The Reykjavík Manual Women leaders offer practical solutions for a better future Designed for all leaders
The world’s most pressing problems are too great to confront alone. At the 2020 Reykjavík Global Forum, more than 900 women met to ask: How do we build forward as a global society? And how can we approach ambitious goals with practical, achievable steps?
The Reykjavík Manual presents those answers with a set of concrete actions you can use as leaders to build a more equitable society, using the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. There is no greater force for change,
You have the influence—and importantly, the power—to make positive change. for peace, for justice and democracy, for inclusive economic growth than a world of empowered women. - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women
Why Reykjavík?
Thanks to a strong women’s movement and social infrastructures including universal, affordable childcare and well-funded parental leave, Iceland has topped the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for 11 years running. That’s why it’s an excellent location for the annual Global Forum, and the title inspiration This is our invitation to build forward. for Reykjavík Manual.
2 3 What’s inside
Gather your tools
• Essential components 06 • Steps for best use 07
Patrons • Our Co-Chairs 08
Take action • Healthy lives for all 10 • Inclusive, equitable, quality education 16 • Equality between women and men 22 • Decent work and economic growth 28 • Industry, innovation and infrastructure 34 • Reduced inequalities 40 • Climate action 46
• Peace, justice and strong institutions 52
• Partnerships for the goals 58 • The Reykjavík Pledge 64
Keep learning
• Standout leadership 66 • The Reykjavík Index 68 • Take notes 70 The Reykjavík Manual is a living document, continually updated with new content and perspectives from women leaders worldwide. • Supporters & Contributors 72
This version was released on June 21 on the occasion of the Women Political Leaders Summit. Visit the Reykjavík Global Forum online for the latest edition.
4 5 Some Steps for best use Set aside time GATHER TOOLS Take a deep breath to clear your mind and refresh your thinking.
1 Global problems can seem out of our control—especially during a assembly pandemic.
Read through the actions required Highlight a few that strike a chord with you. Decide how you will 2 approach each one. Schedule and plan next steps.
Essential components: Start with one Choose something you can try inside your organisation or • A courageous leader (that’s you!) 3 community. Approach it like an experiment—don’t judge results too • A supportive team at work, at home, and in the community harshly. If it doesn’t work, adjust and try again. • Global perspective • Curiosity and a growth mindset Revisit often • Optimism for the future Pick it up whenever you need inspiration. Coming back to the 4 manual will help you be intentional about your values and • Belief in your power to make change contributions to a better world.
Share openly Post topics and learnings on social media. Bring the manual with 5 you to a (virtual) conference, team meeting, community talk or coffee. Select a topic for discussion and dive in.
6 7 Patrons PATRONS PATRONS
Many thanks to everyone who made the Reykjavík Kristalina Georgieva Manual possible Chair & Managing Director, Executive Board International Monetary Fund, Chief Executive of the World Bank Group (2017-2019), Vice-President of the European Commission (2014-2016) Mari Kiviniemi Our Co-Chairs Prime Minister, Finland (2010-2011), Deputy Secretary-General, the Organisation The Reykjavik Manual is supported by the Co-Chairs of Reykjavík Global Forum - for Economic Co-operation and Development Women Leaders. They act as the Patrons of this hugely important initiative. Michelle Nunn President and CEO CARE Amy Weaver Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili President and Chief Legal Officer, Salesforce Senior Economic Adviser, AEDPI; World Bank Vice-President, Africa Region (2007- Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen 2012) Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria, Member, WPL Board Chief Executive Officer Plan International Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Prof. Dr. Atsushi Sunami Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation Rebeca Grynspan Christy Tanner Secretary-General, Ibero-American General Secretariat, Under-Secretary General, Executive Vice-President, General Manager, CBS News Digital, CBS Corporation United Nations (2010-2014), Vice-President of Costa Rica (1994-1998) Secretaria Diane Wang General Iberoamericana Founder & Chairperson, DHgate.com Saadia Zahidi Gita Gopinath Managing Director, World Economic Forum Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus José Manuel Barroso Director-General World Health Organization Chairman, Goldman Sachs International; Chairman, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; President of the European Commission (2004-2014); Prime Minister of Portugal (2002- 2004), Member WPL Global Advisory Board Katrín Jakobsdóttir Prime Minister, Government of Iceland, Chair, Council of Women World Leaders Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović President of Croatia (2015-2020), WPL Ambassador for Immunization, Chair Emirata of the Council of Women World Leaders (2019-2020)
8 9 Healthy lives Take care of yourself first. Women often have so many roles in life – caregiver, parent, provider, housekeeper, partner – they forget (or fail) to take care of themselves. To help break this cycle, invite trusted peers to join TAKE ACTION TAKE for all you in a discussion (for example, “Treat mental health with the same importance as physical health and commit to routines that will strengthen both”). How can women provide better models of self-care? What might encourage greater self-care over self- sacrifice among women in our community? Which organisations Well-being at all ages might we partner with to make that happen?
Stand by health workers. Women make up 70% of health and social workers around the world. Get educated about community health workers who provide a critical link to essential health services. Initiate and champion programs and policies to support community health programs using WHO guidelines. Follow ‘#healthworkers’ to stay informed on current issues. Guarantee safe and decent working conditions for women essential workers, including access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and protection from sexual harassment.
Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. Boost nutrition. This proves that it is possible to win the Almost half of deaths of young children are due to undernutrition, fight against almost every disease. Still, yet less than 1% of international development funding addresses we are spending an astonishing amount this directly. Follow the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition to learn how you can help improve access to safe, nutritious food of money and resources on treating illnesses that are for all. Propose funding to educate parents about nutrition and surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide gender-specific health issues (e.g., sons and daughters need equal Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive portions of meat). Set aside budget to provide essential meals in schools. Pass legislation such as India’s Right to Education Act, which entitles all children to measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone. a midday meal.
Co-chair of the chapter: Centene and MSD
10 11 Invest in technology to reach more people. Around the world, COVID has caused severe disruptions to health services. We see this all around the world— Embrace cutting-edge solutions to expand access to health services. Support telemedicine and video or phone options for people who may be reluctant when women are at the helm of to visit clinics, especially during a pandemic. Learn from organisations like Last Mile Health, using mobile technology to equip community and frontline leadership, we can create solutions. workers in remote areas.
TAKE ACTION TAKE - Michelle Nunn, President and CEO CARE
Spread Honour care Seek local advice. awareness. Stay work as Local solutions are critical across all areas of global health, and informed. health work. COVID-19 further highlights this truth. For example, see how Care work is Indigenous Peoples in Latin America came up with preventative Participate in World measures against COVID-19 transmission. To harness creativity Health Day on April often unpaid and underappreciated, and knowledge from your own community, try posting a simple 7: launch a challenge question to your network to generate ideas. Model cooperation, honest with your family or coworkers to yet it impacts the well-being of entire communities. Help dialogue, data sharing and open learning at work among teams and local eat well and stay active. Share an organisations. article, write a post, or send a note bring unpaid work into the of thanks to health workers in your formal health labour market. Standardise fair terms and life. Follow key global health players Fight for mothers. on Twitter including: World Health conditions for care workers, Organization, Partners in Health, including equal pay for equal Every day, more The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, work. Enact laws to protect Goalkeepers report: than 800 women die Tuberculosis and Malaria, Gavi, the migrant care workers whose “Steer more money needlessly from causes well-being extends beyond related to pregnancy Vaccine Alliance, Malaria No More, towards primary RED, and Every Mother Counts. borders. and childbirth – about health care” one woman every two minutes. Make a commitment to measure Primary health care is the the content and quality of maternal “backbone of a comprehensive care in your country. Sponsor health system” – when and develop a national plan for accessible and affordable, it improving maternal and newborn can address 80% of a person’s survival rates using the WHO health needs over the course of maternal and newborn health a lifetime. This results in better Address gender-data barriers. guidelines. Propose and implement overall health and addresses standards for maternal and newborn Countries need health data broken down by gender in order to the goal of universal coverage. care (e.g., every newborn coverage understand inequalities and to distribute resources where they are Healthy people are key to targets). Partner with Every Mother needed. Learn more about the importance of gender-disaggregated healthy economies, creating Counts to raise awareness and data and how to improve data collection through programs like resilient households that don’t funding around the world. Develop the UN’s Women Count. Educate other decision-makers. Set up a just hover around the poverty outreach for vulnerable populations, coalition or parliamentary task force to establish ongoing dialogue line. especially migrant and refugee about women’s health related to SDGs. Invite partners from all mothers, with health care projects arenas: government, corporate boards, civil society and faith/culture like Oramma. organisations.
12 13 Get inspired
Join the movement to ensure that health is a human right for all. Use free resources from organisations like Partners in Health to advocate, TAKE ACTION TAKE organise and educate about universal health.
Radical collaboration Participate in World AIDS day on December 1. Share these UNAIDS for global Talk openly about digital materials and videos on social media to show your solidarity and encourage others to help address them. immunisation mental health. Stigma and shame can Listen to real stories from 14 countries breaking taboos around women’s Success stories like Gavi, be debilitating, and health and women’s bodies in the audiobook ‘What We’re Told Not to the Vaccine Alliance have even life-threatening, Talk About (but We’re Going to Anyway) – Women’s Voices from East proven the value of bold when it comes to mental London to Ethiopia’ by Nimko Ali experiments in global illness. Help break the silence by cooperation. Similarly, the Share these international resources and helplines for mental health talking openly about the issue. Show Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) support from United for Global Mental Health. compassion by using respectful, Accelerator is a partnership people-first language at work and Follow the efforts of organisations like Every Mother Counts, whose of international health home (e.g., a person is not “mentally mission is to help make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every organisations, governments, ill” but rather “living with a mental mother, everywhere. civil society, scientists and health condition”). Follow the Go philanthropists whose goal is Research Harvard’s Maternal Health Task Force to learn about the many Speak Your Mind campaign. Join to rapidly develop the tests, ways to support maternal health worldwide. online conversations on World treatments and vaccines Mental Health Day on October 10. Watch a TED talk by Zubaida Bai on low-cost, lifesaving birth kits for desperately needed around Explore mental health outreach mothers. the world. Such extraordinary organisations such as Nigeria’s She collaboration reminds us that Read ‘Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Writes Woman, offering remote we are in this together – and Man Who Would Cure the World’ by Tracy Kidder. assistance through hotlines and free that no one will be safe until teletherapy. everyone is safe.
