Business fights Poverty

Gender Summit

2023 Post Event Summary

Online | Nairobi | London

Coinciding with International Women's Day,

the Business Fights Poverty Gender Summit was the perfect opportunity to come together to share the latest thinking and action around gender equity.

Over the course of the two days, we put on a series of highly interactive webinars and hybrid workshops, featuring world-leading thinkers and practitioners. Together, we explored how to enhance the lives and livelihoods of women around the world, and empower them to thrive.

This is your chance to gain access to the latest insights, with voices from across the globe.

We tackled tough questions like...

Session by session resources

WEDNESDAY 8th March

Watch our panel-led workshop to discover the latest trends and lessons on how to support female entrepreneurs.

PANEL-LED DISCUSSION: ENTERPRISE

Watch our panel-led workshop to discover the latest trends and lessons on how to support female entrepreneurs. Our opening speakers will ignite your creativity, encouraging you to tackle the areas that need addressing. You'll then dive deeper into small breakout rooms with lead table discussants, exploring key questions on how to unlock the potential of female entrepreneurs. With Business Fights Poverty facilitators moderating the session, we'll come back together to share our newest thinking and actions. Don't miss out on discovering how to overcome the hurdles holding female entrepreneurs back!

Opening Speakers: Beatriz Tumoine, Global Social Impact Director, Cemex Maggie Rarieya, Global Partnerships Director, Amref Health Africa Natasha Kwakwa, Global Impact, Global Head, Standard Chartered Bank Jaylan ElShazly, Disruptive Technology acting Lead, Gender and Economic Inclusion Group, IFC Antony Karanja, Co-Founder, OYE Elsie Wandera, Operations Manager, Brands on a Mission

Lead Table Discussants: Sherifatu Mustapha, GESI and Design Coordinator, Ghana, iDE Abigail Musinga, GESI Manager, Zambia, iDE Natalie Vergara, Head Platforms, Mercy Corps Ventures Kathy Tan, Founder & CEO, Amalu Coaching, LLC & partner to Fundación Paraguaya Leanne Melnyk, Head of Impact and Partnerships, Quizrr

Moderator: Zahid Torres-Rahman, CEO, Business Fights Poverty

A Fireside Chat with two social impact pioneers as they share their insights on what it takes to be a successful female entrepreneur.

FIRESIDE CHAT: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS

Join a Fireside Chat with two social impact pioneers as they share their insights on what it takes to be a successful female entrepreneur. Discover how to get started, build a business, and receive valuable endorsements from other organizations. Get practical advice on how to succeed as an entrepreneur and make a difference in your community. Hear stories about affordable healthcare in Kenya and the positive impact of a global initiative to tackle inequality. Don't miss out on this inspiring discussion about female entrepreneurship and social impact.

Speakers:

Natasha Kwakwa, Global Head of Impact, Standard Chartered Bank

Naom Monari, Founder, Bena Care Lt

Interviewer:

Katie Hyson, Director, Thought Leadership and COO, Business Fights Poverty

A workshop to learn how to manage Scope 3 emissions and integrate a gender lens into your decarbonisation plans.

PANEL-LED DISCUSSION: CLIMATE JUSTICE

Join our workshop to learn how to manage Scope 3 emissions and integrate a gender lens into your decarbonisation plans. Discover what other companies are trialling in this space, and share your own tips and lessons. As part of the co-creation process, your input will help shape a framework that's fit for purpose and truly useful. Don't miss this chance to be part of some truly innovative work and contribute to early thinking around the design of the framework.

Opening Speakers: Emma Cox, Global Climate Leader, PwC Justin White, Manager, Human Rights & Gender Equality, Global Sustainability, Mars Inc Jacqui Machin, Ethics & Sustainability Manager - Climate, John Lewis Partnership Katharine Teague, Head of Advocacy, AB Sugar Ian Michell, Group Technical and Procurement Director, Flamingo Horticulture Investments

Lead Table Discussants: Rachel Cracknell, Climate Change and Environment Lead, Ethical Tea Partnership Hernan Zunino, Social Impact Manager, Latin America, Twinings Peris Ochieng, Ethical Sourcing Manager for Africa, Twinings Franziska Deininger, Gender & Climate Consultant, IFC Alexandra Lockyer, Programme Manager, Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) Hester Le Roux, Senior Business Advisor, Private Sector Engagement, Care International UK

Moderator:

Zahid Torres-Rahman, Co-Founder and CEO, Business Fights Poverty

THURSDAY 9th March

Discover how businesses can help champion female-led enterprises in this Twitter Space session.

TWITTER SPACE: ENTERPRISE

Discover how businesses can help champion female-led enterprises in this Twitter Space session. Although women-led businesses are increasing, they still only make up 25-35% of all organisations globally due to challenges such as limited access to financing and the inability to own assets. Join us as we examine how global agriculture and other sectors can offer women more opportunities, why it's harmful to exclude men from gender conversations, and how innovation can create a happier and more equal world.

