On August 6, 2020, Concordia held W-GDP 2X Americas: Investing in the Future of Women, an exclusive half-day digital event in partnership with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative. With a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean, the event highlighted women’s economic empowerment as an economic and national security priority, and featured various sessions exploring the role of women’s economic empowerment in driving equitable growth and sustainable development.
As highlighted by DFC Managing Director Charity Wallace, “If women participated more equally in the economy, global GDP could increase by 26%, or $12 trillion. In Latin America alone, women could add an estimated $2.6 trillion by 2025 if the gender gap is bridged.” Bringing together over 400 individuals and over 15 experts, the event covered a wide range of topics, including barriers and solutions to women’s economic opportunity, increasing access to credit for women borrowers, innovative micro-financing programs for women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women as drivers of the post-COVID recovery, and leveraging the private sector in closing the gender gap. Conversations highlighted the progress that has been made in creating tailored, innovative solutions that have a tangible impact on the lives of underprivileged women across Latin America and the Caribbean, while also uncovering areas in which public-private sector partnerships could improve their strategies to economically empower women.
This report contains summaries of each session, including quotes and actionable next steps. Along with its partners, Concordia is committed to amplifying calls to action around women’s economic empowerment.