Demand #vaccinesforall. Vaccine nationalism and hoarding are threatening lives and exacerbating inequities. Avoid bilateral vaccine contracts that spur competition and raise prices. Instead, establish partnerships between manufacturers, civil society and governments. Pool funds through public-private partnerships like the COVAX to ensure equitable access to COVID vaccines alliance. Share a personal vaccine update or photo using ‘#vaccinesforall’ to promote vaccine equity.
14 15 Get girls back to school. Girls living in poverty are at high risk of not returning after COVID-19, as Inclusive, occurred in many countries following the Ebola crisis. Use gender disaggregated data to track attendance, then work with women- led organizations to design back-to school-campaigns. Partner with civil and religious leaders on outreach programs that address both girls’ and families’ needs. Modernize course content with holistic lessons covering nutrition TAKE ACTION TAKE equitable, and fitness, body image and self esteem, personal care and hygiene, and reproductive health.
Slash the digital gap. quality Technology must be put into the hands of underrepresented kids, both inside and outside of school. Provide ample budgets for internet-enabled computers and broadband where available. For remote learning, offer diverse and multi-language education via radio and TV to deliver education education programs to students without internet access. See examples and online learning resources from Malaysia, Mexico, and many more.
Promoting learning Keep classrooms stigma-free. Menstrual hygiene education reduces social stigma and demystifies periods for boys and girls. Most critically, it can opportunities for all prevent girls from dropping out or missing out simply because of their period. Secure more funding for menstrual hygiene education and product distribution. Visit Period for resources on education and systemic change by way of policy and legislation. This is an issue that affects wealthy and low-income countries alike.
Education liberates the intellect, unlocks the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. It is the key to prosperity and opens a world of opportunities, making Prioritize the most marginalized. Too many girls are forced to leave school due to early marriage and it possible for each of us to contribute unintended pregnancies. to a progressive, healthy society. Learning benefits every Provide flexible learning programs for pregnant girls and young mothers human being and should be available to all. to continue their learning, and to reduce the risk of social isolation. Raise the legal age of marriage and pass laws that protect girls from harmful physical, sexual, and psychological violence. Sponsor legislation that waives institutional fees and provides scholarships to those at risk of dropping out. Co-chair of the chapter: Salesforce
16 17 Educate a woman, you educate a nation. Design a more - Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women inclusive curriculum. Work with your Ministry of Education to Strengthen resilience
TAKE ACTION TAKE eliminate gender bias and life skills. A vital lift for girls and racial stereotypes from schools.
Fund social and emotional and women Craft a curriculum that promotes equality, includes a mix of cultural learning to help young Education is critical for people recover from trauma backgrounds and perspectives, and both boys and girls. represents people with disabilities. or tragedy, especially However, given the current following COVID-19. Consider Be sure to design for a wide inequalities, the focus here is variety of learning styles. Include the International Rescue on girls. Ample research has Committee’s Healing 21st-century skills like media shown a clear connection and information literacy, critical Classrooms Toolkit. Maintain between girls’ education budget and secure positions thinking, teamwork, and diversity and social and economic appreciation. for professional counselors in development, from poverty schools. reduction to reduced child mortality. As Melinda Gates writes in her book The Moment of Lift: “When you send a girl to school, the good deed never dies. It Real education: Learning from Sierra Leone goes on for generations, advancing every public good, Sierra Leone responded quickly to COVID-19 by applying strategies from from health to economic the Ebola crisis. Within one week of school closures, teachers were on the gain to gender equity and radio with a nationwide education program, afterwards expanding to both national prosperity.” radio and TV broadcasts and adding digital materials along with technical training for teachers. In March of 2020, Sierra Leone reversed a ban on pregnant schoolgirls, dropping the discriminatory policy in favor of radical inclusion. Their story is an excellent model for how to sustain quality teaching and reach vulnerable children during times of great crisis.
“Radical Inclusion means we must do everything as leaders to remove barriers and build a foundation for growth so that everyone —no matter who, or where they live, and in particular girls and people living with Teach global citizenship and human rights. disabilities— can actively participate fully in society. This COVID-19 Volunteer to speak about civic life in your community or pandemic has shown us that we must design and solve problems with local schools. Encourage teachers to discuss the Sustainable a lens for inclusion, because everyone is affected when emergencies Development Goals with students using The World’s Largest happen. A system that aims to work well for all, works for all.” Lesson toolkit. Incorporate global stories into classrooms and curricula, from early childhood through primary and — David Moinina Sengeh secondary schooling. Urge citizens of all ages to actively participate in Sierra Leone Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Chief Innovation social, cultural, and community life. Take inspiration from FOKAL in Haiti, Officer for the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation whose programs target children and women.
18 19 Get inspired Champion career-based learning and school-to- work programs. Nurture young peoples’ potential early on through mentorships and employable skills training. Narrow the digital skills divide Initiatives, data and research On education through ICT curricula and exposure to technology-linked careers. Participate in International Education Day. I Am Malala: How One Girl
TAKE ACTION TAKE Introduce girls to career fields through organizations likeTry Join UNESCO’s campaign to make sure Stood Up for Education Engineering. Expand school-to-work programs like Camfed, an Africa-based learning never stops. and Changed the World education initiative that follows girls throughout their careers. (by Malala Yousafzai and Read the World Bank report on ending Patricia McCormick) learning poverty plus how to help increase literacy. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Visit the OECD’s Program for International Kids from around the Student Assessment (PISA) for improving World (by Matt Lamothe) education systems around the world, and for building fairer and more inclusive schools. Make higher Explore The World’s Largest Lesson for education more free lesson plans and instructor guides for teaching the Sustainable Development Goals. equitable. View these TED Talks on the importance of Sponsor scholarships educating girls. for higher education, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds; one exemplary program is the Ford Foundation’s International Inspire girls to Fellowships Program. Expand digital pursue STEM degree programs to spark enrollment, reduce costs, and increase student careers. equity. Build remote-learning alliances Women —especially between universities and countries women of color— around the world, like the World Bank make up a small share of scientists Scholarship program. Collaborate and engineers today. with technical institutions to ensure Start a mentor program to match that degrees and certifications match ICT professionals with young current labour markets; to get started, women. Attend a (virtual or live) explore some guidance from the STEM event for girls. Sponsor International Labour Office. outreach programs like Nerd Girls or DigiGirlz events held in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), the African Development Bank, and Code.org. Develop a STEM education target with your Ministry of Education (for inspiration, see Ireland’s ambitious STEM policy).
20 21 Take an honest look at how you Equality react to women leaders. How do you perceive women in power? Do you tend to trust or criticize? Do you rush to judgment or stereotypes? Challenge your habitual responses. See if you can be more TAKE ACTION TAKE between open minded.
women and Be a role model for girls. Reflect on your most influential role models: Were they famous, powerful, or globally recognised? Chances are your strongest role models were people from your everyday men life. How might you be a role model to the children in your life and community? Consider volunteering for an organisation like Inspiring Girls International. Progress towards equal Share a story of personal leadership. power and equal rights Highlight the importance of equality by sharing a story about something or someone that taught you about equality. Talk openly and honestly. Tip: You don’t need a big stage. Consider an upcoming one- on-one, staff meeting or team lunch.
Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous Teach your children about waste of the world’s human potential. equality. As a parent or sibling, friend or teacher, try By denying women equal rights, we to address gender bias in early childhood. deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Consult resources like this toolkit for early Political, economic and social equality for women will childhood classrooms endorsed by UNESCO- IICBA and the African Union. As children grow older, benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate talk openly about prejudices faced by girls and women. prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all. Challenge them to be ambassadors of change for their generation. As gender concepts form between age 3 – 7, we can start kids on the right path.
22 23 Fill the talent pipeline with more women. COVID-19 has disrupted women in the workforce, contributing even more to the broken rung in the senior management pipeline. Encourage more women to apply for leadership positions in your organisation. Use your Adopt a healthier view of LinkedIn network to actively recruit female candidates. Make job postings masculinity. more inclusive by removing gender-biased language. Support organisations that engage men and boys to challenge harmful gender norms. Research Companies with more female leaders outperform their peers. and replicate programmes on fatherhood and caregiving, youth and equality, and violence TAKE ACTION TAKE prevention such as PROMUNDO. Rethink your Move from mentor to sponsor. own concepts of masculinity and leadership. The burden of inequality should not rest on women According to research, a culture of sponsorship alone. can help retain talented women, building stronger stepping stones towards equality. Invite your organisation to start a formal sponsorship program. Get commitment across leadership, as well as talent Get intentional about your newsfeed. and diversity teams. Scrutinise your media intake. Who do you follow on social channels? How might this sway your outlook? Follow people who champion equality Start a women’s group for positive recognition. such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. When Research has shown that women are less likely to self- posting or resharing, choose diverse photos promote than men. Launch a group whose sole purpose is and multiple perspectives. After reading media to celebrate and encourage women at work. Kick off with a articles, reflect on the people interviewed or simple appreciation campaign; use existing channels on social quoted. Was there equal representation of men media, or send postcards. And because happy workers are more and women? Post about your observations. productive, everyone wins.
