.
When the world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, among the eight core goals were women’s empowerment and gender equality. By 2015—the target date for achieving the Goals—it was clear that progress had been slow. Did the pre-existing baseline inequalities or declarative statements, rather than action-oriented work, prevent progress? From a gender perspective, it was both. However, baseline inequalities were often overcome by determined actions of motivated individuals. These individuals live among us, and are today’s leaders who are driving the work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Transforming our world by 2030 and achieving seventeen Sustainable Development Goals will involve more than simple advancement on 169 targets of the new universal Agenda. It will require every individual to act and contribute their skills to promoting the Goals. Selima Ahmad, a successful business woman, 2014 Oslo Business for Peace Awardee, and Founder of Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) is one of such leaders. Her individual actions are furthering the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through tackling gender inequality.
As a business owner, Selima recognizes the importance of creating a business that is a responsible world citizen, and produces a positive social impact for the benefit of all members of society. Since founding BWCCI in 2001, she has empowered more than 9,000 women into business. Going beyond the basics of offering technical training, she has provided financial backing to women. This, in turn, has afforded income-generating activities, and today these women entrepreneurs are creating employment opportunities for others.
Additionally, Selima has stood up for her fellow women entrepreneurs by facilitating the establishment of the first public rent-free venues. Today, these public venues offer women micro-entrepreneurs the possibility to display and sell their products across Bangladesh. Furthermore, she established a hotline offering legal consultations, which provides continuous support to women who are treated unfairly by the government and private institutions simply because of their gender. Additionally, Selima built a strong coalition of business organizations, which successfully lobbied for a separate allocation of funds within the national budget to support the development of women-owned businesses. As a result, the government of Bangladesh has created a special fund, which today is collateral-free and with low-interest rates.
Stella Famumbod is also one of the many leaders around the world who are changing the plight of women and girls in their countries. She Heads the InterFaith Vision Foundation Cameroon (IVFCam) and has been vital in the passage of gender equality laws. A widower herself, she ensured that the Metta Charter on Widowhood established equitable inheritance and custody rights for widows upon their husband's death. This meant that widowers in Cameroon would be able to remain in their family homes after their husband’s death, rather than be thrown into the street with their children.
Today, Stella is leading the work to build a National Women's Caucus. It aims to coalesce 106 female Cameroonian leaders serving in office, including Senators, Deputies, Mayors, Ministers, and women’s non-profit organizations. Its goal is to create a common platform across the entire country that engages women in decision-making at all levels of governance. Stella believes that through coordinated action, an effective women’s caucus will be able to further the respect for human rights and gender equality, thus strengthening democracy in Cameroon.
Realizing that democracy is impossible without equal opportunities for women and men in political decision-making, two Ukrainian women launched Gender Monitoring of Ukraine Parliamentary Elections in 2012 and 2014. Maria Alekseyenko, Chair of the Board of the Women’s Consortium of Ukraine and Larysa Magdyuk, Independent Gender Expert, wanted to draw public’s attention to the lack of women in politics. In addition to providing an overview of political party electoral agendas and candidates’ lists, they also analyzed the media coverage of candidates from a gender perspective. Moreover, they offered recommendations for enhancing women's role and participation in the political life of Ukraine. Ultimately, through Gender Monitoring of Elections, they aimed to raise the overall public awareness of equal opportunities for both genders -- in elections and beyond.
Evidence shows that gender equality is not only a moral imperative, it makes economic and political sense. Women and men bring different experiences to constructing a prosperous and inclusive society. Understanding that leadership is the ability to inspire others, these and many other women leaders are motivating us to act. Action is what will bring the biggest breakthroughs during today’s period of uncertainty and global challenges. The fact that G7 members are focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals during their 43rd meeting in Italy this May, elevates the importance of individual action and its ability to transform the world into environmentally conscious, economically sound, and gender inclusive place to live.
