UNIDO ITPO Tokyo will organize the online seminar “Learning from Entrepreneurs in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Gender Inclusive Business Development” on 26 July 2022. ITPO Tokyo started organizing a gender-themed event series in 2021 in order to promote gender equality in developing countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 5 “Gender Equality” and Goal 9 ”Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”. This is the third event following the two gender-themed events held last year.
Background
As part of UNIDO’s mission to address gender imbalances in industry and empower women to become leaders and economic agents of change, thereby transforming economies and thriving inclusive growth, this webinar will invite entrepreneurs running their businesses in Africa and making women’s empowerment and gender equality central in their venture practices. Trade, investment, and innovation are key drivers of women’s economic empowerment in today’s globalized economy, expanding opportunities for growth and prosperity in developing countries where women represent much of the labor force. Including a gender perspective in the business sector is a powerful tool that can be used to strengthen inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Women and men engage differently in economic activities and face different barriers and needs. Understanding these obstacles and needs is crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth.
Through this event, we seek to enhance our stakeholders’ and counterparts’ knowledge and experiences in integrating a gender equality perspective into their projects and ensuring that women and men have equal access to and benefit from productive resources. This approach implies that no one is left behind and all parts of society gain from industrial progress, as emphasized in UNIDO’s Gender Policy of 2019 and its implementation strategy for 2020-2023 (for further information, please refer to the following link: https://bit.ly/3zHVRJK). Drawing on the experiences and lessons from our speakers’ entrepreneurship activities, we will explore ways to address the challenges and needs for a more gender-responsive and conducive business environment.
Outline
Date/time: 17:00 – 18:30 (JST) on 26 July 2022
Language: English/Japanese (Simultaneous interpretation)
Format: Online
Programme (JST)
17:00 Opening & Introduction
Ms. Asmao Diallo, MC, and Intern UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
(Ph.D. Candidate, Doshisha University, Graduate School of Global Studies)
17:05 – 17:35 Presentations from Entrepreneurs in Africa
Ms. Chizu Nakamoto, CEO, Ricci Everyday, Co., Ltd. (Uganda)
Ms. Regina Honu, CEO, Soronko Academy (Ghana)
Mr. Koichi Sato, CEO, SUCRECUBE JAPON INC. (Senegal)
17:35 – 18:25 Panel discussion and Q&A
Moderator:
Mr. Ferda GELEGEN, Deputy Head, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
Panelists:
Ms. Chizu Nakamoto
Ms. Regina Honu
Mr. Koichi Sato
18:25 Closing
Ms. Asmao Diallo
Contact for inquiries
Mr. Nishiyama, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
Email: itpo.tokyo@unido.org