We must walk the talk when it comes to gender equality. - Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organization Establish family Set your own policies for all quotas. parents. Only participate Among OECD countries, in events that Be more open about what you pay. paid leave for fathers have equal (or a certain minimum) Research shows that wage transparency can tends to be far shorter than for representation of women and reduce pay gaps. Encourage your organisation mothers. This gap, along with cultural men. If you’re invited to speak to voluntarily report on gender pay. Read these stigma, makes men reluctant to take on a panel, ask for information UK guidelines for an example. Show your leave from work. Endorse fair parental on the makeup of the group. commitment with fair pay certification such leave policies while also reducing When joining a board, call as Universal Fair Paycheck or The Fair Pay stigmas for men. Foster a workplace for equal representation and Workplace. culture that appreciates Dads, and openly applaud those who choose time develop a plan for getting there away. Encourage all working parents by a specific deadline. to share family stories and bring their whole selves to work.
24 25 Stand against sexual Call for quality child care. Fund more and domestic violence. Without child care, many women cannot work. Some suggest women’s Fewer than 40% of female the COVID-19 crisis could set women back a generation. Call on rights victims of violence seek help. government leaders to ratify international labour standards on organisations. It is time to break the silence parental protections and child care. Push for government spending and end the taboo. In Malawi, women started In 2016, only 1% on quality care with appropriate skills training. For more ideas, check a bold public movement against sexual of gender equality aid went to out these WIEGO materials available in multiple languages. violence. Join a local or online movement to women’s organisations. Invest eliminate all forms of violence against women in local institutions that may and girls. Visit the Spotlight Initiative for appear too small or “risky” for TAKE ACTION TAKE Value all occupations ways you can help. Look for toolkits like this mainstream funders. Pressure collection of best practices from metoo.org (not just male-dominated ones). the international community on confronting sexual assault as a bystander, to connect aid with women-led Petition for increased public funding and programs to support how to support a victim of sexual assault. nurses, teachers, childcare and personal care workers, and other efforts. Donate to groups like underpaid female-dominated fields. It’s not enough to simply Womankind Worldwide or Global funnel more women into STEM and other fields; one U.S. study Fund for Women. showed that pay goes down for women once the field is no longer majority male. Champion equal representation in government. Eighty countries have quotas or reserved seats for women in their nation’s Fund an incubator for women entrepreneurs. legislature, according to the Gender Quotas Database project. But quotas Offer funds or training to women-owned online businesses, won’t work alone. Endorse women running for office: Donate your time, which have great potential to empower women around the voice, influence or money to increase women’s representation. If you are a world—especially mothers and caregivers who cannot leave woman, consider running for an open seat. You might create a ripple effect; in one U.S. the house. Expand programs and learn from examples like study, female candidates motivated other women to enter politics themselves. International Trade Centre’s SheTrades. Transform Get inspired Press for equal the access to land rights. employee Land rights are key to experience. economic security and On equality Data and research empowerment. Yet 40% Map your of economies still limit organisation’s We Should All Be Feminists Equal Measures 2030 Annual women’s property rights. employee journey from start by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie report tied to the SDGs to finish: recruitment, hire, Legal recognition is an Invisible Women: Data Bias in a onboarding and training, Mapping Gender Data Gaps: important first step—for World Designed for Men career management to An SDG Era Update example, in 2003 Rwanda by Caroline Criado Pérez retirement. Where are women amended its constitution to McKinsey’s report on Women in supported? Where has It’s Not About the Burqa give every person a right to the Workplace 2020 private property. Show your equality been lacking? What by Mariam Khan support by signing petitions processes might be biased, Arizona State University’s Global Feminisms: A Global History with organisations like Land such as promotion or assigning SDG 5 Notification Tool by Lucy Delap Rights Now. so-called ‘stretch’ roles? Brainstorm areas where you The Bluest Eye can improve. by Toni Morrison
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli
26 27 Decent work Start workplace equality at home. COVID exposed the unequal distribution of household labour, reminding us of a basic step towards workplace equity: When a man takes on a fairer share of domestic work, a woman can TAKE ACTION TAKE and economic invest time in her job and career. In your own home are both partners doing a fair share of chores and
childcare? Does this include the cognitive labour or ‘mental load’ (e.g., tracking appointments, school requirements, planning meals, birthdays, etc.)? Try to set up a transparent, growth more balanced system. Explore resources from work-family justice programs like Better Life Lab.
Full and productive employment for all
Help migrant workers. In an economic downturn, immigrants and their families can experience multiple setbacks: job loss, discrimination, health risks and loss of education. Sponsor a review of your company or country’s migrant worker and immigration policies. Consult with Economic growth should be a positive organisations that support migrant workers to better understand their needs. Create expedited paths to force for the whole planet.This is why we (temporary or permanent) legal status for immigrant must make sure that financial progress workers, as well as healthcare and worker safety creates decent and fulfilling jobs while protections. not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop Launch a learning group. Many women struggle to voice their needs at work due to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote job to myriad social and cultural factors—including negative creation with expanded access to banking and financial perceptions of assertive women. Help boost confidence and services, we can make sure that everybody gets the career skills by launching a peer learning group. Identify changemakers in your organisation who are eager to mentor benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation. and empower women. Choose from a mix of levels, areas and backgrounds. Suggest topics like negotiation and setting career goals to help women move into higher levels.
28 29 Empower rural entrepreneurs. Rural women make up a quarter of the world’s population, earning wages as entrepreneurs and farmers. Donate to organisations like READ Global that offer income-generating skills, literacy, savings cooperatives, The potential of digital and community organising. Raise awareness of rural women and their At more than 15% of global GDP, contributions on the International Day of Rural Women. Endorse municipal Seize the business training models and funding for microfinance credit programs like digital technology brings cutting- the World Bank’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Project (WEDP). edge opportunities to more people moment Change legislation that negatively impacts women’s economic inclusion; every day, creating new jobs and on social explore data by country and read the latest reports from the World Bank’s expanding access to services. Mobile TAKE ACTION TAKE Women, Business and the Law. technology in particular has spurred media.
greater economic participation from Use your formerly marginalised populations. company platform to show Yet with 4 billion people still without a commitment to fair and Internet, we must keep bridging the inclusive economies and labour Gender empowerment is critical digital divide, prioritising education policies. Post photos of team and building digital skills, especially members from all backgrounds, for the economic wellbeing of both for women. For inspiration, look races and abilities, especially into remote incubation models for women leaders. Join the men and women, and for societies entrepreneurs like Bridge for Billions. UN’s movement for women’s Read the IFC’s ‘Digital2Equal’ case economic empowerment. as a whole. studies of programmes, trainings and Become a member of the UN - Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund studies targeted towards women. Global Compact and track your company’s progress on the Ten Principles.
Prioritise women for recovery. The world is facing the greatest economic recession since Beyond GDP: Well-being counts the great depression, and GDP measures goods and services but fails women are shouldering the to measure quality of life. That’s why many burden—from losing income and benefits countries are now looking at social indicators to taking on (even more) unpaid care and to get a more holistic picture of citizens’ well- domestic work. Apply a strong gender being. Iceland, New Zealand and Scotland use lens to economic recovery planning. Use measures like environmental sustainability, disaggregated data at the national and longevity, family-friendly policies and mental local levels to understand the impacts of health. Using indicators from UN data, Social the pandemic. Engage with civil society Progress Imperative’s Social Progress Index organizations to learn where interventions measures how countries are meeting their will be most effective, and how best to reach citizens’ basic human needs. Their goal is to help marginalised communities. Adopt family- both governments and businesses make better friendly recovery policies; for example, choices about public policies and investments. allocating at least 1% of country GDP to . In 2021, the UN Statistical Commission agreed child care and early learning. Use Iceland’s that natural capital must be measured alongside equal parental leave policy as a model for GDP and invited countries to adopt SEEA employing more women of childbearing age. Ecosystem Accounting.
