

“By unlocking the potential of women, we can drive sustainable development and foster resilient economies.

“The strategy articulates UN Women’s vision and priorities as an organisation and ways of working to support women to thrive and economies to prosper,” Hendriks said.

NAN reports that UN Women inaugurated its Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy during the event, which aims to accelerate gender equality and foster inclusive economic growth.

The multi-layered presentation explained how the strategy empowers women through targeted initiatives that enhance women’s access to resources, opportunities, and leadership roles in the economy.

The strategy prioritises three key areas essential for achieving gender equality, underpinned by promoting gender-responsive macroeconomic policies, addressing discriminatory social norms, and increasing financing for gender equality.

Anne Wang’ombe, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action in the Kenyan Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, attended the session.

Harrieth Chiggai, Women’s Rights Advisor to the president of Kenya, and Nnenna Nwabufo, AfDB’s Director-General for East Africa were also part of the event.

NAN