Feraye Ozfescioglu

March 2021,

Dear all,

It is a great pleasure to reach out to you with another unique edition of WHFtalks. This month, so this edition is very special and dear to my heart because we celebrate International Women’s Day. We have to remember all women not only for a day or month, but I believe it is very important to pay tribute, commemorate and celebrate.

In this edition of WHFtalks, we are with you with 3 special WHFtalks.live: Fatima Gailani, Member of Afghan Peace Negotiations and WHF Advisory Board Member; Prof. Muhammad Yunus; Nobel Peace Laureate and H.E María Juliana Ruiz, First Lady of Colombia.

Articles feature "Women Building Back Better in a COVID-19 world: Why It Matters What They Do" by Catherine White; "Against the odds, rising opportunities for women in Senegal and beyond" by IFFIm and Fatimatou Zahra Diop; "Covid-19 Effects On Sustainable Developments Goals And Women Empowerment" by Caroline Muoge and Elizabeth Njoroge; "How do companies finally make gender equality part of their core business strategy rather than something separate and tangential?" by Ann Rosenberg, Karel Leeflang, and Caroline Mosimann; "How the creative industry is challenging gender inequality" by HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary General and Member of the Board of Trustees at Alwaleed Philanthropies; "What Can We Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gender Equality? "by Giulia Held; "Where Women Lead, Resilience Abounds" by Elizabeth Futrell and Jodi Diprofio, Pathfinder International.

Here also we present you the re-cap of our last WHFwebinar featuring the female members of WHF Advisory Board. We had fun and intimate conversation pressing on issues.

I would like to thank all the contributors to this special issue of WHF Talks. WHF reinforces its commitment to further and enable cross-sector dialogue as well as building back better with more inclusion.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Feraye Ozfescioglu

CEO.

WHF Talks.Live | Prof. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank

In this WHF Talks.Live, our guest Prof. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, addresses relevant current issues such as the necessity of the re-evaluation of human behaviour to slow down the effects of Climate Change, as well as the fundamental role the banks play or should play in order to reduce global inequalities, unemployment and the promotion of entrepreneurship among women and sustainable social development.

WATCH HERE

WHF Talks Live with Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval

WHF Talks.Live | H. E. Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval, First Lady of Colombia

The First Lady of Colombia, H. E. Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval, tells us about how she is involved in the progress of Colombia fighting malnutrition amongst children, especially in the early ages. She also addresses governmental initiatives on Food Security and Nutrition in partnership with public and private organisations, aiming to achieve UN SDG 17.

WATCH HERE

WHF Talks.Live | Fatima Gailani, Member of WHF Advisory Board and Member of Afghan Peace Negotiations

Fatima Gailani addresses the challenges around the impact of COVID accentuating inequalities but also the progress on education and professional opportunities for women and young girls and gender equality in Afghanistan, the Middle East and around the the globe.

WATCH HERE

WHFWebinar | Celebrating International Women's Day: Catalyzing Women and Girls

As part of the WHF Web Series, we celebrated International Women's Day with the many women who support our journey.

Featuring members of our Advisory Board, discussing gender empowerment, messages to their younger selves and how to advance gender equality in business and beyond.

WATCH HERE

WHFPodcasts

WHF Podcast Series brings a series of high-level interviews with world leaders, private sector executives and other global influencers for a one-on-one account of the issues that are transforming the international agenda and people's everyday lives.

With an eye on the themes that drive the international agenda today and tomorrow, as well as World Humanitarian Forum's and co-located portfolio upcoming events. Our aim is to be a medium where world leaders, thought influencers and global executives can connect directly with people, to deliver their message without intermediaries and enable the audience to see the world through their point of view.

LISTEN TO THE PODCASTS

Women Building Back Better in a COVID-19 world: Why It Matters What They Do

- Catherine White

Gender equality and the ongoing quest to achieve an equal future for all has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis. A powerful shock to almost all facets of how we live, coronavirus not only underscores existing inequalities across every sphere, but also looks to set gender equality back decades. Building back from the pandemic’s path of destruction is not just about rectifying existing inequalities, but about building a resilient world with women at the centre of recovery. It is time to hone in, reflect, discuss and focus on how we will achieve an equal future if fifty percent of the population are left behind. If we are truly to build back better, we must ask ourselves this question: where are the women?

Against the odds, rising opportunities for women in Senegal and beyond

- IFFIm and Fatimatou Zahra Diop

From growing up poor in Senegal, through an extraordinary career in international finance, Ms. Diop’s journey to gender equality has yielded dividends to society .

Covid-19 Effects On Sustainable Developments Goals And Women Empowerment

- Caroline Muoge and Elizabeth Njoroge

The pandemic disrupted the sources of funds for investments and for running programs that empower women. This includes donor funding or general funding from the government and other corporates that support such programs. The effect of this was both directly and indirectly.

How do companies finally make gender equality part of their core business strategy rather than something separate and tangential?

- Ann Rosenberg, Karel Leeflang, and Caroline Mosimann

History is made every day, sometimes with little steps forward and sometimes in leaps and bounds. This past year of COVID has seen countless historic events and an unprecedented rate of acceleration in innovation across sectors. This women’s history month, we reflect on what kind of impact the COVID world has had on women in the workplace, and more importantly what advances can be made for women as we rebuild for a post-pandemic world.

How the creative industry is challenging gender inequality

- HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary General and Member of the Board of Trustees at Alwaleed Philanthropies

Now more than ever, we must create a culture of inclusion that fosters diversity and empowers women. This is particularly pertinent in times of crises, with the Covid-19 pandemic having challenged the normative structures of almost every community around the world, highlighting a dire need for economic independence and welcoming new avenues in the creative economy.

What Can We Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gender Equality?

- Giulia Held

Over the last year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely transformed the lives of everyone. The pandemic has taught us the importance of values such as patience, resilience and cooperation. Moreover, it has shone a light on the long road ahead of us in terms of gender equality. On the one hand, it has highlighted the many gendered challenges that women are currently facing, which are rooted in deeper and long-standing gendered issues. The issues that this article will focus on are women’s increased vulnerability, violence against women and the care economy. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has also emphasised the significance of women in leadership positions.

Where Women Lead, Resilience Abounds

- Elizabeth Futrell and Jodi Diprofio, Pathfinder International

How Women-Led Pandemic Response, Climate Resilience, and Health-Service Delivery are Uplifting Communities and Changing the World.

WHFTalks Issue 13

WELCOME TO WHF TALKS 13!

WHF Talks.Live | Prof. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank

WHF Talks.Live | H. E. Maria Juliana Ruiz Sandoval, First Lady of Colombia

WHF Talks.Live | Fatima Gailani, Member of WHF Advisory Board and Member of Afghan Peace Negotiations

WHF DIGITAL SERIES

WHFWebinar | Celebrating International Women's Day: Catalyzing Women and Girls

WHFPodcasts

Women Building Back Better in a COVID-19 world: Why It Matters What They Do

Against the odds, rising opportunities for women in Senegal and beyond

Covid-19 Effects On Sustainable Developments Goals And Women Empowerment

How do companies finally make gender equality part of their core business strategy rather than something separate and tangential?

How the creative industry is challenging gender inequality

What Can We Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gender Equality?

Where Women Lead, Resilience Abounds