WB and UAE GBC talk about methods to increase Women's Economic Engagement

To improve women's economic engagement in the region, the World Bank and the UAE Gender Balance Council (UAE GBC) met. The gathering was a component of the engagements and activities of the Council's participation in the World Government Summit, which was sponsored by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Gender Balance Council's president. At the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, the Summit got underway.

His Excellency Ferid Belhaj, Vice President of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa, and Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, explored new ways to improve information sharing and tighter cooperation to accomplish their shared goals during the meeting. The UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange is a regional hub for fostering the growth of gender balance expertise in the area. The two organizations have built a strong framework for cooperation as part of this endeavour.

Mona Al Marri stated that following Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's directives to launch initiatives to fulfill UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, the UAE Gender Balance Council is dedicated to establishing international partnerships to advance women's empowerment and gender balance, particularly with nations and organizations which have significant expertise in the field. The important combined activities and projects the UAE GBC and the World Bank have undertaken, according to her, are evidence of their close connections.

On the sidelines of the World Government Summit last year, the World Bank organized a session titled "Empowering Women for a Better Economy" that was centred on talking about the benefits of gender balance in the social, political, economic, and educational spheres. The World Bank also offered technical advice for a multitude of UAE Gender Balance Council projects.

Mona Al Marri and Ferid Belhaj discussed how to hold frequent workshops and programs on increasing women's economic participation and boosting the number of women in leadership positions in important sectors like energy and climate to maximize the impact of the "UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange." The Proceedings of the Parties to the United UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (COP 28) 28th session, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates, will help spread awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusiveness for fostering progress, sustainable development, and social stability.

The two sides reaffirmed their desire to intensify their cooperation in a variety of areas, including setting up forums, creating programs, and conducting research to address problems and advance best practices in the areas of female representation, energy, the environment, and capacity building. The "UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange" will serve as the venue for several high-level sessions that will be jointly organized by the two parties during COP28.

Ferid Belhaj lauded the UAE's accomplishments in promoting gender equality and assisting women's economic development. According to him, the UAE has inspired the rest of the globe by achieving gender balance in a variety of fields. Its accomplishments are supported by the top ranking it received for the Middle East and North Africa region in the World Bank's annual study on "Women, Business, and the Law" for two years running. In each of the report's five major categories—freedom of movement, workplaces, earnings, entrepreneurship, and pension—the UAE received a perfect score (100 points).

The Vice President of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa emphasized the importance of the "UAE Gender Balance Center for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange" in advancing efforts to achieve sustainable development globally. He also stated that the knowledge-sharing practices between the World Bank and the UAE will support initiatives to advance a gender-balanced culture in the region.

The UAE Gender Balance Council is eager to fortify its international alliances at the World Government Summit 2023 as part of its efforts to elevate the UAE's position as a leader in gender balance. Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the patron of the Gender Balance Forum and the Women in Government Forum, which are organized at the Summit and bring together thought leaders from the region and around the world to discuss new opportunities to advance gender parity and the participation of women in government. At these gatherings, world leaders, members of the public and commercial sectors, and experts in establishing gender policies from international organizations engage in frank conversation.

On the sidelines of the World Government Summit last year, the World Bank organized a session on "Empowering Women for a Better Economy" and provided technical guidance for a series of UAE Gender Balance Council projects.