Speakers: Jean Claude Niyomugabo, Co-Founder, Speke Farms  Daniele Fiandaca, Co-Founder, Token Man Tashmia Ismail-Saville, Chief Business Development Officer, Mitacs Ajaita Shah, Founder & CEO, Frontier Markets

Moderator:

Katie Hyson, Director, Thought Leadership and COO, Business Fights Poverty

A thought-provoking Fireside Chat on the critical role of women in vaccination uptake.

FIRESIDE CHAT: VACCINATION EQUITY

Join us for a thought-provoking Fireside Chat on the critical role of women in vaccination uptake. With rates of preventable diseases falling globally, women are essential in ensuring the health and wellbeing of communities. Learn how greater vaccination uptake by women can lead to greater equality and participation in the labour force. We'll discuss how socio-economic factors such as income and education can impact vaccination outcomes, and explore challenges to ensuring gender equity in vaccination. Don't miss this opportunity to explore how we can better support marginalised women to increase vaccination uptake.

Speakers: Rachel Eagan, Researcher, The Vaccine Confidence Project, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Roopa Dhatt, Executive Director, Women in Global Health

Interviewer:

Ciara O’Rourke, Global Public Policy Director – Vaccination Confidence & Equity, MSD

A workshop on developing workplace policies to address gender-based violence (GBV) across multiple markets.

WEBINAR: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

A workshop on developing workplace policies to address gender-based violence (GBV) across multiple markets. Learn from real-life examples and explore the importance of collaborating with external networks and campaigns. With one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence during their lifetimes, GBV is a prevalent problem that impacts both employees and businesses. Discover how the workplace can offer unique opportunities to address different forms of GBV and create a safe space for those affected by domestic violence. Don't miss out on this important discussion.

Opening Speakers: Arné Rust, Brand Director, Carling Black Label, Hansa and Lion, Anheuser-Busch InBev Pamela Zaballa, Chief Executive Officer, NO MORE Foundation Ana Inés Alvarez, Executive Director, Avon Foundation, AVON Carly Newman, Project Manager, The Kering Foundation

Moderator:

Jane Pillinger, Visiting senior research fellow at Dept. Social Policy and Criminology, The Open University

MEET SOME OF OUR amazing speakers...

Elsie Wandera

Operations & HR Manager

Operations & HR Manager

Brands on a Mission

Ian Michell

Group Technical and Procurement Director

Group Technical and Procurement Director

Flamingo Horticulture Investments

Ajaita Shah

Founder & CEO

Founder & CEO

Frontier Markets

Katharine Teague

Group ESG Director

Group ESG Director

AB Sugar

Tashmia Ismail-Saville

Chief Business Development Officer

Chief Business Development Officer

Mitacs

Franziska Deininger

Gender & Climate Consultant

Gender & Climate Consultant

IFC

Hernan Zunino

Social Impact Manager, Latin America

Social Impact Manager, Latin America

Twinings

Rachel Cracknell

Climate Change and Environment Lead

Climate Change and Environment Lead

Ethical Tea Partnership

Jacqui Machin

Ethics & Sustainability Manager - Climate

Ethics & Sustainability Manager - Climate

John Lewis Partnership

Justin White

Manager, Human Rights & Gender Equality, Global Sustainability

Manager, Human Rights & Gender Equality, Global Sustainability

Mars Inc

Abigail Musinga

Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI), Zambia

Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI), Zambia

iDE

Sherifatu Mustapha

GESI and Design Coordinator, Ghana

GESI and Design Coordinator, Ghana

iDE

Alexandra Lockyer

Programme Manager

Programme Manager

Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW)

