Gender, Akin to LOVE?

Categories : Blog

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Author: Digital Frontiers Institute

There is no limit to what women can do together and when women support each other, incredible things happen!

Once upon a time in the bustling city of Accra, there was a young woman named Ama. Ama had a passion for finance and a vision to transform her community through inclusive financial practices. Despite the challenges she faced in a male-dominated industry, Ama was determined to make a difference. Ama started by organising financial literacy workshops for women in her neighbourhood. She believed that empowering women with knowledge about savings, investments, and budgeting was the first step towards financial inclusiveness. Her workshops became a beacon of hope, inspiring many women to take control of their financial futures. Recognising the potential of these women, Ama founded a microfinance institution that provided loans and financial services tailored to women entrepreneurs. Her initiative not only supported women in starting their own businesses but also encouraged them to become active participants in the economy. As the businesses flourished, the community thrived. Women who had once been dependent on others for financial support were now self-sufficient and contributing to the local economy. Ama’s efforts had sparked a transformation that rippled throughout the city. The success of Ama’s microfinance institution caught the attention of the national banks, which began to adopt more inclusive policies and programmes. Ama’s belief in the power of women’s inclusiveness in finance had ignited a movement that changed the financial landscape of her country forever. And so, Ama’s story became a testament to the fact that when women are included and supported in finance, they can become powerful agents of change, not just for themselves, but for their communities and beyond.

Ama’s journey was marked by a series of struggles that tested her resolve and shaped her path to success. Here are some of the challenges she faced:

  • Cultural Barriers: In her community, finance was traditionally seen as a man’s domain. Ama had to confront the scepticism of those who doubted a woman’s ability to understand and manage financial matters.
  • Access to Education: Ama had limited access to formal education in finance. She often spent nights reading whatever materials she could find and took online courses to educate herself.
  • Financial Support: Starting her microfinance institution was not easy. Ama faced difficulties in securing funding as investors were hesitant to back a venture led by a woman.

It is worth noting that women constitute roughly half of the population in Africa and in Ghana. 1 in 4 female adults in Africa starts or manages a business, making the continent one of the highest in terms of women entrepreneurs across the world. SMEs account for up to 90% of all businesses in Africa and women own about 1/3 of all registered African SMEs. Women invest as much as 90% of their incomes into their families and communities.

Indeed, “Women are the centre of production, but at the periphery of benefits, women count but are not counted”, and we need to appreciate their efforts, for nothing could be more relevant for women of today who are charting unknown territories pertinently and fearlessly. Be it in e-commerce, education, fashion, retail, fitness, job creation, or agriculture among others, women are proceeding with smartness and unrestrained enthusiasm to change the world around them, making a difference with their ideas, seeking solutions that have never been sought, fighting diseases and social norms, running successful ventures, generating employment for many, and giving rise to new sustainable ecosystems.

To Accelerate Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment, the key points below are worth considering:

  1. The Power of Economic Empowerment:
    • It is said that the best form of empowerment is economic power! Economic empowerment is not a buzzword; it’s a catalyst for transformation. When we empower women economically, we unlock a cascade of positive effects.
    • Imagine a world where every woman has access to capital, skills, and opportunities. That is the future we hope to see!
  2. The Ripple Effect:
    • When a woman starts a business, she doesn’t just create jobs; she ignites hope. Her success reverberates through her family, community, and nation and this is too beautiful to ignore, Let’s therefore amplify these ripples, to create a tidal wave of change.
  3. Breaking Barriers:
    • We must dismantle barriers that hinder women’s economic participation. These barriers include discriminatory laws, cultural norms, and unequal access to resources. Let’s be architects of change, building bridges to opportunity and hand-holding every woman to make it to the top.
  4. Investing in Women:
    • Investing in women isn’t charity; it’s an investment in humanity’s future.
    • Let’s invest in education, mentorship, and networks. Let’s provide women with the tools to thrive.
  5. Policy and Practice: Gender Action Plans
    • Policies matter. Let’s advocate for gender-responsive policies that level the playing field. But policies alone won’t suffice. We need action—action in boardrooms, actions in our classrooms, and at home, let’s bring in our boy child to understand the importance of their sisters and to share roles equitably. We must create the change we want to see and that change starts now and it starts with you and me!

In conclusion, let us be relentless advocates for gender equality. Let us count women in, not just today, but every day. Let us commit to bridging the gender divide. And to every woman, I want us to position ourselves to be counted. For when we empower women, we empower humanity. By empowering women economically, we pave the way for a brighter, more equitable world—one where everyone thrives.

To every woman out there, I charge us all to LOVE what we do and be proud to be a woman. Embrace passion in every task, turning challenges into opportunities. When we love what we do, every step becomes a dance, every challenge an opportunity, and every moment, a masterpiece!

Be inspired!

 

References:

Addressing Gender Financing Gap: weforum.org

unfpa.org

weforum.org

unwomen.org

theimpactinvestor.com

learningpartnership.org

embracingequity.org

ifc.org

oecd-ilibrary.org

Financing for gender equality | UN Women – Headquarters

 

By Dr Loretta Sarpong

Retail Banking Specialist and Head of Women’s Desk at Ecobank Ghana PLC

DFI Alumni and Community Member

 

Established in 2015, Digital Frontiers Institute is a proud brand of Digital Frontiers. Learn more about the Gender Equality Changemakers programme and find out how to enrol: https://genderequality.digitalfrontiersinstitute.org/