30 31 Invest in MSMEs Get inspired Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) make up nearly 90% of all businesses and over half of jobs around the world. Enact policies that encourage and sustain MSMEs. Give targeted support to business owners from underrepresented Celebrate Equal Pay Day on September groups—women, people of all racial backgrounds, persons Try these reads: 18 in solidarity with Equal Pay International with disabilities, Indigenous communities, and immigrants. Set aside budget
TAKE ACTION TAKE Coalition for emergency funding, skills training and mentorship. The Trillion Dollar Shift by
Watch a TED talk on progress we’ve made Marga Hoek on the SDGs by Michael Green, CEO of the Overwhelmed: Work, Love, Social Progress Imperative and Play When No One Has Teach young children about the the Time by Brigid Schulte importance of good, safe jobs with this 2 Stakeholder Capitalism: A minute animated video. Global Economy that Works Examine these UN resources and for Progress, People and protocols against human trafficking Planet by Klaus Schwab, including model legislation. Learn more Founder and Executive Train young people. about ILO’s effort to eradicate child labour Chairman of the World Economic Forum Youth around the world—especially young and human trafficking. Explore campaigns women—have been disproportionately to #endchildlabor; observe World Day impacted by the COVID crisis. Invest in job- Against Trafficking In Persons on July 30. creation and training programmes for the next Check out this framework for companies generation. Consider more sustainable jobs “who want to take the SDGs seriously”: in the digital and green economy. Focus on “in-demand” Business & The Sustainable Development skill clusters like business skills, specialised and general/soft Goals: A Framework for Effective skills, and disruptive technology. Corporate Involvement by Rob van Tulder, professor of International Business and Society Management at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus Create Give to University a better local orgs. workplace. Fund small, local Is your organisations organisation working to build long- fair and inclusive for all term, sustainable workers? Evaluate pay equity economic change. Local across all levels. Check fair NGOs create local jobs parental leave and sick leave and more self-sufficient policies. Offer transportation communities. Though alternatives and remote work sometimes overlooked by options. Use this diagnostic large funders, grassroots tool to learn how to make your orgs are often best business even more inclusive equipped to understand and SDG-relevant. key issues and usually have lower operating costs than bigger NGOs
32 33 Hire more women. Industry, Women hold fewer than 1/3 of all research positions around the world. To combat monoculture and foster innovation, recruit more female candidates with job fairs marketed towards women. Create a welcoming TAKE ACTION TAKE innovation environment with flexible work policies. Offer anti-bias training, and formal mentorship/allyship programs. Establish
anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies—especially in construction, manufacturing, energy, and other male- and dominated trades. infrastructure
Building sustainable, enduring Plant a green roof. Learn how to build and resilient communities a green roof or rain Open up the garden to help capture process. carbon, reduce flooding Introduce a more and filter out pollutants. inclusive infrastructure Organize a garden club development process. to install green spaces Set guidelines for in your neighbourhood. transparency in funding, selection, Ask your company to reporting and evaluation. Ensure sponsor local incentive diverse representation—including programs that promote women—throughout planning A functioning and resilient infrastructure nature-based solutions and development. Introduce over traditional grey is the foundation of every successful participatory budgeting where infrastructure. community. To meet future challenges, communities choose how to spend a portion of public funds. Visit the our industries and infrastructure must be Public Private Partnership Legal upgraded. For this, we need to promote Resource Center for more resources innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and including guides for community engagement. universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.
34 35 There have been big shifts in the Amplify internet access. labor market with greater use of Sponsor affordability programs for low- technology and automation, and income individuals to help keep devices TAKE ACTION TAKE women have borne the greater brunt online. Set national
digital strategy targets associated with those changes. towards special - Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum economic growth markets, like small and medium- enterprises owned by women. Fund libraries as a key public institution offering free internet to all populations. Design prizes Bring out the soft side. or other incentive programs to Expand access to ‘soft’ infrastructure, those essential encourage innovative access institutions that improve quality of life. Champion onsite solutions for rural areas; e.g., childcare and pop-up health clinics in the workplace. low-cost satellites or drones. Install financial services in communal facilities where people gather. For every new building or space renovation, ask: Who is using it, and what might they need? What elements of ‘soft’ infrastructure could enhance it?
AI: The fourth industrial revolution The world has seen three great technological revolutions–agricultural, industrial, and computational. We’re now entering the fourth revolution with Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has the potential to become a ‘great equalizer’ for large and small businesses and economies, overcoming infrastructure gaps to resolve some traditional development problems. But AI has shown serious racial bias in facial recognition and gender biased hiring programs—and only 26 per cent of AI professionals globally are female. It’s clear we need more women data scientists, software developers and AI specialists. To address the gap, the World Economic Forum suggests Fuel the FinTech revolution. a framework where businesses identify their top “emerging growth” roles and commit to 50-50 gender parity in hiring for those roles, across Connect more people and businesses to secure all levels, and endorse a “gender-equal reward system” to combat mobile finance services. Update government and unconscious bias. Similarly, the OECD recognizes that quotas are an mobile regulations to encourage innovation (refer effective way to ensure women are represented in politics and business. to the Bali FinTech Agenda for modern policy Women and men together must continue to push for fairness in AI and recommendations). Approve banking and ICT big data, and to understand gaps and crisis solutions using gender- guidelines that allow safe digital payments and transactions. disaggregated data. Partner with peer organisations and NGOs to explore how your business might incorporate FinTech solutions.
36 37 Get women to the table. Get inspired Women’s perspectives are key to designing inclusive, effective infrastructure. Promote more women to decision-making positions in ministries of planning and infrastructure. Interview potential infrastructure partners Read the book / Watch the movie: The Boy Who Harnessed the to learn if women are fairly represented in decision- Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
TAKE ACTION TAKE making processes. Research the composition of boards and top Watch a UNOPS video on national infrastructure planning and read management. For every infrastructure project from start to finish, sample projects to understand how infrastructure impacts the evaluate and promote the well-being of women. SDGs. Understand the infrastructure deficit and what it means for our future. Explore this IFC report on AI to learn how AI can impact emerging markets along with a section on projects addressing gender equality. Plan for Read Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization disruptions. by Vaclav Smil Build Dive into the OECD / ACET report on Quality Infrastructure in 21st resilience. Century Africa to understand the urgency of Africa’s demographic challenge along with potential for improving economic opportunities Loss of essential services cost billions per Check out this 4-minute news feature or watch the documentary year leaving many people Making a Mountain about CopenHill, a super clean waste-to-energy vulnerable. Set up a resilience plant + park + sports facility in Denmark task force with representation from many areas, including marginalized communities. Outline risk levels for critical Stop the “take, infrastructure such as power make, dispose” grids, water and sanitation systems, and transportation. cycle. Set goals for improving and Infrastructure stabilising access after a development is so catastrophic setback. resource intensive that in one year the construction sector accounted for half of the global material footprint. Reuse or retrofit existing infrastructure, embracing principles of a circular economy that’s both restorative and regenerative. Always use green tools and guidelines; e.g., Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) or the IFC’s Performance Standard 6. Strive for green building certification like DGNB in Germany or the International Green Construction Code.
38 39 Shape a more equal world.
Reduced Choose inclusive. Support companies that donate a percentage of sales, hire specifically disadvantaged or marginalised groups, or offer specialised training. Sustainability is always a plus! For example, this local coffee company hires adults with disabilities and roasts ethically traded beans. On a larger scale, TAKE ACTION TAKE inequalities legislate for inclusivity requirements as a non-negotiable element of the procurement process. Support universal inclusion Don’t overlook people with disabilities. and end discrimination Roughly 1 billion people (around 15%) live with some form of disability, leaving many facing barriers to full social and economic inclusion. Put disability inclusion on your company’s HR and cultural agenda. Join The Valuable 500 global CEO community. Use the ILO’s self- assessment tool to discover where your organisation could be more inclusive to people with disabilities.
Spin it positive. Gather a group of colleagues to revise your organisation’s non- discrimination or zero-tolerance policy. See how it compares to Too much of the world’s wealth is the World Health Organisation’s non-discrimination definition. held by a very small group of people. Then create positive, actionable statements about what you will This often leads to financial and social do for each other (rather than a list of what people must not do). For example: discrimination. In order for nations To create a fair and just workplace, we will: to flourish, equality and prosperity • Check for inclusive language in all of our job postings. must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, • Openly communicate our criteria and expectations for hiring, race, religious beliefs, or economic status. When every promotions, and rewards. individual is self-sufficient, the entire world prospers. • Share our pay equity score, or be transparent with our compensation model.
40 41 Be accountable. Raise your voice. Many countries have laws against discrimination, Tackle the root causes of inequality at work and in the but lack accountability. To ensure existing laws are community. Offer unconscious bias training to your staff at incorporated into society, start with transparency: every level, and make sure all leaders are visibly attending. Talk share information openly and often with to your friends and family about stereotypes and attitudes that constituents and colleagues. Establish a reporting perpetuate discrimination. As a leader, you’re an influencer – process for issues that arise, such as an ethics so listen and support them in their journey. Empower girls from an early age, hotline. Encourage investigation and reporting boosting their confidence through storytelling and media organisations likeGirl through journalism; cooperate with reputable news Effect.
TAKE ACTION TAKE outlets to establish truth and expose stories that
need to be told. Inequality within countries has been Understand bias in machine learning. going up…And it is bad, not only for the When it fails to take in perspectives of women people that are affected by inequality, it and people of color, artificial intelligence (AI) exacerbates existing prejudices in society, is bad for society as a whole. from hiring to healthcare and criminal justice. - Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director & Chair of the Executive Board, International Monetary Fund Read a study on the importance of diversity in data science and how companies can attract more qualified women. Learn how to mitigate discrimination and bias with AI tutorials, sample algorithms, and metrics using this open- source toolkit.
Re-examine team Reduce transaction diversity. Take a researcher’s lens fees for migrants. to various teams in your New digital technologies organisation (projects, Follow Iceland’s footsteps can help migrants get faster committees, delegations, access to necessary cash Iceland is a global leader in promoting gender equality. With boards, etc.). What is and loans. Sponsor tech- policies like shared parental leave and affordable subsidised the balance of genders, friendly laws and policies that childcare, Iceland is rebalancing the scales towards better equality backgrounds, abilities, and permit peer-to-peer financial at home and in the workplace. In 2018, Iceland became the first overall diversity? Do all teams transactions and remittances. country in the world to enforce equal pay. Although Iceland’s have inclusive practices for Pass legislation to clear the equal pay laws have been around since 1961, this new certification input and participation? Are path for financial start-ups requirement holds companies accountable and helps move the everyone’s contributions (e.g., digital banking for needle closer to truly equal pay for equal work. publicly recognised, regardless immigrants with no-fee of level or rank? Solicit ideas international transfers). from each team on where they might improve.
