Women’s economic participation is critical for growing economies and creating the conditions for sustainable peace and security. Yet little attention has been paid to the particular economic challenges facing the estimated 264 million women living in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Women often face the most severe economic exclusion in fragile and conflict-affected countries, yet their nations have a crucial need for their economic participation. On April 2, 2019, The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business hosted a discussion on “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States: The Role of the Private Sector.”
This panel discussion:
- Provided an overview of GIWPS’ research on women’s economic empowerment in fragile and conflict-affected states, and the unique challenges women face in these settings
- Highlighted the role of the private sector in this space and showcased successful interventions
- Demonstrated how businesses can improve opportunities for women in challenging economic settings and identified entry points for business and related public-private partnerships
- Addressed barriers to investing in fragile and post-conflict states
Opening Remarks:
Bill Novelli, Founder, Global Social Enterprise Initiative and Distinguished Professor of the Practice, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Distinguished Panelists:
Michael Goltzman, Vice President, Global Policy, Environmental Sustainability & Social Impact, The Coca-Cola Company
Jennifer Rademaker, Executive Vice President, Global Customer Delivery, Mastercard
Emily Shrair, Senior Technical Advisor for Gender Program Design and Resource Mobilization, CARE International
Yvonne Quek, 2017-2019 Hillary Rodham Clinton-McLarty Fellow at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Moderator:
Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and former US Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues