Given the lost economic potential of not sufficiently involving women in economies, “Why are our economies still running their engines at half speed?”
This was the challenge from Valeria Della Rosa, senior manager for business advisory services at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: how to involve women in economies and how global development actors can ensure women’s potential is harnessed effectively.
On the sidelines of the Union for the Mediterranean conference “Fostering Women’s Participation in Economic Life” in Barcelona, Spain last month, we heard a diverse range of views on how to best go about it.
Read more stories on women’s empowerment:
► 5 ways #globaldev professionals can ensure a fairer future for women and girls
► Empowering women and girls through development: A to-do list for Gayle Smith
► Valuing mothers' contributions to the global economy
► Putting women in the driver's seat in Cambodia
► Women's health is everyone's health
About the author
Sibylle Koenig
Sibylle Koenig is a development consultant and policy adviser with 10 years of experience in managing, monitoring and evaluating international aid programs and grant schemes, as well as advocacy. She has worked for a variety of organizations, including the European Commission, U.N. and bilateral aid agencies and NGOs in Latin America (4 years) and Europe, with extensive work travel to Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya, Botswana) and Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, South Korea).