42 43 Get inspired Ditch laws that discriminate. Repeal and remove all discriminatory legislation. Sponsor new laws and policies to foster inclusion and diversity throughout Listen to an episode of the Harvard Try these reads: society. Use the World Bank’s report ‘Women, Business and the Business Review’s Women At Work Law’ as a starting point. Set up independent monitoring bodies TAKE ACTION TAKE podcast: try “Helping Men Help Us” (S06 Roll of Thunder, Hear My in civil society to reinforce an ongoing commitment to creating E08) or “Has Anything Changed for Black
Cry by Mildred D. Taylor an anti-discriminatory culture. See where your country stands Women at Work?” (S06 E09). on ratification of human rights treaties. Global Inequality: a New Raise awareness on June 16, the Approach for the Age of International Day of Family Remittances Globalization by economist (IDFR), by using #familyremittances and Branko Milanovic connecting to various events. Read IDFR’s list of actions and best practices from Winners Take All: the around the world. Elite Charade of Changing Reduce and redistribute unpaid labour. the World by Anand Start with understanding how unpaid labour Learn how to build a more supportive Giridharadas contributes to economic and social inequalities. Put a workplace culture with this disability price tag on unpaid labor to help visualise and quantify inclusion report from Accenture. the importance of the issue. Endorse paid parental Read the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s leave and flexible work policies, legislate for free or 2019 Goalkeepers report, Examining affordable child care, and incentivise employers to Inequality: How Geography and Gender practice equal practices with hiring, promotions, and Stack the Deck For (Or Against) You. pay. Fund upgrades to critical infrastructures that reduce women’s household labour: water, electricity, Check out the UNCDF Podcast Capital transportation, and other essential services. Musings for conversations about economic development, financial inclusion, impact investment, and the SDGs.
Make space for wider participation. When seeking community input, make sure your public meetings are inclusive. Consider hosting a women- only session to avoid being dominated by male voices. Offer a variety of meeting times (e.g., avoid meal times). Offer free childcare when possible. Choose areas or structures that are safe and welcoming to people of all abilities and genders.
44 45 Climate Rethink work travel. Reconsider your next business trip. Nowadays, nearly all conferences and meetings can be TAKE ACTION TAKE action conducted virtually. Avoid air travel by booking boats or trains. If you must fly, combine as many engagements as possible into one trip. Then offset your carbon emissions by purchasing climate Take urgent action to combat credits from programs like Climate Neutral Now. climate change and its Make every day Earth Day. No need to wait for April 22 — take action today! Follow these 10 simple and impacts personal actions for the climate from Act Now. Donate, or start a fundraising campaign for people and organisations fighting climate change on the frontlines. Share photos on social media to connect people’s hearts and minds to the climate crisis.
Change your AC habits. As global temperatures rise, so will our reliance Kick-start a Climate change is a real and undeniable on air conditioners. When it comes to greenhouse climate club. threat to our entire civilisation. Effects are gases, hydrofluorocarbons Gather people from (HFCs, the refrigerant used already visible and will be catastrophic your company, in most AC units) are worse neighbourhood, unless we act now. Through education, than carbon dioxide. And school, or book many air conditioners and innovation, and adherence to our climate club to take collective action. heaters run on electricity commitments, we can make the changes necessary to Write a purpose statement or generated by fossil fuels. At manifesto, keeping it positive protect the planet. These changes also provide huge home, get a programmable and inclusive. Set goals for thermostat and set it to opportunities to modernise our infrastructure, which will reducing your collective eco-friendly temperatures. create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across climate footprint. Encourage At the office, adjust recycling and re-use habits. the globe. temperature settings so Invite others to share ideas they’re not extreme. Explore for sustainable, eco-friendly passive heating and cooling products and solutions. techniques.
46 47 Political parties have all some Mix global and local solutions. sort of a position when it comes Set policies that strike a balance between global
TAKE ACTION TAKE and local needs, with room for public and private
to climate or gender equality, and investments. For example, to reduce global reliance on ‘dirty’ cooking, set local policy to establish that’s a good thing. But it’s also sustainable woodlots, and support research and development for clean cooking technologies. Set emission goals at the local level. very important that policies will Communities can adjust zoning to create green spaces or design not just be words on a paper but incentives for clean energy sources like solar or wind power. also will become actions. - Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister, Government of Iceland, Chair, Council of Women Jump-start carbon World Leaders removal. There is no single ‘silver- bullet’ for cleaning our atmosphere, but policymakers can fast-track the low carbon transition Yes to adaptation. No to procrastination. by combining several According to leading scientists in the Intergovernmental Panel approaches. Fund diverse on Climate Change report, the world needs to roughly halve its efforts like developing plant emissions by 2030, and to reduce them to nearly zero by 2050 breeds that store more (read the summary for policymakers here). In the meantime, carbon and direct air-capture we must urgently prepare for the impacts of a hotter planet. technologies. Give capital The growing threat of floods, droughts, and rising sea levels support in the form of grants, looms over our communities. Yet countries are falling short on or offer tax credits (e.g., to planning, financing, and development for adaptation projects. incentivise energy companies to retrofit coal-fired plants). To strengthen climate resilience, governments must commit more funding, planning, and implementation toward adaptation. We can be particularly optimistic, because many nature-based solutions already exist: Greener cities, natural protections like mangroves that protect from intense storms, Integrate local and Indigenous research. coastal forests to break high winds and protect cities, wetlands Local knowledge is critical to both our planet and our that help filter water, and many other innovative investments communal well-being. Bring Indigenous and local that communities can make. perspectives into the policymaking process. Fund Indigenous research projects like the woman-led Local Indicators of Climate Change Impacts, a project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) in traditional communities around the world. Honour and adopt best practices from local environmental projects, such as those highlighted by the Equator Prize.
48 49 Get inspired
Switch off your lights for Earth Check out these books: Work together Hour every March to help call
TAKE ACTION TAKE attention to climate change and Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. for the planet. show support for the planet. Butler Team up across Sign up for The Conversation’s How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: business, newsletter on how the world The Solutions We Have and the government, and civil society can tackle climate change with Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates to address climate change. visionary ideas from research and Support efforts like the Compensate academia. Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s B-Team, working to change for Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette corporate norms, reduce Read a summary of UNEP’s 2020 Winter environmental impacts, greenhouse Global Emissions Report and and embrace regenerative emissions. subscribe to their YouTube channel A Bigger Picture: My Fight to Bring economic models. Explore for short, informative videos. a New African Voice to the Climate Align your innovative scaling models like Crisis by Vanessa Nakate (due for organisation with the Follow the next UN COP26 Climate The Circulars Accelerator. publication 2 November 2021) Paris Agreement by going Change Conference (@COP26) in ‘carbon neutral’ and make Glasgow, UK, from 1-12 November a commitment to reduce or 2021. compensate for emissions. Track the 5 challenges of the Overcome indifference Start simple and curb Try these podcasts: Earthshot Prize to see how human through storytelling. commuting, allowing staff ingenuity might repair the planet. Big ideas into action Climate change can seem to work from home a few invisible, and scientific days each week. Go bold and How to save a planet research can be too complex to join the The Climate Pledge, motivate action. Help translate a commitment to net-zero scientific data into stories for carbon by 2040. the average citizen. When funding research, require a budget for communications. Highlight concrete impacts on communities (e.g., cleaner air for local children, as opposed to melting ice caps). Emphasise the positive benefits of climate action. Learn from organisations like Climate Central how to make stories more immediate and personal.
50 51 Challenge workplace corruption. Spearhead a company-wide anti-corruption ethics and compliance Peace, justice programme, starting with visible commitment and buy-in from senior leaders. Set specific codes of conduct that adhere to your organisation’s values. Invite a cross-organisational group to design ethics TAKE ACTION TAKE and strong programmes and communications; include measurement so you can adapt and be more effective.
End sexual violence in war. Sexual violence must be recognised and prosecuted as a weapon of institutions war. Train law enforcement and judicial actors about sexual violence through survivor-centred practices. Fund programmes to promote awareness of survivors’ rights, legal aid, and financial support. Hold perpetrators accountable. Develop programmes for survivor- centered reparations; learn more about working toward reparations Promoting peaceful, inclusive at the Global Survivors Fund.
and accountable societies Talk about violence Modernise birth against women. registration. Help dispel stereotypes and Children need a legal harmful beliefs that contribute identity to receive to violence against women by critical social services talking openly about violent like healthcare and cultural norms. Be frank about education. Yet 1 in 4 sexual assault, sexual harassment, children under the age and cyberbullying. State plain of 5 do not officially exist. truth — that men are responsible To encourage full registration of for most violence against women all children, eliminate registration and girls — and ask men and fees or offer cash grants to families boys to become critical allies. who register their children. Increase Look for resources at Promundo, the number of trained registrars MenEngage, or the global and send them to remote areas. fatherhood campaign Men Care. Introduce smartphone apps Compassion with a strong moral for birth registration to collect and upload to a secure, central compass is essential to every democratic database. society. Yet persecution, injustice, and Start with youth. abuse still run rampant and are tearing Teach children to be global citizens and future leaders. Incorporate global citizenship learning in schools with UNESCO’s teacher tools and at the very fabric of civilization. We must training for policymakers. Introduce the Sustainable Development ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards Goals to kids with free resources from the World’s Largest Lesson. of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere. Build social and emotional learning skills into primary and secondary curricula. Invite young people to observe Parliament in session and understand how legislation gets passed, and help them see themselves as future leaders.
52 53 Support local peacebuilding. Local peace processes can be powerfully healing — especially those that include women. Engage women and youth at all stages of the peace Women at the heart of peace process. Collaborate with local leaders to better understand what works (and what doesn’t). Increase funding About 2 billion people are living in countries affected by conflict. Wherever to local peacebuilding organisations; allow longer cycles (e.g., there is war and violence, women and girls carry an added burden, and five years) to allow time for measurable impact. existing inequalities become even more glaring and critical.
