It’s time to collect more and better gender-disaggregated supply chain data
The reality, however, is that most supply chain data is largely gender blind, meaning it views workers as a homogenous group. This lack of gender-disaggregation limits our understanding of certain risks, disparities, and inequities that may be gender sensitive. It also impedes our ability to determine whether supply chain programmes and initiatives are having equal outcomes […]
Using gender data to translate inclusion strategies into programming reality
At GROW Liberia we love data! And as an economic development programme we must love data: we count the number of jobs created, incomes improved, number of partners, amount of fertiliser sold and on goes the list. Data is essential for accountability to funders, in our case Sida. It is also essential for iterative, results-driven […]
Switching to digital delivery during COVID-19: Key lessons
Existing inequalities relating to caregiving, to the digital divide, and to inadequate financing have been exacerbated during the pandemic—particularly in low and middle income countries—and overall, women-led businesses have generally seen larger declines in sales and profits, and have been more likely to close down (at least temporarily). ‘Life has been anything but business as usual for […]
Empowering women and inspiring youth: Reflections from Stephanie Lamma Ewi
A new wave of corporate sustainability is approaching; one in which conventional corporate ‘sustainability’ strategies are set to be replaced by new levels of ambition centred around creating a ‘just and regenerative’ future. Guided by a new north star – an economy that sustains the wellbeing of all and the capacity of our natural world […]
A Fairer Future for All Means Gender Equality Now
Women have long been the backbone of our planet’s agricultural production. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that women today make up 60 to 80 percent of the farmers present in non-industrialized countries and that up to 70 percent of agricultural labour in some countries comes from women alone. This is a staggering number. […]
Turning an Onboarding Exercise into a Knowledge Hub for Gender Mainstreaming
When I joined iDE as the gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) manager in April of 2021, it had been years since I’d worked in the international development sector. In truth, I was feeling like a fish out of water. During my onboarding process, I learned all about iDE and our founder Paul Polack who […]
What is a value chain? And why you should care.
Several years ago the women of Bihani Dairy, a Heifer-supported agricultural cooperative in southwestern Nepal, had an idea: Provide a collection center for milk produced by the area’s dairy farmers, an enterprise move that would reduce waste and offer farmers, who were otherwise forced to sell as quickly as possible for below-market fees, a chance to create […]
Living income and gender: adopting gender transformative approaches to improve livelihoods
The concept of ‘Living Income’ has grown in popularity as a way to improve livelihoods for smallholders. It goes a step beyond traditional notions of poverty alleviation: recognising that a household income can come from multiple sources and emphasising decent living and resilience over basic subsidence and survival. Where does gender come into this conversation? […]
Spotlighting Fairtrade and Aldi UK’s ‘Dignity for All’ – a programme for female flower workers
“Women have the potential of taking up leadership positions and roles, unlike in previous years when women were considered irrelevant and/or unable to lead and work equally as men”. This sentiment may seem like a given to most readers, but for the 25-year-old flower farm worker from Ethiopia who said these words it was a […]
Women as drivers of climate resilience
Mars, like many companies, has long-standing commitments to support climate action (SDG 13) and gender equality (SDG 5). But we haven’t always looked at the intersections between these two areas. As we progress our Net Zero Commitment and our Cocoa for Generations plan, it is becoming clear that the two issues are inextricably linked. Women […]
Business and the Ukraine Crisis: Supporting Women and the Most Vulnerable
At the heart of Business Fights Poverty is our focus on harnessing business to support the most vulnerable people and communities around the world. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, and unleashed a humanitarian crisis, business has been quick to respond. There is an ever-growing list of businesses taking action—through their philanthropic giving to […]
Scaling Up Impact With Carbon Finance
In partnership with Relief International and Sustainable Development and Relief Associates (SUDRA), ClimateCare developed Gyapa – a Gold Standard project which supports health and livelihoods for families in Ghana by providing clean cookstoves. One of the largest and longest running cookstove projects in the world, more than 20,000 stoves are produced in local factories each […]
Engaging community voices: Reflections from Archana Soreng
Differing worldviews, indigenous people and the front lines of community climate action: A new wave of corporate sustainability is approaching; one in which conventional corporate ‘sustainability’ strategies are set to be replaced by new levels of ambition centred around creating a ‘just and regenerative’ future. Guided by a new north star – an economy that […]
Why working with men is key to fighting inequality
Across Tanzania women make up over half of the agricultural workforce. They earn, on average, a third of what men do, and many will not get paid at all. Farm work is heavy, physical labour, and, on top of that, women are solely responsible for domestic work and childcare. The communities we operate in are […]
The chocolate entrepreneurs of Peru
In El Palo Blanco, a small town in the northeast of Peru, locals have been growing coffee and cocoa for generatins. But because Palo Blanco is situated in the lower lands, at the foot of Piura’s mountainous region, it is getting hotter each year, unpredictable weather and increasing prevalence of pests and diseases that threaten […]
Inclusive future of work for women with disabilities
Globally inclusion possess concerns on how to ensure that the future of work is inclusive, whereas leaving no one behind, for the over one billion persons with disabilities (PWDs). Ensuring an inclusive future of work is part of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is worth noting that article 27 of the […]
With their own businesses and as workers, Egypt’s women can be winners
Rabeha is Arabic for “winner”. It is the brand name for a programme to provide women in Egypt with the means, knowledge and confidence to realize their unique and valid work-related goals, either as entrepreneurs, early-stage businesswomen or as paid employees. The Rabeha programme, run jointly by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and […]
The Kenyan woman changing young farmers’ futures
Twenty years ago, Victorine Atieno Owino began her career as a volunteer at the Ugunja Community Resource Center in southwest Kenya’s Siaya County. She filled her days organizing books as a librarian and handling paperwork as an administrative assistant, supporting the center’s work building the skills of local community members. But a common need began […]
Ukraine Rapid Response: How You Can Help
In the early hours of 24 February 2022, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine. As of the time of writing – Sunday, 27 February – the attacks have reached most major cities, over 190 Ukrainians have been killed with thousands more wounded. In response to the assault, civilians are abandoning cities and fleeing west […]
Empowering underserved women around the globe
A look at inspiring inclusive business ventures and supporters to underserved women In Zambia, beekeeping used to be men’s work. Making beehives from barks and hanging them high up into trees requires strength. Later, farmers spend days in the fields to harvest honey. For women with children, this is hardly possible. This is gradually changing. […]