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Posted
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 |
IFC's 23rd Quarterly Women in Business Newsletter |
Women in Business Newsletter: July 2010 Global Edition |
Creating Opportunities for WomenIFC Women in Business Program's Third Quarter EditionGlobal Newsletter: July 2010IntroductionIFC's Women in Business (WIN) Program welcomes you to its twenty-third quarterly newsletter designed to keep businesswomen in touch with key events, relevant research and, most importantly, each other! We provide brief descriptions of news, events, and online resources that will involve, inspire and inform you. Wherever possible and appropriate, we provide a link for further detail. In this issue you will find news on IFC and World Bank Group activities, including about an IFC project and lessons-learned regarding women in mining. Pointing to several new resources available for development practitioners, there are a number of online surveys you can participate in. Global newsincludes information on the Global Summit of Women, held in Beijing, China. This issue's spotlight falls on the UN Women's Empowerment Principles which are gaining traction in individual companies to promote gender equality at the workplace. This newsletter shares helpful news and information with women entrepreneurs around the world. If you or your business association have an event you would like to make known, have a success story to share, or would like to tell us what you would like to read more about, please e-mail us.
News from IFC's Women in Business Program and the World Bank Group IFC and Lonmin promote women in mining
On May 14, 2010, together with the South African Platinum company Lonmin, an IFC client, IFC held a workshop to highlight the challenges and opportunities encountered by women in mining. The learning event showcased the results and lessons learned from an innovative program that helped increase female employment at Lonmin. Presentations were made by representatives of Lonmin, Rio Tinto, the UN, World Bank and G3 Business Solutions. Learn more about IFC's work with Lonmin. For further information about the Women in Mining project, please contact Veronica Nyhan Jones. |
|  IFC, Emerging Market Entrepreneurs Partner to Promote Growth
In May 2010, emerging market entrepreneurs came together at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in Washington, DC, to exchange ideas on how to promote small business and innovation through partnerships. Over 150 delegates from over 50 countries ranging from small business owners and business development service providers to potential partners attended. IFC partners, such as the IBM International Foundation, were also in attendance. IFC held two important side events during the summit: "Promoting Entrepreneurship and Partnerships" and "Women in Business." The events included presentations by the Bank of Alexandria, an IFC client. Participants learned about IFC's SME Toolkit which offers free business management and training for small businesses. Visit the SME Toolkit website or for more information contactinfo@smetoolkit.org. |
| IFC and Amman Chamber of Commerce Discuss Corporate Governance and Gender Diversity
Held at the Amman Chamber of Commerce in Amman, Jordan, two separate Corporate Governance Workshops were hosted for participants from all over the Middle East and Northern Africa Region (MENA). For a half-day session on June 7, the theme was"The Benefits of Gender Diversified Boards,"and from June 8-9, there was a"Corporate Governance Workshop for Female Directors and Seniors Executives."The workshops were organized by the IFC and the Amman Chamber of Commerce. Guest speakers included representatives from the International Women Forum, the Business Professional Women Association, the Microfund for Women, and Schema who presented the case for gender-diversified boards and shared their experiences regarding the potential impact of gender diversity on financial performance and operational efficiency. Read more about the event or contact James Chris Razook. |
| Uganda: 2010 Empretec Women in Business Award goes to DFCU Client
Beatrice Ayuru Byaruhanga, a client of DFCU Bank and beneficiary of the joint IFC/DFCU Women in Business program, has won the coveted UN Trade and Development Agency’s 2010 Empretec Women in Business Award. On receiving the award, Byaruhanga recalled that dfcu Bank's intervention with a loan of sh26m in 2003 facilitated the expansion of her school. The bank further supported her with more funds. It was also upon recommendation from dfcu Bank that she got training from Enterprise Uganda. "If it wasn't for the training by Enterprise Uganda, my business would have collapsed by now. I was carrying the burden of doing everything, bursar, head teacher of three sections etc," she said. Read allAfrica for more information. |
| World Bank Examines whether Pension Systems Undermine Women's Careers
The Gender and Development Group of the World Bank held a discussion on the unintended effects of national pension systems on women. The discussion focused on the fact that most pension systems are still based on the traditional roles of women and men. It was argued that pension systems often do not take into account women's changing career paths and longer life expectancy with the result that these systems can indirectly penalize women. Other issues raised were the consequences of a lower retirement age for women which can lead to women sometimes retiring at their highest wage level and by doing so often loosing at least 5 years of high wages that would otherwise contribute to pension benefits.