TAKE ACTION TAKE Women need to play a role in negotiation and the prevention of conflict.
More than half of the global population cannot be excluded from defining Aim for gender parity. problems and proposing solutions. Women are dramatically underrepresented in Resolution 1325, the UN’s landmark resolution on Women, Peace, national and international security careers. Set and Security, urges countries to adopt and implement a strategy to a goal of gender parity within a specific field, increase participation by women in all peace and security efforts. Female such as law enforcement, conflict prevention, peacekeeping troops, both military and civilian, must be included as a or counter-terrorism. Identify gaps and outline vital part of operations. Special protections against gender-based violence, a plan to address them. Use the OSCE Action Plan For The particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, are also recommended. Promotion Of Gender Equality as a starting point. So far, fewer than half of countries worldwide have created a national action plan to carry out this resolution. WPL is committed to highlighting the work of women in the peace and security space. In 2018, WPL gathered high-level female leaders at Iceland’s historic Hofdi House for a first of its kind roundtable conversation on women, peace and security. As a first step toward increasing women’s participation, participants called on global leaders to re-dedicate the commitment to women’s leadership and participation at all levels of government and civil society, declaring women’s empowerment and Parity alone does not equal influence equality as critical aspects of sustainable peace. Women’s human rights are Layered and systemic socio-cultural and non-progressive policy barriers also to be protected at all times — before, during, and after conflict — and remain in place for women seeking positions of political leadership, women need to be fully integrated into all peacemaking initiatives. perpetuating the vast underrepresentation of half of the world’s population Watch Women, Peace, Power: 20 years of UNSCR 1325 for a brief history of in political institutions. The IPU-UN Women in Politics map illustrates the how civil society organisations came together with governments and the current state of women’s underrepresentation in political leadership. At the UN to pass this resolution. Read case studies from the Council on Foreign present rate, achieving parity between women and men in these positions relations on how women’s participation contributes to reaching lasting will take an estimated 145.5 years. peace agreements. Including women leaders into political and decision-making arenas is vital to society’s advance, as well as its sustainability. The Reykjavík Index for Leadership demonstrates the lack of progress in perceptions that women are well-suited for powerful positions, while stereotypes and norms continue to centre leadership on men. The #SofaGate movement demonstrates exactly how women in leadership are perceived (and treated When we consider inclusiveness for as deserving of unequal protocols). Far too often, the influence of positions held by women is lessened, and this is casually accepted as ‘normal’; such all, two segments of the population incidents expose rooted biases to which women should not be subjected. Gender parity in leadership must coincide with an increase in the influence are key: youth and women. of women leaders, supported by strong male allies who work to challenge - Mari Kiviniemi, Managing Director, Federation of Finnish Commerce, Deputy Secretary stereotypes. Strengthening our institutions means that leadership is no General of the OECD (2014-2019), Prime Minister of Finland (2010-2011) longer a game for men only.
54 55 Stop human trafficking. Protect women Sponsor legislation to support from aggressors. Women on both sides of the those trapped in human trafficking and slavery. Review Abuse and violence media the UNODC model legislative against women has Women must be seen, heard, and provisions and guides for increased during the valued on both sides of the media: implementing UN TIP Protocol. COVID pandemic, making essential as journalists and as experts. For true Require companies to examine service centres more necessary than freedom of the press, we must protect their labour supply chains, ever. Periods of war and conflict TAKE ACTION TAKE and empower female journalists, ensure and pass laws to hold them increase domestic violence against the fair portrayal of women, and amplify accountable. Design victim-based women and girls. Replicate models women’s voices. policies focused on rehabilitation like Brazil’s domestic violence and recovery, especially for centres that pair housing with Female journalists are harassed more women and children. To make a specially trained social workers. Help than male journalists. Threats to personal commitment, explore prevent violence against women women journalists have a chilling effect, A21’s free guides to teach in your country with user-friendly silencing important female voices. The yourself and others how to resources and tools for policymakers IFJ and ILO created a list of actions to prevent human trafficking. from WHO and the UN. Champion stop violence against women journalists free press. as well as women at work. Study Be an informed UNESCO’s work on the safety of women reader and share journalists. Learn more about sexism’s good journalistic toll on journalism from Reporters reporting with without Borders. your friends and networks. To For a summary of women’s presence, support quality journalism in representation, and voice in the Get inspired your community, contribute to media, check out the Global Media your preferred local or national Monitoring Project’s annual report news organisation, a non-profit (see the preliminary 2020 GMMP newsroom, or a public radio results). See also this excellent piece Review the Global Peace Index (GPI) Try these reads: station. Understand issues from the International Women’s Media measuring peacefulness around the globe. facing journalists around the Foundation: The Missing Perspectives of Iceland has held the top position since 2008. My Story of Captivity, world. Sign up for a newsletter Women in News. Reflect Reality offers and My Fight Against the from Reporters Without Observe the International Day of Peace on resources for newsrooms, journalists, Islamic State by Nadia Borders, observe World Press September 21. and business professionals to increase Murad with Jenna Krajeski Freedom Day on May 3, and women as sources in the news media. Watch Teaching with the World Peace Game, follow #PressFreedom on social a TED talk by John Hunter where children learn Night by Elie Wiesel media. critical thinking and find out what’s right for Peace Is Every Step: The themselves. Path of Mindfulness in Observe the International Day for the Everyday Life by Thich Commit to women in peacekeeping negotiations. Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 Nhat Hanh Peace processes have a 20% to 35% greater chance of lasting November. when women participate, perhaps because women can Read through the Human Rights Watch see beyond traditional and military definitions of security to annual report. encompass human elements such as access to clean water, food, school, and safe places for their children. Women leaders must Follow news on human trafficking through continue to insist on representation and to amplify the conversation, as during ILO’s website, and learn about the ILO protocol WPL’s high-level roundtable held at the 2020 Munich Security Conference. to end forced labour.
56 57 Support for local producers around the world. Partnerships When shopping, seek out products from developing countries to help boost exports from growing economies. Look for fair trade certification labels. Search for suppliers by country or product through sites like WFTO or Good Market. Learn more about the TAKE ACTION TAKE for the goals International Fair Trade charter and supporting organisations.
Intentional Impact Investing. When you or your organisation have money to invest, put it Revitalise global partnership to work for sustainable development. Structure your portfolio around socially or environmentally responsible investments. for sustainable development To avoid greenwashing, look for clear and transparent information from a company or fund manager. Push for better market regulations and ratings (as suggested by the EU) so that investors and asset managers can make informed choices about sustainable investments.
Share your expertise. Volunteer for an organisation Be a purpose- working to achieve sustainable development goals, whether driven through tech innovations, organisation. cooperative STEM models, The SDGs and The Sustainable Development Goals or other development businesses need can only be met if we work together. programmes. Think about each other — after your superpowers as a leader: International investments and support all, businesses can’t What skills or expertise might thrive in societies is needed to ensure innovative you bring? What contacts that fail. Align your technological development, fair trade, or connections could you company’s long-term strategic offer? Help build networks and market access, especially for developing countries. plans with relevant SDGs. Try and strengthen existing these open-source tools to To build a better world, we need to be supportive, partnerships. Inspire action on boost employee engagement. empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all sustainable development goals Partner with other like-minded across all communities and organisations, or sponsor a cooperative. countries. fundraiser. Explore this extensive UN toolbox to learn how your business can address each SDG. Use this SDG Action Manager to set goals and track progress. 58 59 Embrace unique models. Harness the power of public-private investments and partnerships between countries. For example, this unique UK-Norway collaboration for climate change helps shape policies on sustainable finance to ‘accelerate the green transition.’ Examine the UN SDG Partnership Guidebook Global cooperation: More vital than ever. for building multi-stakeholder partnerships.
TAKE ACTION TAKE The global pandemic has reminded us that we are all interconnected and that global challenges have no borders.
And yet, during COVID national leaders have faced a dilemma Strengthen — should they prioritise their home country over the rest of the world? And how should we ensure vaccine equity within our evaluation communities and countries, and across the globe? systems. Strong, Champion multilateral inclusive data and reporting Investing in digital safety and security processes can help solutions. mechanisms. governments understand As a convener of leaders and a what solutions work, and champion of global partnerships, Online spaces need to be a priority when it comes to safety what needs to be done WPL regularly invites former Heads and security for women. The COVID-19 pandemic and to achieve the SDGs. of State and global health experts associated lockdowns have created a breeding ground Promote the importance of to explore and ensure equal paths for online abuse and continue to pose new challenges for systems for monitoring and to immunization. Experts agree that governments, employers, private companies, and broader evaluation. Embed multi- vaccines must be equally distributed, society. Governments need to implement a comprehensive stakeholder methods and both amongst and within nations; public health approach to tackling online abuse, including processes into voluntary nevertheless, in many countries by providing clear recommendations to employers on how national reviews. Follow certain populations are sometimes to keep their employees safe online, according to the Ripple the Eval4Action campaign excluded (such as rural women, Effect report by Glitch. for more ways to improve immigrants, refugees, and people in national evaluation occupied territories). WPL panelists capacities. have recommended that international organisations establish clear guidelines on who should be vaccinated and in what order. To address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, participating leaders recommend strong informational cooperation In the age of globalisation, pooled and educational campaigns rooted in science, to help people understand sovereignty means more power, that the vaccine is a common good. not less. This kind of cooperation — among leaders, nations and communities, - Jose Manuel Barroso, Chair, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Chairman, Goldman Sachs International, President, European Commission (2004-2014), Prime Minister, Portugal women and men — is the best path to (2002-2004), Member of the Global Advisory Board, WPL pandemic recovery and toward a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world.
