We are excited to share the highlights from the recent Gender Day event focusing on Accelerating Gender Equality in Developing Countries.

This impactful event was co-hosted in partnership with UN Women, UNFPA, and the WTO, with the participation of WHO, ITU, ITC, UNHCR and World Vision International.

We were able to discuss and showcase development solutions that work to accelerate gender namely:

- Integrated approaches to reproductive health, education, and economic empowerment to advance gender equality across the Sahel region through a joint World Bank – UNFPA initiative, the Empowering Women and Girls in Africa (SWEED);

- the impact of workplace interventions financed by IFC to address family and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea, revealing measurable benefits for employees and businesses alike;

- a regional initiative by UN Women promoting women's leadership and participation in climate change and disaster risk reduction and strengthening their resilience in several countries in rhetoric Asia and Pacific; 

- a joint UNFPA-UNICEF initiative that advanced gender equality by empowering girls, helping to reduce child marriage and promoting reproductive health and rights in Bangladesh.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners and brilliant speakers for their invaluable contributions:

HANA BRIXI, Global Director, Gender, World Bank

MARIA DIMITRIADOU, Special Representative to the UN and the WTO, World Bank

PERNILLE FENGER, Director, Representation Office in Geneva, UNFPA

SOFIA CALLTORP, Director, Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action, UN Women

MARIAROSA CUTILLO, Chief, Private Sector and Civil Society, UNFPA

DR. ILIZA AZYEI, Chief, Adolescents and Youth, UNFPA

LEA ROUANET, Senior Economist, Africa Gender Innovation Lab, World Bank

MAKERETA KONROTE, Programme Specialist, UN Women

ANNA PARINI, Programme Manager, UN Women

ANA LUIZA ALMEIDA E SILVA, Program Lead, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

It was a pleasure to host third edition of the World Bank Geneva Office Impact Series, focusing on Investing in People in Low-Income countries and highlighting IDA's contribution – which raised a record $100 billion in its 21^st replenishment held early December 2024 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Investing in people is at the heart of IDA, and we were able to showcase efforts that have increased access to education, including enrollment of girls in Malawi; created jobs for youth through dual apprenticeships in Cote d’Ivoire;  and systematic engagement of communities to boost the quality and access to health services in India.

We are grateful to our fantastic panel of speakers from partner countries:

Grace Milner, Director of Basic Education, Government of Malawi;

Dr. Herman Toualy, Coordinator, Employment Program Coordination Office, Cote d’Ivoire; and

Dr. Harsh Sharma, Project Director, Uttar Pradesh, India. 

From the World Bank:

Dirk Reinermann, Director, IDA Resource Mobilization & IBRD Corporate Finance,

Luis Benveniste, Global Director, Education;

Monique Vledder, Practice Manager, Global Health Nutrition and Population;

Amith Bathula Nagaraj, Senior Health Specialist;

Patrick Premand, Senior Economist, DIME.

A big thank you too to everyone who joined us and made it a very lively and enriching discussion. 

Featuring experts from the World Bank and LICs, this session presented results on approaches to build prosperity in LICs drawing on experience through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries. It showcased countries’ efforts to enhance their governance, institutions and economic policies that boost economic inclusion, create more and better jobs and support the most vulnerable people.

Introduction: 
MARIA DIMITRIADOU, Special Representative to the UN and the WTO, World Bank    
Keynote Speech   
DIRK REINERMANN, Director, IDA Resource Mobilization and IBRD Corporate Finance, Development Finance, World Bank    
Part 1: Impact from a series of Governance programs in Somalia and lessons learnt for IDA21      
VERENA FRITZ, Lead Governance Specialist, Somalia Troika Governance Programs, World Bank
SALEIMAN UMAR, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Somalia   
Part 2: Impact from a series of Jobs programs in Kenya and Togo      
FREDERICO GIL SANDER, Practice Manager, Global Macroeconomics and Debt, Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment, World Bank      
FEDERICA RICALDI, Senior Economist, World Bank      
AUGUSTINE MAYABI, Deputy Director, Ministry of ICT Innovation and Youth Affairs, National Project Coordinator, Kenya      
MAGUEYE DIA, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation, World Bank

This first workshop presented new results on approaches to boost poor households’ resilience in the wake of climate change.

It showcased how Adaptive Social Protection Programming in the Sahel (with IDA financing) promotes economic inclusion and livelihood diversification. It also discussed how WFP resilience programming can improve food security and agricultural livelihoods.

Following these two cases, a roundtable between government and international - representatives discuss implications for policymaking.

Opening Remarks:

JAMELE RIGOLINI, Senior Advisor, Social Protection & Jobs, World Bank

Moderator:

MARIA DIMITRIADOU, Special Representative to the UN & the WTO, World Bank

Presenters:

PATRICK PREMAND, Senior Economist, DIME, World Bank

JONAS HEIRMAN, Head of Impact Evaluation, World Food Programme

Discussants

JAPHET DOUDOU BEINDJILA, National Coordinator, Support Project for Refugees and Host Communities, Chad

CELINE PEYRON BISTA,  Social Protection and Employment Policy Specialist,  International Labour Organisation

CECILIA BENDA, Global Agronomist and Climate Change Lead, International Committee of the Red Cross,

NOUROU MACKI TALL, Senior Liaison Officer, Emergencies and Resilience, Food and Agriculture Organization.