About the author: Erika Veberyte has twenty years of experience in international relations and global development. She has served as national security adviser to the Speaker of Parliament and President of Lithuania during Lithuania's accession to the EU and NATO; as a senior Lithuanian diplomat in Washington, DC; most recently led the Women's Democracy Network.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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The Value of Individual Leadership to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals
March 31, 2017
When the world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, among the eight core goals were women’s empowerment and gender equality. By 2015—the target date for achieving the Goals—it was clear that progress had been slow. Did the pre-existing baseline inequalities or declarative statements, rather than action-oriented work, prevent progress? From a gender perspective, it was both. However, baseline inequalities were often overcome by determined actions of motivated individuals. These individuals live among us, and are today’s leaders who are driving the work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Transforming our world by 2030 and achieving seventeen Sustainable Development Goals will involve more than simple advancement on 169 targets of the new universal Agenda. It will require every individual to act and contribute their skills to promoting the Goals. Selima Ahmad, a successful business woman, 2014 Oslo Business for Peace Awardee, and Founder of Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) is one of such leaders. Her individual actions are furthering the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through tackling gender inequality.
As a business owner, Selima recognizes the importance of creating a business that is a responsible world citizen, and produces a positive social impact for the benefit of all members of society. Since founding BWCCI in 2001, she has empowered more than 9,000 women into business. Going beyond the basics of offering technical training, she has provided financial backing to women. This, in turn, has afforded income-generating activities, and today these women entrepreneurs are creating employment opportunities for others.
Additionally, Selima has stood up for her fellow women entrepreneurs by facilitating the establishment of the first public rent-free venues. Today, these public venues offer women micro-entrepreneurs the possibility to display and sell their products across Bangladesh. Furthermore, she established a hotline offering legal consultations, which provides continuous support to women who are treated unfairly by the government and private institutions simply because of their gender. Additionally, Selima built a strong coalition of business organizations, which successfully lobbied for a separate allocation of funds within the national budget to support the development of women-owned businesses. As a result, the government of Bangladesh has created a special fund, which today is collateral-free and with low-interest rates.
Stella Famumbod is also one of the many leaders around the world who are changing the plight of women and girls in their countries. She Heads the InterFaith Vision Foundation Cameroon (IVFCam) and has been vital in the passage of gender equality laws. A widower herself, she ensured that the Metta Charter on Widowhood established equitable inheritance and custody rights for widows upon their husband's death. This meant that widowers in Cameroon would be able to remain in their family homes after their husband’s death, rather than be thrown into the street with their children.
Today, Stella is leading the work to build a National Women's Caucus. It aims to coalesce 106 female Cameroonian leaders serving in office, including Senators, Deputies, Mayors, Ministers, and women’s non-profit organizations. Its goal is to create a common platform across the entire country that engages women in decision-making at all levels of governance. Stella believes that through coordinated action, an effective women’s caucus will be able to further the respect for human rights and gender equality, thus strengthening democracy in Cameroon.
Realizing that democracy is impossible without equal opportunities for women and men in political decision-making, two Ukrainian women launched Gender Monitoring of Ukraine Parliamentary Elections in 2012 and 2014. Maria Alekseyenko, Chair of the Board of the Women’s Consortium of Ukraine and Larysa Magdyuk, Independent Gender Expert, wanted to draw public’s attention to the lack of women in politics. In addition to providing an overview of political party electoral agendas and candidates’ lists, they also analyzed the media coverage of candidates from a gender perspective. Moreover, they offered recommendations for enhancing women's role and participation in the political life of Ukraine. Ultimately, through Gender Monitoring of Elections, they aimed to raise the overall public awareness of equal opportunities for both genders -- in elections and beyond.
Evidence shows that gender equality is not only a moral imperative, it makes economic and political sense. Women and men bring different experiences to constructing a prosperous and inclusive society. Understanding that leadership is the ability to inspire others, these and many other women leaders are motivating us to act. Action is what will bring the biggest breakthroughs during today’s period of uncertainty and global challenges. The fact that G7 members are focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals during their 43rd meeting in Italy this May, elevates the importance of individual action and its ability to transform the world into environmentally conscious, economically sound, and gender inclusive place to live.
About the author: Erika Veberyte has twenty years of experience in international relations and global development. She has served as national security adviser to the Speaker of Parliament and President of Lithuania during Lithuania's accession to the EU and NATO; as a senior Lithuanian diplomat in Washington, DC; most recently led the Women's Democracy Network.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