60 61 Pursue diverse partnerships. Get inspired In order to solve the world’s greatest challenges, we need disruptive ideas from all sides — in other words, we need the transformative power of diverse Explore the Goalkeepers Accelerators program, which forges teams. At work, expand diversity and uncommon partnerships between actors from different sectors in
TAKE ACTION TAKE inclusion targets to embrace partnerships with local order to tackle the SDGs. community organisations. Sponsor women-led or BIPOC-led organisations working to build solutions Learn about the campaign to End Violence Against Women: The ripple from the ground up. effect COVID-19 and the epidemic of online abuse by Glitch. Read the WTO report Mainstreaming Trade to attain the Sustainable Development Goals with recommendations for accelerating progress. Check out Unleashing the power of business: A practical roadmap to Set up structures that enable virtual working. systematically engage business as a partner for the SDGs from The Partnering Initiative. With low costs and no travel required, virtual platforms open the doors for wider participation. Organisations that have cut spending on Join the UN Global Compact and use their toolkit to share progress as travel or the hosting of physical meetings need to invest that money part of your company’s annual or sustainability report. in ensuring support for a seamless virtual transition. Set up a virtual Learn about a public-private North-South collaboration and education partnership with a community organisation working on the SDGs. Seek project that uses design thinking to teach STEM concepts alongside opportunities to expand North-South and South-South collaboration. the 17 SDGs. Look into mentorship models like this virtual partnership accelerator that covers topics like ‘telling your story with impact’ and ‘how to gain Watch a 5-minute film created for the UN’s 75th anniversary. buy-in from stakeholders’.
Prioritise intergenerational inclusion: Sustainably building a better future can’t be achieved in a vacuum where young people are excluded. Youth must be allowed to participate, help in co-creation, and play an active part in implementation. Strong partnerships will be anchored in innovative ideas from young, supported by the expertise and influence of experts. According to the 2020 Kofi Annan Foundation report, “Young people have demonstrated how fast and effective they have been in responding to the pandemic by helping the vulnerable, spreading messages to prevent violent extremism (PVE), and filling gaps in governments’ responses. But youth continue to encounter structural barriers to their meaningful participation.”
62 63 The Reykjavík
TAKE ACTION TAKE Pledge
Take positive action. Accelerate progress. Each year at the Reykjavík Global Forum, women leaders submit personal commitments to deliver concrete and measurable actions over the next 12 Women’s strength, women’s months. The pledges align with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Forum’s goals towards women’s leadership, visibility and industry, women’s wisdom are influence. They are a call to action to build a better future and increase women’s participation in leadership. Get inspired by real commitments to activate real humankind’s greatest untapped change. resource. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, WPL Global Advisory Board Member
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64 65 Organisations and nations benefit when any leader demonstrates so-called “female” or “softer” skills. Studies associate higher performance with empathetic leadership. Google learned their best teams used a variety of ‘soft’ skills like equality, generosity, curiosity, Standout empathy and emotional intelligence. The truth is that both women and men can lead with compassion and humility. Any leader can harness the power of emotion. We can all learn from standout women leaders, and raise the standards for effective leadership. Only then will we have the caliber of leadership leaders ready to take on the next pandemic.
KEEP LEARNING Women define what it takes Do women lead with more patience, empathy, and
compassion than men ?
Hundreds of women leaders met virtually at the Reykjavik Global Forum, discussing “There is some sense that women lead differently than men,” Laura Liswood, leadership in the context of today’s world, and what characteristics are needed to lead Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders told a reporter at an in a crisis and to lead with courage. event for International Women’s Day, “but it’s hard to parse out if it’s because of gender differences or because women have historically been in the non- dominant group and men have been in the dominant group.”
Leading through the pandemic Are countries led by women in better shape More reading than those led by men? One study of 194 countries shows that COVID-19 outcomes Women leaders are better at Straight talk: Confronting imposter syndrome (cases and deaths) were systematically better fighting the pandemic in countries led by women. While researchers A 2020 U.S. report revealed many women leaders experience feelings of inadequacy recognize the issue’s complexity, they hope to Do women lead differently and self-doubt at certain points in their careers—and say they believe it is commonly shed more light on discussions about national during a crisis? experienced. leadership.
Other scholars have highlighted the potential influence of leadership styles. “What we learned with COVID is that, actually, a different kind of leader can be very beneficial. How to help Perhaps people will learn to recognise and value risk-averse, caring and thoughtful Be a supportive boss Reject bias in the workplace leaders.” - Alice Evans, sociologist at King’s College London, who studies how women Supportive leadership is the #1 factor Learn 50 ways to challenge bias gain power in public life. in reducing imposter syndrome. against women in leadership roles.
Talk openly about feelings of doubt Support leadership development programs for women Learning from women who lead effectively Offer understanding, encouragement, Consider organizations like Vital Realistically, we can’t expect women to climb through the ranks, break the glass ceiling, and empathy. Voices, offering skills training, grab a seat at the table and solve the world’s problems. Instead, we need a system that capacity development, mentoring encourages all people—regardless of gender—to be standout leaders. Collaborate and cooperate and networking across 182 Teamwork helps combat cultures of countries and territories. perfectionism and anxiety.
66 67 Womens (in)visibility in the media What is perpetuating the gap in perceptions of leadership? Reykjavík Women and girls are largely underrepresented across society—in politics, news, entertainment and in the workplace. Yet a recent cross-national More reading study shows that female politicians are still covered less by the media—even compared to The Missing Perspectives Index for their actual numbers in legislatures. How can we of Women in News increase women’s visibility in the media? KEEP LEARNING
Leadership
Measuring perceptions of equality for women and men in leadership It is our goal to reach Index scores of 100 – an The Reykjavík Index for Leadership measures how people feel about women and indication that there is complete agreement that men in leadership, and the perceived legitimacy of female vs. male leadership across politics and professions. The Index also measures whether women and men and women are equally suited to leadership men are viewed as equally suitable for positions of power. Countries measured across the economy, and a tangible sign of progress include the G7 nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the USA, along with Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Russia. towards equality at work, at home and in society. The Reykjavik Index for Leadership will support the Findings from 2020-2021 indicate that prejudices persist against women in lead- ership positions. In fact, younger age groups held less progressive views com- endeavours to get there. pared to other groups. These findings provide a clear target: We must help all generations to understand the importance and value of women’s participation, Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President & Founder, Women Political Leaders and that everyone benefits from wider and more varied representation in leader- ship.
2030 Download the Reykjavik is the UN’s target date for reaching the SDGs. Generation Equality Forum (GEF) 2021 will Index for Leadership be a key milestone along the next decade. Now is the moment for the wider community of leaders to mobilise, raise our voices, and instigate meaningful change in our governments, newsrooms, boardrooms, and communities.
68 69 Take note: What actions will you take to build forward?
