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...

How can we create a more equitable world for female entrepreneurs?

How can we ensure gender equity is at the heart of decarbonization efforts?

How can we drive health equity by empowering women?

How can companies collaborate to tackle gender-based violence in the workplace?

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...

Katie Hyson

Director, Thought Leaderships and COO

Business Fights Poverty

Natasha Kwakwa

Global Head, Community Impact

Standard Chartered Bank

Jane Pillinger

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology

Open University

Elsie Wandera

Chief Executive Officer

Heroes for Change

Ian Michell

Group Technical and Procurement Director

Flamingo Horticulture Investments

Ajaita Shah

Founder & CEO

Frontier Markets

Katharine Teague

Group ESG Director

AB Sugar

Tashmia Ismail-Saville

Chief Business Development Officer

Mitacs

Franziska Deininger

Climate Lead - Gender & Economic Inclusion Department

International Finance Corporation

Hernan Zunino

Social Impact Manager, Latin America

Twinings

Rachel Cracknell

Climate Change and Environment Lead

Ethical Tea Partnership

Jacqui Machin

Ethics & Sustainability Manager - Climate

John Lewis Partnership

Justin White

Manager, Human Rights & Gender Equality, Global Sustainability

Mars Inc

Abigail Musinga

Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI), Zambia

iDE

Sherifatu Mustapha

GESI and Design Coordinator, Ghana

iDE

Alexandra Lockyer

Programme Manager

Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW)

Hester Le Roux

Business Engagement Lead

Work and Opportunities for Women Programme (WOW)

Emma Cox

Global Climate leader

PwC

Kathy Tan

Founder & CEO

Amalu Coaching, LLC

Jean Claude Niyomugabo

Co-Founder

Speke Farms

Leanne Melnyk

Head of Impact and Partnerships

Quizrr

Natalie Vergara

Head Platforms

Mercy Corps Ventures

Jaylan ElShazly

Disruptive Technology acting Lead, Gender and Economic Inclusion Group

IFC

Roopa Dhatt

Executive Director

Women in Global Health

Antony Karanja

Co-Founder & Head of Operations

OYE

Daniele Fiandaca

Co-Founder

Token Man

Rachel Eagan

Researcher, The Vaccine Confidence Project

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Carly Newman

Project Manager

The Kering Foundation

Ana Inés Alvarez

Executive Director, Avon Foundation

AVON

Pamela Zaballa

CEO,

NO MORE

Arné Rust

Brand Director, Carling Black Label, Hansa and Lion

Anheuser-Busch InBev

Naom Monari

Founder

Bena Care Ltd

Beatriz Tumoine

Global Social Impact Director

Cemex

Ciara O’Rourke

Director - Global Vaccines Public Policy - Vaccination Confidence & Equity

MSD

Maggie Rarieya

Global Partnerships Director

Amref Health Africa

Zahid Torres-Rahman OBE

Co-Founder and CEO

Business Fights Poverty

More Gender Resources

Empowering Women in Supply Chains: Celebrating the Impact of the WOW Programme

As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, the Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) programme comes to a close after seven years of advancing women’s economic empowerment in global supply chains. Working across 12 countries, WOW has helped improve job access, working conditions, and financial independence while tackling broader issues like unpaid care, gender-based violence, and climate resilience. Its legacy highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities in creating fairer, more inclusive economies.

Business, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Equity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Gender-Based Violence, Sustainable Development

March 10, 2025

The Evolving Landscape of Gender Equality

Despite progress, gender equality remains a complex challenge, further complicated by political and cultural pushback. The Partnership Collective advocates for an equity-driven approach, introducing the Fairness and Opportunity Framework to transform global value chains. By fostering inclusive participation, collective action, and accountability, businesses can create fairer, more sustainable systems that benefit all stakeholders.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Equity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender

March 3, 2025

From Risk to Resilience: The Power of Women in Global Supply Chains

A new Toolkit, published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) programme, provides guidance for multinational companies on boosting the resilience of their supply chains in low-and middle-income countries by investing in women. Integrating gender equity into ESG strategies can help to meet evolving human rights and environmental due diligence requirements, improving risk management while unlocking productivity, innovation, and brand value.

Business, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Equity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Gender-Based Violence, Sustainable Development

February 5, 2025

Transformative Partnerships with Taryn from Cargill and Chris from CARE

Social Impact Pioneers Taryn Davis of Cargill & Chris Noble of CARE talk business and social good through transformative partnerships.

Business, Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Partnerships

January 13, 2025

David Nicholson, Mercy Corps and Thomas Beloe UNDP Talk Human Centred Climate Action

David Nicholson of Mercy Corps and Thomas Beloe from the UNDP talk human centred climate action, reflecting on COP29 in Baku.

Business, Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Human Rights, Human Rights and Governance

December 6, 2024

Simon Crittle & Kazi Jawad Hossain on COP29 and Tackling Poverty

Meet two Social Impact Pioneers as they talk international development, climate resilience and the climate COP29 in Baku, Azebijan.

Agriculture, Business, Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Gender, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Sustainable Development

December 3, 2024

Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights: Smart Climate Action and Good Business

Investing in women’s health and reproductive rights is both smart climate action and good business. With women disproportionately affected by climate stressors—like heat, flooding, and forced migration—companies have a responsibility and a benefit in enhancing their health. Boosting women’s well-being strengthens supply chains, drives productivity, and builds resilience in the face of climate change.

Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Gender, Health, Sustainable Development

December 2, 2024

Women’s Health & Climate Justice at COP29 in Baku with Niona Nakuya and Terry Owino

As the climate COP29 in Baku concludes without much fanfare, understanding what was really going on is more important than ever. Business Fights Poverty Youth Ambassador, Malkia Johns sits down within the COP and speaks with two women’s health activists, Niona Nakuya and Terry Owino.

Business, Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Health

December 1, 2024

Climate Change, Human Rights, and Modern Slavery with Chiara and Sizakelle

Social Impact Pioneers Chiara Soletti & Sizakele Marutlulle delve into the intersection of climate change, human rights, and modern slavery.

Business, Climate & Environment, Climate Action, Climate Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gender, Human Rights, Human Rights and Governance

November 29, 2024

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