The eighth session of the 2024 WEPs Deep-Dive Series on Private Sector Action to Advance Gender Equality in Times of Crisis opened with impactful remarks from Anna Fälth, Global Head of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Secretariat at UN Women. Anna underscored the vital role of businesses in addressing gender inequalities, particularly during crises. She emphasized that by adopting gender-responsive strategies aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), companies can strengthen both their workforce and the communities they operate in, building resilience in times of instability.
Following Anna’s welcoming remarks, Maja Lofstrom, at the WEPs Secretariat, welcomed attendees with a reminder that crises—whether economic, social, environmental, or conflict-related—intensify existing inequalities, with women and girls often bearing the brunt of these challenges. Maja highlighted that the private sector has a unique potential to make a significant impact, and the session would showcase practical examples of companies integrating the WEPs into their crisis response strategies.
Throughout the session, speakers shared a wide array of initiatives demonstrating their broader commitment to and action to advance gender equality. Begüm Mutuş, General Manager of Global Public Affairs at Yıldız Holding and Ambassador of Yıldız Holding Women's Platform, showcased the Women Stars of Agriculture Project conducted by Kerevitaş as a significant example of empowering women in agriculture. This initiative, supported by Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, offers contracted women farmers a purchase guarantee through their brand. Many of these women had been impacted by the recent earthquakes. Project bolsters economic resilience and reinforces the agricultural sector by improving women’s access to resources, credit, and decision-making opportunities.
Sung In Marshall, Senior Manager for Social & Environmental Affairs at adidas, discussed how the company is empowering women throughout its global supply chain, where women make up over 80% of the workforce. She highlighted the Women’s Leadership Programme, which has already provided thousands of women supervisors across Asia with targeted training and career advancement opportunities, resulting in over 170 women being promoted to higher roles. adidas’s Gender Strategy for Business Partners further supports suppliers in closing gender gaps and fostering gender equality, creating a foundation for resilience and inclusive growth in communities.
Anna Pienaar from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided insights into the Ao Kapijuknen (Our Home) initiative in the Marshall Islands, which demonstrates the powerful impact of supporting women-led businesses. Through this women-led tourism project, private sector partners have helped to equip women entrepreneurs with essential business development and sustainability skills. By promoting environmentally friendly practices and fostering economic independence, the initiative strengthens community resilience and supports sustainable growth in regions highly vulnerable to crises.
The session closed with valuable advice for companies aiming to support women in crisis settings:
- Prioritize gender equality as an effective crisis response.
- Invest in women’s leadership and empowerment to build resilient and inclusive communities, and to ensure that recovery efforts are sustainable and impactful.
- Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments to understand the local context and directly address the specific needs of women and girls in affected areas.
- Use the WEPs Gender Analysis Tool to identify gender gaps and improve company policies incrementally.
- Hire migrant and internally displaced women and develop proactive support programmes.