The World Has Heard of ‘HeForShe’ But Have You Heard of ‘She Works’?
by Sangeeta Haindl
The recent impassioned speech by the actress Emma Watson on feminism and gender at the U.N. headquarters in New York to launch the “HeForShe” campaign, which aims to spur one billion men and boys as advocates for ending the inequalities that women and girls face globally, has been pretty well received. Equal opportunity is a burning issue, and one that is being tackled in corporate boardrooms. The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector, has launched a private sector partnership called She Works to improve employment opportunities for more than 300,000 women over the next two years. The IFC works with private enterprises in about 100 countries, using its capital, expertise and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. Earlier this year, it provided more than $22 billion in financing to improve lives in developing countries.
Despite evidence that women’s employment is vital to driving economic growth and development, they face persistent barriers in labour markets and are more concentrated in the informal economy rather than in salaried or wage work. The private sector, which accounts for nine out of ten jobs in developing countries, plays a critical role in creating better employment opportunities for women. She Works is part of IFC’s broader effort to help companies address gender gaps in employment and ultimately to drive gains in productivity, competitiveness, and innovation.
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Sangeeta Haindl writes on social innovation, social enterprise, and social entrepreneurs. She is the owner of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer, and Futurist. She enjoys helping others, paying it forward, and being a mum.
