Shaheen, owner of a leading fashion house in Dhaka. Photo: Asian Development Bank/CC BY-NC-ND
The push to advance women’s economic empowerment around the world is not a fashionable procurement exercise. It is not a way for governments, private sector investors or implementing partners such as FHI 360 to look good. It is necessary and urgent. It is a lifeline to women, families, communities and countries struggling with health and food security, environmental degradation, economic growth barriers and political turmoil.
Economic empowerment is a universal human right that protects women and people of all genders and social identities from sexual harassment, exploitation and gender-based violence.
Development practitioners, donors, investors and policymakers need to really listen to the people who are most affected when it comes to women’s economic empowerment and equality, or WE3. Although we want to advance the cause and we want to listen, we are not in a good place to do so. One reason: lack of sufficient investment in women’s organizations and businesses worldwide.
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