UNIDO and economic empowerment of women

UNIDO and economic empowerment of women
Al-Bab Report

A consultative session on policy dialogue on gender-responsive policy and regulatory framework along with launching on an Advocacy Campaign on Women in Green Industry was held under Delivering Results Together Fund (DRT-F) joint program with UNIDO and other UN agencies. The purpose of this dialogue and policy recommendation was to review policies and make recommendations on the policies to make them more conducive for women entrepreneurs, esp. the ones working in the area of green industry.  Women from excluded groups were present at this meeting so they could share insights on improvements that should be made with regard to policymaking. Their strategic viewpoints were valuable and in-line with UNIDO’s focus on ISID. The Policy dialogue and an Advocacy Campaign on “Women in Green Industry”held in Lahore were in continuation of Islamabad’s week-long dialogue on women in the green industry. UNIDO is aiding excluded groups, focus given to women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, by developing policy drafts which enable them to excel in their respective fields. This policy draft seeks to raise woman’s economic status by paving the way for them to start their own businesses and create innovations. Efforts in producing gender responsive policy drafts are done by collaborating with stakeholders from all levels of society. These include the government agencies, private sectors, women associations, and Chambers of commerce & Industry in Pakistan. These policies will be set in place to mitigate gender inequality as it is imperative to connect women with entrepreneurial ventures in order for them achieve economic success.

The event at Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM) was a great success, as grass root level problems were addressed and recommendations were made to address these problems as well as how to provide formal coverage to millions of home based workers (HBWs) in Pakistan, a majority of whom are women. The relevant policies adoption and implementation will improve women’s empowerment and Pakistan’s overall status in terms of providing economic opportunities to women.

At this occasion, Director PIM, Mr Abid Hussain Sabri, highlighted challenges of women to initiate startups in green industry without concrete support of relevant institutions and reiterated PIM’s commitment to work for women since they comprise the majority of the world’s poor and are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.  Favorable policy framework can promote innovation to mitigate the harmful impact. He reiterated PIM’s commitment to support Women Business Growth Centre (WBGC) launched today in PIM’s premises in collaboration with UNIDO.

 UNIDO Representative Esam ALQARARAH shared his gratitude to the PIM & Chamber of Commerce & Industry for the untiring & impressive support extended for establishing Women Business Growth Centre in Islamabad with provincial chapters in Lahore and Karachi. At this occasion, he announced the launching of WBGC’s Lahore chapter along with an Advocacy Campaign on “Women in Green Industry”. He stressed that UNIDO believes in creating enabling policy environment, coupled with deliberate action by government, the private sector, and development practitioners. Which is necessary to utilize the full potential of women’s participation in green growth.

Mr. Esam ALQARARAH added that under this mandate, UNIDO helps developing countries in securing resource-efficient, low-carbon growth. This creates new jobs while protecting the environment

The event was heavily attended by the ICCI members, GCIP partners, government officials, private sector representatives, academia, media, women entrepreneurs, students and members of Women Business Growth Centre, Colleagues from ILO, UN women and other stakeholders.