Many in the global development and humanitarian aid sectors are calling for increased female leadership to create an environment — humanitarian and development sector — that works for everybody, but “there’s a lot of work to do to ensure leaders of all shapes, colors, and backgrounds are able to thrive,” said Nasra Ismail, deputy director of the Somalia NGO Consortium, a voluntary coordination mechanism of NGOs.
“Particularly in a fragile context, we see a lot of barriers in terms of women’s leadership: legally, regulatorywise but also in terms of cultural barriers,” she said, adding that women from the global south in particular face such barriers.
To tackle these, she suggested forming a coalition of women from high-income and emerging country contexts.
Helen Clark on the need for more women in global dev leadership
To kick off our six-part audio series DevProWomen2030, Devex talks to Helen Clark, former head of UNDP, on how the sector is changing and the implications for women in development.
“We do believe that the best way to address some of these issues — as grand, as difficult, and as complex as they are — is working through a coalition of differences and working together to ensure that those countries that we’re in, and may not have had the chance to improve, can do so more quickly.”
Through a six-part audio series, DevProWomen2030, Devex is speaking to women professionals, leaders such as Ismail, and recruiters in the sector to find out how changes across the development landscape are impacting women and what advice they have for those entering this space or looking to climb the ladder.
In the second installment, Devex spoke to Ismail, a former Somalia country director at Oxfam International, about the skills women will need to have to reach those leadership positions in a world that’s grappling with increasing instability. Listen here.
Devex, with financial support from our partner 2U, is exploring the skills and education development sector professionals will need for the future. Visit the Focus on: DevPros 2030 page for more.
About the authors
Rebecca L. Root
Rebecca L. Root is a freelance reporter for Devex based in Bangkok. Previously senior associate & reporter, she produced news stories, video, and podcasts as well as partnership content. She has a background in finance, travel, and global development journalism and has written for a variety of publications while living and working in Bangkok, New York, London, and Barcelona.
Emma Smith@emmasmith_bcn
For four years, Emma Smith covered careers and recruitment, among other topics, for Devex. She now freelances for Devex and has a special interest in mental health, immigration, and sexual and reproductive health. She holds a degree in journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University and a master’s in media and international conflict.