For more information contact Elena Bardasi for more information.
Global News
 2010 Global Summit of Women: 20th Anniversary Reports Record Attendance
In May 2010, the 20thGlobal Summit of Women was hosted in Beijing, China with over 1000 women leaders participating. The 20th Anniversary Summit focused on business opportunities in Asia, featuring women business leaders from the region and globally and highlighting new approaches for economic equity that may be replicated in other countries. The Summit examined 20th century challenges that impact women's economic lives as well as opportunities to explore.
To read more visit the Globe Women website. |
|  Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) hosted Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency
Held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, over 200 global leaders from business, politics and civil society attended more than 50 sessions around sustainability reporting. This year's GRI Conference focused on gearing up for the challenge of crafting an action agenda for sustainability reporting for the next decade. It also included a session on how reporting can drive gender equality providing participants with the opportunity to learn from and discuss the gender issues they could report on.
To read more about the conference, visit the Amsterdam GRI conference website or contact Katherine Miles. |
| Saudi Arabia: Women's Role in National Development Discussed
 Under the leadership of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a two-day workshop was held at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI)'s Khadija bint Khuwailid Center that brought together Saudi women from a cross-section of society. Specific skills and training sessions were organized on issues such as preparation of resumes, how to handle and respond in interviews, how to start up a business and informing about labor laws for women. MEPI is a US government project which last year launched the two-year Young Women Leaders program. Its aim is to gather community leaders and activists from various Gulf countries to help develop women's rights initiatives in their home communities.
To read more visit the Arab News website. |
| Forum held in Tunisia Discusses Place of Women in Trade Globalization
On March 31, the Tunisian Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CNFCE) organized in Hammamet the Mediterranean Forum of Women Entrepreneurs called, "Globalization of trade: what place does the Mediterranean woman occupy." The event was organized in cooperation with the "INVEST in MED" program and the Women Entrepreneurs Committee under the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry Association (ASCAME). Women entrepreneurs from the 5 Maghrebi countries from Europe, as well as experts and university professors, took part in the event. The forum dealt with two major objectives namely the consolidation of trade relations between women heads of Mediterranean enterprises and facilitating access to external markets. To read more, visit the All Africa website. |
| "Creating Women Business Leaders Program" held in India
From May 10-14, 2010, women executives working at companies such as, GE India, IBM, Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services, KPMG, Tata Steel, Tata Teleservices, Accenture, GONGC, Bharti Enterprises, and Citigroup, came together to help strengthen understanding and building the rewards of "balanced leadership" for best business performance for future markets. The program was organized by India's Women in Leadership Forum (WILL).
To read more about this program and the upcoming events of the organization WILL, visit the WILL website. |
| Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) invites public comments for Community, Gender and Human Rights related thematic revisions to the GRI Guidelines
Public Comment Periods are now open for Community, Gender and Human Rights related thematic revisions to the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Framework, the G3 Guidelines. GRI's G3 Guidelines are the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework.
Visit the online survey to have your say on the proposals for how reporting organizations can better disclosure their community, gender and human rights impacts. Download the reference document for this survey. The G3.1 revisions are available for public comment for 90 days from 26 May until 23 August. |
| United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights (SRSG) Seeks Feedback
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on business and human rights (SRSG) mandate requests that he "integrate a gender perspective throughout his work". There is currently an online consultation asking for feedback from experts and interested parties with an interest in gender issues on whether the SRGC's propositions are reasonable, necessary and sufficient for integrating a gender perspective into his work. Check out the propositions and respond to the survey on the SRSG website. |
| Women Entrepreneurs in Nepal Promote Equity in Trade
The 100th International Women's Day Mega focused on women entrepreneurs from Nepal and the South Asian region towards promoting women's equity in trade. The Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), jointly with the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Fair Trade Group of Nepal (FTG). the celebration aimed to enhance women entrepreneurs' market linkages, and included skill development and learning opportunities. For more information contactinfo@fwean.org.npor visit www.fwean.org.np.
