Melinda French Gates is among high-profile philanthropists pushing global economic policymakers to consider how they can better support economic growth among women in low-income countries as they meet this week in Washington D.C.
Elevating women to better financial positions within societies helps to improve economies overall, according to French Gates, who spoke on Thursday at the Global Inclusive Growth Summit held on the sidelines of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings.
“If we just talk about empowering women, we’re not looking at all of the societal barriers that hold them back,” French Gates said during a panel that also featured comedian and philanthropist Trevor Noah.