Kigali – More than 6 500 advocates, activists, and leaders from gender equality organisations and the public and private sector recently gathered at Women Deliver 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda.
The aim of the gathering that took place from Monday, (17 July 2023), to Thursday, (20 July 2023), was to drive meaningful action to advance equality for girls and women around the world.
Together with its partners, Women Deliver brought together the new generation of Women Leaders to advance gender equality across sustainable development goals.
Sharing this commitment to support partners in the spirit of action and solutions, Procter & Gamble [P&G] joined Women Deliver 2023 to create space for, and give a platform to, todays generation of leaders creating impact in their communities.
P&G hosted a session entitled, “Together We All Lead: A Generation of Action & Impact” to showcase the power of collaboration and partnership, and spotlight the work done by long-standing partners, including Girl Up, Save the Children, UN Women, and Vital Voices.
The weeks activities showcased collaboration and advocacy through high-profile panel discussions, plenary sessions, and film festival screenings.
South Africa’s participation was led by the former executive director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka).
Other SA delegates included female changemakers from P&G and female ambassador and choreographer Bontle Modiselle.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame also attended and addressed the gathering.
Cassie Jaganyi, Communications Leader for P&G Sub-Sahara Africa, host of the session, said: “At P&G, we firmly believe that progress is best achieved through strong partnerships and collective effort.
“The Women Deliver Conference has been an incredible opportunity for us to come together with many of our partners, working together to create a world where we all see equal.
“Together, we can make more progress to enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”
South African Always Keeping Girls in School program ambassador Modiselle was one of the speakers on the panel.
She delivered an inspirational message on the power of solidarity in sparking change in the menstrual hygiene space.
Also participating was Zuriel Oduwole, education advocate, filmmaker, and founder of Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up who has inspired more than 50 000 young girls across 21 countries to believe in the power of their dreams.
Presented under the theme “Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions“, Women Deliver Conference was co-created by grassroots advocates, youth, civil society, governments, multilateral organisations, and the private sector.
Representations of communities facing systemic discrimination around the world were also been included.
With sexual and reproductive health and rights at its core, this year’s Women Deliver Conference centred on intersectional feminist principles to address compounding issues impacting girls and women.
The issues range from climate change to gender-based violence, to unpaid care work.
The idea is to collectively identify and action evidence-based solutions.
P&Gs efforts to create opportunities and spaces for young leaders and under-represented voices to collaborate for change extend beyond Women Deliver 2023.
With many of its brands, P&G is continuing to support youth leadership programs, capacity building for women-owned and led businesses, equal access to education, and more equality in our homes & workplaces.
Some of these efforts include:
- Getting more girls into STEM by working with Girl Up, Inspiring Girls, and more, to provide STEM resources, leadership programs, hands-on learning, and scholarships.
- Tackling stigma and providing period education and access through programs and partners including Always Keeping Girls in School, and the Global Menstrual Equity Accelerator.
- Expanding Womens Economic Empowerment by investing directly with women-owned businesses and building their capacity through partners like WEConnect International to ensure more women entrepreneurs experience training, mentorship, and funding opportunities.
- Uplifting young leaders voices through the Vital Voices Voces Que Inspiran program, to support Latin American women have inclusive mentoring and leadership training.
This generation of leaders are already transforming their local communities, Jaganyi said.
Were giving a platform to these leaders at global moments like Women Deliver and supporting their continued growth through youth leadership programs to multiply the creativity, innovation, and impact of this generation of change-makers.
Learn more about some of the changemakers who joined P&G at the Women Deliver Conference 2023: [https://us.pg.com/blogs/women-deliver-conference-2023/].].
