*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

In the context of the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

Sweden, UNCDF, UN WOMEN and UNDP are organizing a high-level event on:

Gender and Local Economic Development: Unlocking Domestic Capital for Women’s Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship

11 March 2015

United Nations Headquarters (New York), Room Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium ( DHLA)

Time: 3.00 – 4.15 pm

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WHAT: UNCDF, UNDP and UN Women are co-hosting an event to address the issue of gender and inclusive local economic development. This event stems from the collaboration currently underway of the three agencies on a joint programme entitled, “Inclusive and Equitable Local Development” (IELD), funded by Sida and the Government of Luxembourg.

This event will address some of these constraints and will serve as a platform to discuss innovative and transformative solutions to unlock domestic capital for women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship at the local level in LDCs. In particular, it will feature the Transformative Impact Financing (TIF) approach, currently being developed under the IELD joint initiative.

The discussion will highlight the importance of leveraging domestic resources for gender-sensitive local economic investments that have measurable and transformative impacts on the livelihoods of local communities, such as increasing women’s employment and productive capacities, expanding business and market development, and securing the positive spillovers that these investments can generate. Additionally, the conversation will emphasize the need for an enabling environment that supports businesses development throughout the business cycle that is inclusive of all women and men, especially youth.

During the event, speakers will showcase the potential of global online communities, such as EmpowerWomen.org, to connect local entrepreneurs with regional and global markets and policy advocacy, as well as strengthen sharing of experiences and learning opportunities.

WHEN: 11 March 2015, 3.00 – 4.15 pm

WHERE: United Nations Headquarters (New York), Room Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium (DHLA)

WHO:

Key Note:       H.E. Åsa Regnér, Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden

Panelists:       Ms. Judith Karl, UNCDF Executive Secretary

H.E. Mr. Tuvako Nathaniel Manongi , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania

Presentation of EmpowerWomen.org (Anna Falth, Manager of EmpowerWomen, UN Women / Mohammad Abbadi, Local Development Finance Programme Manager, UNCDF)

H.E. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch , Minister of Labour and Minister of the Status of Women, Canada

Luna Shamsuddoha , CEO of Dohatec, Entrepreneur from Bangladesh

Moderator:     Ms. Meg Jones, Chief of the Economic Empowerment Section, UN Women

Closing Remarks: Ms. Randi Davis, Director, UNDP BPPS Gender Team