Spotlight On
UN Women's Empowerment Principles
 Chief executives express their commitment to advancing equality between men and women, the cornerstone of seven Women's Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business that were launched by the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Global Compact in March 2010. Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles comes from all regions of the world and represent diverse global and national companies. Among them are: Symantec, US; Eskom Holdings Limited, South Africa; Infosys Technologies Limited, India; Total, France; Levi Strauss & Co., US; The Westpac Group, Australia; Sunjgoo Group/MCM, South Korea; Copel-Companhia Paranaense de Energia, Brazil; and Olympic Group, Egypt. CEOs from consulting and investment companies, including Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst and Young, Calvert Group, Ltd. and Pax World Management LLC added their support underlining the business case that investment in women results in more sustainable and profitable companies.
"These initial signers of the CEO Statement are practicing the very first Women's Empowerment Principle that leadership promotes gender equality" says UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi. "These executives are affirming the high-level support necessary for the Women's Empowerment Principles to gain traction in individual companies and their cultures."
The CEO Statement of Support encourages business leaders to use the seven Women's Empowerment Principles as guide posts for actions that advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community, and communicate progress through the use of sex-disaggregated data and other benchmarks. Signers underscore that equal treatment of women and men is not just the right thing to do — it is also good for business and needs to be a priority. The Principles offer a practical approach to advance women and point the way to a business and social environment that is both fairer and more prosperous for everyone.
President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. John Anderson says: "As one of the first companies to sign onto the CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles, we remain dedicated to the advancement of women globally. Women comprise a significant portion of apparel sector workers. By investing in access to proper health care, a safe, non-discriminatory work environment and opportunities for asset building targeted to women, we're not only investing in our workers, we're investing in a healthy and sustainable workplace for all."
A partnership initiative of UNIFEM and the UN Global Compact, theWomen's Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business, offers the business community a new tool to work with the United Nations to advance the Millennium Development Goals, particularly Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women. A high-level private sector forum will be held in New York to coincide with the UN's 2010 September Summit on the Millennium Development Goals. The Women's Empowerment Principles, the product of a collaboration between UNIFEM and the UN Global Compact informed by an international multi-stakeholder consultation, are adapted from the Calvert Women's Principles®. The Calvert Women's Principles were originally developed in partnership with UNIFEM and launched in 2004 as the first global corporate code of conduct focused exclusively on empowering, advancing and investing in women worldwide.
For more information contact: Oisika Chakrabarti of UNIFEM or visit the UNIFEM website. You can also read more about the 41 lead signers of the CEO Statement of Support.
In each newsletter we spotlight either a businesswomen association that has developed an innovative idea, a process that promotes women's entrepreneurship, or an enterprising woman who has achieved success. If you have a success story to share, pleaseemail uswith the details. We look forward to sharing your stories.
Did You Know?
According to recent research in the US, gender ratings in health insurance suggest that women may pay more for the same coverage than men? Read more about this topic in theNew York Times.
Events
September 19-21, 2010:TheAPEC Women Leader's Network (WLN) Meeting 2010will allow for the opportunity to network with women leaders from the 21 APEC economies. The theme of the WLN meeting is "Creation of new global economic activities by women – realization through people, nature and culture," and will be held in Tokyo, Japan. To learn more about the event and how to participate, visit the APEC WLN website.
A website is being launched for participants of the WLN meetings to meet before the meeting in Japan this year. You can subscribe to the e-mail notification service, and you will be notified when the site is ready to accept your registration. |
|  October 20-22, 2010:The10th Annual Global Banking Alliance for Women Summitwill take place at IFC headquarters in Washington DC. The two-day event will bring together financial institutions from around the world to collaborate on identifying and sharing global best practices in the delivery of financial services to women. Visit the GBA website for agenda updates. |
|  October 28-29, 2010:The 2010 Women in Leadership (WILL) Mentees will be presenting the results of the group-work accomplished over the year at the 3rd Annual"WILL 2010 Women in Leadership Conference"in Mumbai, India. |
|  November 13, 2010:The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) will be hosting the event"Celebrating the WCW Milestones: Women's Perspectives, Women's Voices."Wellesley Centers for Women scholars, past and present, will share their perspectives and insights during an afternoon program of thought-provoking seminars. Learn more on the WCW website.
