4, march 2011 • Usa today AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt FROM MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy no.2/March 2011 inVEstinG in WoMEn & GirLs spECiaL EDition STEPS/TIPS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 10 STEPS CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD Find out how partnerships between NGOs like Vital Voices and corporations like ExxonMobil are helping women like Jacqueline Dongmo Nguedia become successful business leaders Photo: Micky WisWedel Micky Photo: banking on Creating the ripple women opportunities effect economic to fulfi ll the power of empowerment potential girls’ education 4, march 2011 • Usa today 4, march 2011 • Usa today 2 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy STEP CHaLLEnGEs 1 TAKE ACTION NOW WE RECOMMEND Power player A woman’s role in economic growth. pAGe 16 “More than ever, the world now realizes that when women are denied the chance to contribute to economic, political and social life, the entire society pays a price.” The importance of cross- sector partnerships p. 4 Key global partners join forces to achieve greater change for women and girls PHOTO: JOSH ESTEY / CARE / ESTEY JOSH PHOTO: Maternal health p. 10 Addressing the gap in access to reproductive health care Every day, women around the world show us Child marriage p. 14 the severe consequences are harmful to not only girls, but to their families, with their ingenuity and persistence communities and economies Women helping women p. 15 the push to train female health workers that they know how to make change happen. who can provide basic services and information Ending the cycle p. 22 the fi ght to prevent domestic violence standing on the INVESTING IN WOMEN 2ND EDITION, MARCH 2011 Managing Director: Jon Silverman [email protected] Editorial Manager: Jackie Mcdermott [email protected] Responsible for this issue: shoulders of giants Publisher: Janel Gallucci [email protected] sing their wits, into political power. Involvement in the village sav- Business Developer: Mandy Wilczynski [email protected] they seize seem- Thanks to village savings and ings and loan process has opened Designer: Mariel Fitzgerald ingly small oppor- loan groups, many of these women a world of opportunities for men mariel.fi [email protected] Contributors: Gina beebe, Catherine tunities that, over are making decisions for them- and women to communicate and bertini, Christy turlington burns, Kristen time, yield big selves and for their families for the share in family decisions. Those Castillo, Sarah Coleman, david duffy, Sue else, Shannon Galpin, Gillian Gaynair, results. At CARE fi rst time in their lives. discussions are just the beginning. Melinda French Gates, Helene d. Gayle, our experience When women contribute to their Joe Keefe, Jessica K. Laufer, Anju Malhotra, A world of opportunity Suzanne McCarron, Mary beth powers, Uhas shown us that empowered families, they gain a new sense of Mary Robinson, Zainab Salbi, Meena girls and women will move moun- Can you imagine reaching middle confi dence that extends to other Shivdas, Jill Smits, Caleb tiller tains in the fi ght against poverty. age without ever having made a areas of their lives—and to the lives Distributed within: Last fall, I traveled to Niger and single fi nancial decision? Before of those around them. USA tOdAy, March 2011 this section was created by Mediaplanet spent time with an extraordinary joining CARE’s village savings and did not involve USA tOdAy or its group of women who, with CARE’s and loan program, several of the Dr. Helene D. Gayle Becoming even stronger editorial departments. help, began creating a network of women were not even allowed to president and CeO, CARe The position of girls and women Mediaplanet’s business is to create new village savings and loan groups socialize with other women. Tra- in any society is part of a complex customers for our advertisers by providing 20 years ago. These women build dition in much of Niger dictated “in the coming social fabric, woven over many readers with high-quality editorial content that motivates them to act. savings accounts and loan money that wives didn’t leave the house years, as we years. Reweaving that social fabric to each other to start small busi- except to help their husbands. witness entire in a way that makes it even stronger nesses. This successful program Now, after seeing how women’s is what CARE is doing together with DID YOU KNOW? has become a national movement fi nancial empowerment benefi ts families and communities all over the world. whose leaders have taken on pow- entire households and communi- communities Sir Isaac Newton famously shared erful roles in Nigerien government ties, men are encouraging