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70 71 Iceland in Helsinki Government Ekta Kumar Gunnarsson Journalist, Columnist Ambassador, Embassy of Baillie Aaron Christine Hennion Iceland in Beijing Founder and Chief Member of the National Elena K. Sokova Supporters & Contributors Executive Officer, Spark Assembly of France Executive Director, Habiba Osman Inside Vienna Center for Executive Secretary, Christine Nakamura We wish to thank the amazing women leaders from Disarmament and Non- Malawi Human Rights Bani Dugal Asia Pacific Foundation around the globe whose ideas and inspirations brought Principal Representative of Canada, Vice-President Proliferation (VCDNP) Commission to the United Nations, this manual to life. Christy Tanner Élise Pokossy Doumbe Hafida Benchehida Baha’i International Executive Vice President Member of the National Member of Council of the Community Assembly, Cameroon Nation of Algeria FLOR and General Manager, Our key partner Co-Authors Beatriz Paredes CBS News Digital Elissavet Vozemberg- Hajah Zuraida Binti Anino Emuwa Women Political Leaders (WPL) is glad to Afke Schaart Senator, Senate of Vrionidi Kamaruddin Founder/Managing Clarice Modeste- partner with The Rockefeller Foundation to SVP Global Governments Mexico Member of the European Member of Parliament Director, Avandis Curwem respond to the COVID-19 crisis and shine a Affairs, Huawei Parliament and Minister of Housing Consulting Beatriz Silvia Robles Member of Parliament spotlight on women’s leadership. and Local Government Agnes Ameede Gutiérrez and Minister of Health Elke Heitmüller Ann Florini Member of the Member of Chamber of and the Environment Head of Volkswagen of Malaysia (2018-2020, The partnership with The Rockefeller Clinical Professor at the Parliament, Uganda Deputies of Mexico (1998) , Grenada Group Diversity and 2020-) Foundation will help ensure that the role of Thunderbird School of Women´s promotion, Hanne Dalmut women is at the centre of the discussions Alenka Suhadolnik Global Management at Bergdís Ellertsdóttir Claudia Vazquez Volkswagen AG Sr Director, Partnerships, on how the world can ‘build forward’ post Ambassador, Embassy of Arizona State University Ambassador, Embassy Founder, Elevink Concordia the Republic of Slovenia of Iceland in Washington Esther Amina Sagawa COVID. Anne McIntosh of Corinna E. Lathan in Beijing D.C. Lilongwe City Council Hannele Pokka Pickering Chair of the Board and Professor of Practice at As part of this partnership, WPL provides Alex Munive Member of House of Betsee Parker Chief Executive Officer, Esther De Brio Gonzalez University of Helsinki and women leaders with a place to convene Gender Equality Policy Lords Episcopalian Minister AnthroTronix Inc. Senator, Senate of Spain through the Reykjavík Global Forum. and Program Lead Minister of Justice (1991- Anne-Birgitte Beverly Essue Dalal Jasim Abdulla Al- Eva Lindh Discussions at the Forum have shaped the Consultant, Stanford 1994) Albrectsen Associate Professor, Zayed Member of Parliament, Reykjavík Manual, consolidating the many University Hauwa Ojeifo CEO, Plan International University of Toronto Majlis Al-Shura (Shura Sweden recommendations of women leaders into Alix Ford Council) of the Kingdom Executive Director, She one living document. The Manual serves as Annita Demetriou Brynhildur Heiðar- og Eva Uusi Biaudet COO, Proteus Ocean of Bahrain Writes Woman a foundation for future conversations and Member of the House Ómarsdóttir Member of Parliament, Group Helena Sangeland activities to advance women’s equality and of Representatives Secretary General, Delia Matilde Ferreira Finland Allish Campbell Icelandic Womens Rights Ambassador, Swedish leadership. and WPL Ambassador, Rubio Flavia Bustero Ambassador Designate Embassy in Beijing Cyprus Association Chair of the international Board Member, of Canada to the Board of Directors, Helga Hauksdóttir WPL is honoured to have been granted the Anuradha Gupta Carla Aerts Foundation Botnar European Union possibility to support the mission of The Independent Consultant, Transparency Ambassador, Embassy of DCEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Francesca Flati Rockefeller Foundation. Allison Nolan International Iceland in Copenhagen Alliance Founder, Refracted! Member of the Chamber Founder, Athena Devanand Ramiah Henrike Brandstötter Asa Lindestam Carolin Frankom of Deputies, Italy International Deputy Resident Member of the National First Deputy Speaker, Global CEO Profiles Management Representative, United Frances Fitzgerald Council, Austria Swedish Parliament, Division, Kantar Member of the European Amelia Lopez Huix Nations Development WPL Country Caroline Rusten Parliament and WPL Henrike von Platen General Partner, MOH Programme (UNDP) Ambassador Director Nordic Office, Ambassador Ceo and Founder, FPI International UN Women Diana Marrero Fair Pay Innovation Lab Aslaug Sem-Jacobsen Gabriele Eder Amy Lenander SVP, Foreign Policy Member of the Charlotte Kirby Brand Ambassador, GE Hilary Pickles Grant EVP, Head of Internation- Magazine Stortinget, and WPL VP Global Strategic Communications Grant Maker and al and Walmart Partner- Ambassador of Norway Relations, Salesforce Donna Leinwand Leger Charitable Giving ship, Capital One President, DC Media Galina Karelova Ambassador, Lush Astrid Rössler Christie Morreale Deputy Speaker of the Ana Amelia Lemos Strategies Cosmetics National Council of Minister of Employment, Federation Council Senator, Senate of Brazil Austria Social Action, Health and Eeva Kalli and WPL Country Hoda Al-Helaissi Member of Parliament, Member of Majlis Ash- Andrea Grobocopatel Auðunn Atlason Equal Opportunities, Vice Ambassador, Russia Finland Shura (The Shura Council President, Fundacion Ambassador, Embassy of President of the Walloon Gunnar Snorri of the Kingdom of Saudi
72 73 Arabia) Founder of The DO Isnart Deutsche Welle, Editor- Odhiambo Member of Hellenic Founder, HeHop Help for Head of Government School Member of the National in-Chief Member of National Parliament, Greece Hope Affairs for Mexico, Inaya Ezzeddine Assembly, France Assembly of Kenya Columbia, and Central Member of the National Kathleen Grieve Margarida Marques Patricia Pelton Sania Nishtar America, Salesforce Assembly and WPL Policy and Access Lead, Lesia Vasylenko Member of the European Nadia Acevedo President of World YMCA Minister for Poverty Ambassador, Lebanon MSD Member of Parliament, Parliament Senator, Senate of Alleviation and Social Peggy Maguire Theresa Rose Sebastian Ukraine Mexico Protection, Government Youth Climate Activist Ing Peggy Mischke Kathy Ring Maria Erla Marelsdóttir Director General, of Pakistan Founder and Managin CEO, Starcom USA Leticia Lima Ambassador, Embassy of Nadia Arop Dudi European Institute of Zayithwa Fabiano Director, EconergyPM - Associate Professor, Iceland in Berlin Minister of Culture, Women´s Health Study Coordinator, Katinka Brose Sara Pantuliano Clean Energy Expertise UFMG - Federal Museums, and National Chief Executive, ODI Johns Hopkins Research Senior Strategy Agent, María Fernanda Peggy Mischke University of Minas Gerais Heritage and Member of Project Inga Sæland FPI Fair Pay Innovation Espinosa Founder and Managing Sara Heikkinen the National Legislative Member of Parliament, Lab Lina Abirafeh President of the 73rd Director, EconergyPM - Breitholtz Iceland Executive Director, Arab Session the United Assembly for South- Clean Energy Expertise Member of Parliament, Katja Iversen Institute for Women Nations General Sudan Sweden Inga Dóra Pétursdóttir Executive Advisor, Philippa Whitford Assembly Advisor, Ministry of Women Political Leaders; Linabelle Ruth Villarica Nadifa Osman Member of the House Sari Rautio Member of the Federal Foreign Affairs of Iceland President/CEO, Women Mayor of the City of Maria Teresa Mejía of Commons, United Director, Ministry for Deliver (2014-2020) Meycauayan, Philippines Member of the Chamber Parliament (2012-2014), Kingdom Foreign Affairs Finland Iryna Gerashchenko of Deputies, Mexico Somalia and Minister Member of Parliament, Kerry Gibson Lina Lopes of Public Work & Rachel George Selin Sayek Böke Ukraine VP Strategic Partnerships Member of the Assembly Marjo Pekkanen Reconstruction (2014- Research Fellow, Member of Granda and Engagement, of the Republic and WPL Diplomatic Adviser to ODI’s Gender Equality National Assembly, Isabella Adinolfi 2015) Member of the European ZiphyCare Ambassador, Portugal President Halonen, and Social Inclusion Turkey Ministry for Foreign Nathalie Amoratti-Blanc programme Parliament Kevin Lu Liz Grossman Kitoyi President of the Shorena Barbakadze Partner and Chairman of Co-founder and Chief Affairs Finland Founder and General Jeanne Bourgault Comission of Women Roopa Dhatt President, Internews Asia, Partners Group Executive Officer, Masy Goulamaly and Family Rights at the Executive Director, Manager, International Baobab Consulting Member of the National Women in Global Health Language House Kim Pate National Council, Monaco Jennifer Allen Simons Assembly of Madagascar, Senator, Senate of Lork Kheng Rosa Estaras Ferragut Sigríður Dúna Founder and President, Vice President of the Nicola Reindorp The Simons Foundation Canada Member of the National CEO, Crisis Action Member of European Kristmundsdóttir Assembly of Cambodia Committee for Gender Parliament Professor, University of Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović Jörundur Valtýsson and WPL Country Equality, Women Nie Ching Teo Iceland and Iceland’s President of the Republic Rosa Sonia Mateo Ambassador, Permanent Ambassador Advancement and Youth Member of House of Ambassador to South of Croatia (2015-2020), Espinoza Mission of Iceland to the Development (GEWAYD) Representatives and Africa (2006-2008) & WPL Global Ambassador Lotta Johnsson Senator, Senate of the United Nations for the Southern Deputy Minister of Norway (2008-2011) for Vaccination Fornarve African Development Education (2018-2020), Dominican Republic Jovah Kamateeka Member and Second Community (SADC), WPL Malaysia Silvia-Monica Dinica Member of the Kristiina Helenius Roya Rahmani CEO, Nordic West USA Deputy Speaker of the Country Ambassador for Ambassador, Embassy Senator, Senate of Parliament of Uganda Parliament of Sweden Nurhayati Ali Assegaf Romania Madagascar President, Geneva of Afghanistan to the Julia Spencer Kristine Singson- Lucero Saldana Meagan Fallone council on International United States of America Soetkin Hoessen Associate Vice President, Meehan Member of the Chamber CEO, Barefoot College Affairs and Development Senator, Senate of Global Vaccines Public Member of the House Rozália Biró of Representatives, of Deputies of Mexico International (GCIAD) Member of Chamber of Belgium Policy at Merck and Board Member of Philippines Meng Liu Obuageli “Oby” Deputies, Romania Stephanie Foster Karen Melchior WPL Head, Asia Pacific, UN Ezekwesili Partner, Smash Member of the European Laura Chinchilla Sabina Wanjiru Chege Lucina Di Meco Global Compact Minister of Solid Strategies Parliament Miranda Member of National Co-Founder, Minerals (2005-2006) President of Costa Rica Micaela Navarro Assembly of Kenya Sturla Sigurjónsson Katarina Wallin Bureau (2010-2014) #ShePersisted and Education (2006- Ambassador, Embassy of Senator, Senate of Spain Sandra Pepera Managing Partner, RISE 2007) for Nigeria, World Iceland in London Laura Elsey Lydia Ogden Director, Gender, Women Founder/Principal, All Michèle Pierre-Louis Bank Vice President Kate Kroeger President, Women in and Democracy at Susan Bashan Prime Minister of Haiti for the Africa Region Executive Director, Diplomacy Access Health National Democratic Member of the House of (2008-2009) (2007-2012), WPL Board Urgent Action Funds Manuela Kasper- Institute (NDI) Lords, United Kingdom Laurence Trastour- Millie Grace Akoth Member Katherin Kirschenmann Claridge Sandy Beky Teresa Verthein Olga Kefalogianni
74 75 If anything can save the world, women can. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir the world’s first democratically elected woman President