In a notable collaboration, the Somali Stock Exchange and UN Women Somalia marked International Women’s Day with the ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’ event on March 7, 2024. This gathering emphasized the economic upliftment of women as pivotal to business growth and societal development, calling on the private sector to forge paths for women’s participation in the workplace, marketplace, and the wider community.
The initiative, part of a global campaign by the UN and partners such as the IFC, SSE, UNGC, and WFE, strives to heighten corporate awareness about the benefits of women’s economic empowerment and its direct correlation with accelerated gender parity and sustainable development.
Key figures like Dr. Sadiq Sayed of UN Women Somalia underscored the essence of gender balance, with speakers such as Zahra Mohamed Ahmed and Asha Abdulle Siyad echoing similar sentiments. Participants included key government figures, private sector leaders, university students, and scholars.
Discussions revolved around the theme ‘Invest in women: Accelerate Progress,’ tackling issues like human rights, poverty elimination, gender-focused financing, the transition to a green economy, and support for feminist innovators.
Hassan Dudde, CEO of the Somali Stock Exchange, shed light on the particular challenges women face, noting that a lack of saving culture and financial and technological literacy hinders women entrepreneurs from tapping into the burgeoning digital economy.
The event stands as a call to action for financial institutions to back female-led businesses and for companies to enrich the capabilities of their female clientele through initiatives like the National Financial Literacy Initiative, amplifying the conversation on women’s potent role in shaping a prosperous and equitable future.
Disseminated by APO Group on behalf of UN Women, Africa.