their pulling themselves credit for his scientifi c achieve- and civil society. wives and daughters to join vil- ments by referring to the work Women When I met these amazing lage savings and loan groups. Men out of poverty, of the many scientists who came women, they were gathered to plan have even helped elect some of they’ll be standing before him. “If I have seen a little make up an how to expand the role of women the women group leaders to local on the shoulders further,” he wrote, “it is by standing estimated in Niger’s government. It was a political o ces. At the meeting I of these incredible on the shoulders of giants.” In the serious meeting, but also a joyful attended last fall, politicians from coming years, as we witness entire 70% of celebration fi lled with music, danc- across Niger’s political spectrum women.” families and communities pulling ing and infectious optimism— literally stood in line to court the themselves out of poverty, they’ll be people living optimism born of their long track political support of these women. standing on the shoulders of these record of success turning pennies It was an incredible sight. incredible women. in extreme poverty an army of women worldwide. Secretary of State Hillary the girls tra cked across borders the injustice done to women across Rodham Clinton wrote the for prostitution, or the unplanned the globe. book and thus coined the babies born to both. Action is the key. As women, phrase, “It Takes a Village.” No more can we dismiss geni- we must act. As mothers, sisters, tal mutilation, ironing breasts, daughters, we must act. In our case, I’d argue it takes an or other torturous concepts that We must build schools, train, army. put the blame of rape and child- employ, and support women, pro- Not a military one. An army of hood pregnancy on the women, vide education and health care to women. A battalion of passionate instead of punishing the men that women, and advocate against vio- mothers, daughters, and sisters, perpetrate the crimes. Mutilating lence and mutilation practices. that are willing to sacrifi ce time, women to stem sexual assault just Action is a forward momentum, money, and energy to be crusad- adds insult to injury. an e ort to make a change. Little ers of gender equality and human It is not acceptable that as steps by the masses create large rights. women living in the West, enjoy- ripples that change lives. The time of turning a blind eye, of ing the freedoms women before Robert Kennedy stated, “One ignoring the headlines, or saying, us fought for, that we do not rally, person can make a di erence and “but what can I do about it?” has advocate, and work to ensure that EVERYONE must try.” One woman passed. The time for change is now. Shannon Galpin women EVERYWHERE have these on her own can change several lives No longer can we ignore the Founder and president, freedoms. if she commits. An army of commit- Mountain2Mountain CREDIT: WWW.ONE.ORG women raped around the world, It is not enough to shout against ted women can change the world. 4, march 2011 • Usa today 4, march 2011 • Usa today AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy 3 THE FACES OF CHANGE “one woman on her own can change several lives. an army of committed women can change the world.” YOUNG GIRLS in Bardiya, Nepal. Photo: MARthA AdAMs, 10X10Act.oRG 4, march 2011 • Usa today 4 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO USA tOdAy partnErsHips STEP SPECIAL THANKS 2 International FORM Center for Research STRATEGIC on Women (ICRW) PARTNERSHIPS The International Center for Re- search on Women (ICRW) focuses on improving the lives of women and girls worldwide. We know that when women are healthy, economically secure and able to make the best choices for their lives and families, entire commu- nities bene t. ICRW was founded in 1976 in response to concerns that international development programs were bene ting men and women unequally—to the detriment of entire societies. For 35 years, ICRW has highlighted the integral roles that women play in social and economic de- velopment. Our research identi- es the underlying causes for complex—often intractable and interlinked—issues, such as pov- erty, hunger, violence against women, and HIV/AIDS. More organizations now realize A BRIGHTER FUTURE the importance of addressing School kids outside gender issues in global develop- Kathmandu, Nepal. ment, but few know how. This is Photo: MARthA AdAMs, 10X10Act.oRG where ICRW’s unique expertise comes in. As a leading advisor of best practices, ICRW draws from Investing in the education and empowerment decades of experience in gender and development to bridge the gap between intention and ac- of girls and women has a ripple e ect of positive tion.