Hester Le Roux

Senior Business Advisor, Private Sector Engagement

Senior Business Advisor, Private Sector Engagement

Care International UK

Emma Cox

Global Climate leader

Global Climate leader

PwC

Kathy Tan

Founder & CEO

Founder & CEO

Amalu Coaching, LLC

Jean Claude Niyomugabo

Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Speke Farms

Leanne Melnyk

Head of Impact and Partnerships

Head of Impact and Partnerships

Quizrr

Natalie Vergara

Head Platforms

Head Platforms

Mercy Corps Ventures

Jaylan ElShazly

Disruptive Technology acting Lead, Gender and Economic Inclusion Group

Disruptive Technology acting Lead, Gender and Economic Inclusion Group

IFC

Roopa Dhatt

Executive Director

Executive Director

Women in Global Health

Antony Karanja

Co-Founder & Head of Operations

Co-Founder & Head of Operations

OYE

Daniele Fiandaca

Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Token Man

Rachel Eagan

Researcher, The Vaccine Confidence Project

Researcher, The Vaccine Confidence Project

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Carly Newman

Project Manager

Project Manager

The Kering Foundation

Ana Inés Alvarez

Executive Director, Avon Foundation

Executive Director, Avon Foundation

AVON

Pamela Zaballa

CEO,

CEO,

NO MORE

Arné Rust

Brand Director, Carling Black Label, Hansa and Lion

Brand Director, Carling Black Label, Hansa and Lion

Anheuser-Busch InBev

Naom Monari

Founder

Founder

Bena Care Ltd

Natasha Kwakwa

Global Head, Community Impact

Global Head, Community Impact

Standard Chartered Bank

Beatriz Tumoine

Global Social Impact Director

Global Social Impact Director

Cemex

Ciara O’Rourke

Director - Global Vaccines Public Policy - Vaccination Confidence & Equity

Director - Global Vaccines Public Policy - Vaccination Confidence & Equity

MSD

Maggie Rarieya

Global Partnerships Director

Global Partnerships Director

Amref Health Africa

Jane Pillinger

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology

Open University

Katie Hyson

Director, Thought Leaderships and CEO

Director, Thought Leaderships and CEO

Business Fights Poverty

Zahid Torres-Rahman

Co-Founder and CEO

Co-Founder and CEO

Business Fights Poverty

More Gender Resources

Stanford Social Innovation Review is proud to present its first-ever global series of articles created in collaboration with its six local language partners—SSIR China, SSIR en Español, SSIR Japan, SSIR Korea, SSIR Brazil, and SSIR Arabia. The series, devoted to advancing equity, looks at inequities within the context of seven specific regions or countries, and the ways local innovators are working to balance the scales and foster greater inclusion across a range of issue areas.
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SEAL’s guidance, developed with the CGIAR Initiative, highlights the importance of integrating gender equality into sustainability standards. It outlines practices for enhancing women’s empowerment and representation in supply chains, advocating for holistic, organization-wide strategies to address gender inequalities and promote sustainable development.
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RISE highlights the underrepresentation of women in leadership within the garment industry, revealing a disconnect between current programs and worker expectations. It advocates for addressing systemic barriers and redefining women’s advancement beyond supervisory roles, calling for industry collaboration to create a gender equality roadmap.
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At the Baraha Child Care Center in Baddichaur, Nepal, children like Hanvi Rana develop crucial skills while their mothers, like Bimala Saru, pursue economic and household tasks. Funded by iDE through a Paul Polak Innovation Fund grant, the center is part of a larger initiative to promote gender equality and economic empowerment for women in rural Nepal.
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Gender equality is the cornerstone of sustainable business growth. This article explores how MEDA’s Gender Equality Mainstreaming (GEM) Framework is advancing gender equality, in addition to business growth and impact. After applying GEM to 40 businesses and investment funds globally, MEDA found that mainstreaming gender throughout business operations was linked with greater commercial success.
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Watch this Lecture hosted with Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge to explore different perspectives on how we can best navigate the political, social, and economic headwinds. The session promises to inspire and offer actionable insights for driving equity forward in today’s complex global landscape, and embedding strategies for meaningful impact into business. Speakers: Dame Barbara Stocking, DBE, President Emerita and Honorary Fellow, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge and former Chief Executive, Oxfam GB Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Labour MP for Birmingham, Hodge Hill, and Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Inclusive Growth Claudine McMahon, Global Head of Culture and Inclusion, Vodafone Moderator: Professor Anna Barford, Bye Fellow, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge
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Watch this Workshop to learn from a decade of insights and practical guidance to build supportive, safe work environments for all. Discover how your company can be a key player in preventing domestic violence, empowering survivors, and enhancing workplace safety and well-being. Opening Speakers: Christel Adamou, Director, Office of Professional Ethics and Conduct, Asian Development Bank Susan Bright, CEO, Employers Initiative Against Domestic Abuse Natalie Deacon, Director Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Avon International Katie O’Brien, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Anglo American Pamela Zaballa, CEO, NO MORE Claudine McMahon, Head of Culture and Inclusion, Vodafone Shabnam Hameed, Gender Based Violence Specialist, IFC Moderator: Jane Pillinger, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology, Open University
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How do gender-equitable value chains benefit businesses and small-scale producers? Watch this Workshop with Hand in Hand International to explore how gender-equitable value chains create mutual benefits for businesses and small-scale producers. Opening Speakers: Lucy Kerei, Programme Manager, Hand in Hand Eastern Africa Amalia Johnsson, Deputy CEO, Hand in Hand International Katharine Teague, Group ESG Director, ABF Sugar Moderator: Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership, Business Fights Poverty
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Watch this Fireside Chat hosted with Avon as they share lessons from their experience of addressing gender inequality to boost women’s opportunities, nurturing female entrepreneurial spirit, and creating safe spaces for women to thrive, driving actionable change for a more equitable and supportive future for women worldwide. Interviewees: Andreea Moldovan, Managing Director – Europe, Avon Laura Shaw, Representative, Avon
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