Gender equality is integral to poverty reduction and development. “Investing in gender equality for a more resilient and dynamic Asia and the Pacific” will focus on the contributions of gender equality to addressing major challenges in the region, such as climate change, inadequate care infrastructure and labor market issues to address sluggish growth and contribute to poverty reduction.

The event revealed opportunities for impact at scale, including through strengthened partnerships between multilateral development banks (MDBs) and national governments, highlighting the increased ambition of the World Bank Group’s Gender Strategy 2024-2030: Accelerate Gender Equality to End Poverty on a Livable Planet and the Asian Development Bank’s Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 2: Accelerating Progress in Gender Equality. It further explored how the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank and JICA are investing in scalable and evidence-based programs that support women's leadership and empowerment in the region – and how these investments are central to addressing climate change, inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

By fostering dialogue among key stakeholders, it aims to drive innovative solutions and promote strategies that address both global and regional development priorities.

Objectives of this Forum will be:

• Open dialogue on the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and development partners in investing in gender equality-focused solutions to emerging challenges in Asia and the Pacific, including addressing climate change, and fostering inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
• Advance partnerships across the region by exploring how the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank and JICA are investing in scalable and evidence-based programs that support women's leadership and empowerment.
• Raise awareness of the World Bank Group Gender Strategy 2024-2030 and of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Operational Plan on Accelerating Progress in Gender Equality. Facilitate knowledge exchange on what works to accelerate gender equality and how greater gender equality contributes to development goals.

Speakers: 

N Maliki
Deputy Minister for Population and Manpower, Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), Indonesia   *online

Rachel Anne S. Herrera
Commissioner, Philippine Climate Change Commission

Elizabeth Cowan
DFAT innovations  *online

Shivani Bhasin Sachdeva
Founder and CEO, India Alternatives  *online

Mika Nabeshima
Executive Officer, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tokio Marine Holdings

Bruno Carrasco
Director General, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank  *recorded remarks

Samantha Hung
Director, Gender Equality Division, Asian Development Bank

Keiko Nowacka
Principal Gender Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank

Chieko Yokota
Gender Specialist, Asian Development Bank

Elisabeth Huybens
Director, Strategy and Operations, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank *online

Hana Brixi
Global Director, Gender, World Bank

Hillary Johnson
EAP Gender Innovation Lab, World Bank   *online

Tadashi Yokoyama
Director, IFC Tokyo Office

Sarah Twigg
Gender and Economic Inclusion Lead, East Asia & Pacific, IFC

Takahiro Tsuda
Director, Multilateral Development Banks Division, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Japan

Sachiko Imoto
Senior Vice President, JICA

Mari Usami
Senior Advisor, Gender and Development, JICA

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