Global gender summit to convene in Kigali this month

The summit is held every two years and brings together participants from all corners of the world to discuss how to promote gender equality in different fields including access to finance and how to fill the already existing gaps.

By

Jean d'Amour Mbonyinshuti & Marie-Grace Munezero 

Vanessa Moungar, the Director of gender, women and civil society department at African Development Group during the interview last week. / Sam Ngendahimana

The 14th Global Gender Summit will convene in Kigali from March 19-20 to discuss how to promote gender equality in different fields including easing access to finance and how to fill the already
existing gaps that block women from prosperity.
Organised by the African Development Bank Group, it is the first time the summit will be held in Africa.
The summit is held every two years and brings together participants from all corners of the world to discuss how to promote gender equality in different fields including access to finance and how to fill the already existing gaps.
According to the Director of Gender, Women and Civil Society Department at African Development Group; Vanessa Moungar, despite the role they play in continental development, African women continue to lag behind in doing business due to limited access to finance leaving them more vulnerable due to the huge finance gap between genders.
“The finance gap between men and women on the continent is estimated at about $22 billion, with almost $6 billion in agriculture alone. So, that gives you an idea of how big the gap is,” she said.
The African Development Bank has initiated “Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa’ to bridge the gap in access to finance for women.
Moungar said that through the Africa development bank, particular focus will be put on women’s economic empowerment.
“We will be connecting them to finance, markets, networks to take advantages of the finances available. We hope that this will help until the financial market is in their favor so that they will really be empowered,” she noted.
The summit also seeks to build a science base and research capacity in Africa for the benefit of the local and global population among others.
It will also discuss how women are the top victims of climate change, inadequate health, food security, limited energy and other issues related to urban planning and transport among others.
“Women are everywhere. They are citizens just like men so any decisions we make, will affect everyone in society, men, women, and children and that’s why it’s important that we look at women-specific needs in sectors like climate, energy, transport, education,” she added.
Why in Kigali?
She noted that Kigali was chosen as the venue after looking at many different options like the capacity to host, technical and the track record of the country in promoting gender equality.
She hailed the country’s efforts to promote gender equality where there are equal land rights between both genders and rights to inheritance unlike some other countries.
“If a woman has no access to land and assets ownership in general, she cannot borrow money from a bank even if she is an entrepreneur with a bankable project because there is no guarantee. Those are things that governments in collaboration and participation of the private sector and civil society can unlock through a legal and regulatory framework,” she noted.
She noted that the summit will be a good opportunity to deliberate on how to achieve gender equality and also share best practices from all around the world.
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