Links to Resources
The IFC/GRI Gender Publication entitled"Embedding Gender in Sustainability Reporting"is now available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Hindi.
IFC launches a series of six reports focusing on identifying the constraints in women's economic progress in the Pacific Region:IFC released the reports at a recent conference in Vanuatu, where over 50 women entrepreneurs representing 14 Pacific countries networked and shared experiences about owning and operating businesses in the region. To read more about the different countries highlighted, visit IFC's Sustainability Publications website.
Are Women the Key to Sustainable Development?is the question an article inSustainable Development Insightstries to shed light on. The author elaborates on the economics of gender, society and gender, and the environment and gender. She concludes that "if women were in more productive and decision-making roles, we could be moving faster and more assuredly towards sustainability in the economic, social and environmental sense." To read the full article visit http://www.bu.edu/pardee/files/2010/04/UNsdkp003fsingle.pdf.
Through the ScienceDirect website, you can read more about, and also download the entire article titled,"Unequal representation of women and men in energy company boards and management groups: Are there implications for mitigation?"This paper presents findings from a survey on the gender composition of the boards of the largest energy companies in Germany, Spain and Sweden. The results obtained are discussed against insights about differences in risk perception between women and men, what is known about women's impact on board performance and the latest evidence of climate change.
There is a newbusiness guide that explores workplace diversityand uses practical stories to offer an alternate, nuanced approach to diversity to create a truly effective workplace for. "The Loudest Duck" dives into the many aspects of diversity in the ever-expanding, increasingly global workplace. Through practical stories, cultural anecdotes and personal experiences, Laura Liswood, Secretary General, Council of Women World Leaders, explains how to ensure a fair and level playing field for anyone working his or her way up the ladder in this new corporate world order. For additional information, please contact: info@cwwl.org.
Working in partnership with the World Bank Gender & Development department, the World Bank's Social Development Department (SDV) has launched a process for developing a business plan for accelerating gender integration in the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) of the World Bank and sector-specific tools and activities. These are presented in more detail in thenewly launched Gender and Sustainable Development webpage, located at: http://go.worldbank.org/5UW1T2OUW0.
How Women Mean Businessprovides fact-based illustration ofhowwomen represent a global economic opportunity for business. It presents evidence that balance leads to more innovation and better bottom line performance. The book by Wittenberg-Cox and Maitland explains why so many current approaches to gender have not worked and compares policies and approaches in companies around the world. To read the press release, visit: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/PressRelease/pressReleaseId-74742.html.
To read more about how Middle Eastern women have strived to obtain entrepreneurial success, read an article called,"How Women Entrepreneurs Are Driving Business in the Middle East". The article provides insightful examples and advice to women in the Middle East and elsewhere, regarding their financial accomplishments. The article can be read and also downloaded as PDF from this site: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/arabic/article.cfm?articleId=2445.
GovernanceMetrics News and Updates recently launched a new release onWomen on Boards – 2010of listed companies, which is taking on significantly greater importance for both companies and shareholders. In this release, GMI not only looked at aggregate statistics but also the number of companies that had at least one and at least three women on their boards at both the sector and country level. GMI also looked at the differences amongst various countries - specifically those markets where it had coverage of at least 20 companies. To read more about the release or request a copy of the Women on Boards – 2010, please visit: http://www.gmiratings.com/ContactGMI.aspx.
"The Battle for Female Talent in Emerging Markets"article published by the Harvard Business Review covers the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) plus the United Arab Emirates. Some of the key findings include: a) The greatest concern for women was safety while commuting to their workplace. b) Apart from these there were cultural pressures and discrimination in the office that contained there growth.
To order a copy of the full article, call 800-988-0886 or 617-783-7500 or go to www.hbr.org.
We would like to thank the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland for their support.
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