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The Africa Human Capital Plan: Why Investing in Women & Girls Matters Now More Than Ever

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In Sub-Saharan Africa, evidence shows that investing in women’s and girls’ education, health and economic opportunities is fundamental to realizing the continent’s human capital potential and spurring sustainable economic growth. Over the past few decades, countries in the region have made considerable progress addressing a range of outcomes that are critical for women’s and girls’ empowerment, including legal reforms on the age of marriage and gender-based violence. However, women and girls remain particularly vulnerable by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing gender gaps and inequalities. The COVID-19 response must therefore be centered on protecting, preserving and sustaining financial and social investments in women and girls.

As part of the Human Capital Project Global Forum, which brings together government focal points from around the world, this event will highlight testimonies from voices with first-hand experience and expertise on why protecting and advancing women’s and girls’ social and economic empowerment in the immediate and long-term matters now more than ever. Government leaders and development partners will also share lessons learned from previous crisis, efforts to protect investments in human capital, and how they are pursuing this critical development agenda amidst the current crisis.

Which of these will be the most important to ensure full participation and inclusion of women and girls for economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa?

— World Bank Africa (@WorldBankAfrica) February 24, 2021

AGENDA

Hosts: Nayé Bathily and Edith Jibunoh, External Affairs, World Bank
Axel van Trotsenburg, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank

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Panel discussion:

Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF
Dr. Natalia Kanem – United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNFPA
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women
Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank
Moderator: Nayé Bathily, Manager, External Affairs, Western & Central Africa, World Bank

Special Message: Deborah Wetzel, Director, Africa Regional Integration, World Bank

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Feature Story from Niger: Innayatou is the first girl in the family to go to school. She has big plans for the future.

Special Message: DJ Switch

Panel Discussion:

Jaha Dukureh, CEO & Founder of Safe Hands for Girls, and Africa Regional UN Women Ambassador
Soukeyna Kane, Country Director, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Chad, World Bank
David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Education & Chief Innovation Officer, Sierra Leone
Moderator: Nayé Bathily, Manager, External Affairs, Western & Central Africa, World Bank

Special Message:

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, Country Director, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles, World Bank
Nathan Belete, Country Director, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Cabo Verde and Guinea Bissau, World Bank

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Feature Story from Sierra Leone: Salamatou Bangura, from Bonga Wharf, shares how a social safety net program has helped her and her family.

One-on-One Discussion

Dr. Anita Asiimwe, Director-General, National Child Development Agency, Rwanda & Human Capital Plan Focal Point
Edith Jibunoh, Manager, External Affairs, Eastern & Southern Africa, World Bank

Special Message: Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Country Director, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini, World Bank

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Panel Discussion:

Mamta Murthi, Vice President, Human Development, World Bank
Hafez Ghanem, Regional Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank
Ousmane Diagana, Regional Vice President, Western and Central Africa, World Bank
Pablo Fajnzylber, World Bank Acting Vice President, Infrastructure, World Bank

Moderator: Edith Jibunoh, Manager, External Affairs, Eastern & Southern Africa, World Bank

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Closing words from the hosts Nayé Bathily and Edith Jibunoh

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Read the chat

Venuste Nitereka

Some leaders underestimated the pandemic, resulting in human losses that are difficult to predict today. Don't you see that human capital can suffer from this mismatch or these opposing views? Do you have any proposal for a good harmonization of views in the midst of the new nationalism in Africa?

Thu, 02/25/2021 - 21:54

Nkwenti muma claude

I will be pleased to join the debate and ask questions if necessary.

Thu, 02/25/2021 - 21:54

Zamzam maariin

I,appreciate in this topic that ,to took women and girl issue it is nice one

Sat, 02/27/2021 - 13:35

EVA SAMORA

Frankly speaking this is a nice topic especially to bring about a sustainable development...I appreciate #InvestInpeople#InvestInGirls#InvestInWomen

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 10:03

susan bornstein

Female mobility and access to safe, affordable, reliable transportation is an essential enabler of gender equality, getting girls back to school, and helping women/adolescent girls access markets and information. This is often overlooked in rural development planning. What is the Bank planning to increase integration and investment of this key area into health, education, and economic development in support of investing in women and girls?

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 10:04

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The Event has concluded

Learn more

The World Bank In Africa

The World Bank In Gender

World Bank Africa Human Capital Plan

Africa Human Capital Plan Year One Progress Report: Game Changers for Investing in Africa's People

The Human Capital Index

Speakers

Mari Pangestu

Former World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships

@Mari_Pangestu
Axel van Trotsenburg

Senior Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank

@AxelVT_WB
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

@phumzileunwomen
Henrietta H. Fore

Executive Director, UNICEF

@unicefchief
DJ Switch (Erica Armah-Bra Bulu Tandoh)

Musician, Poet, Dancer, Motivational Speaker, Actress

@djswitchghana
David Moinina Sengeh

Minister of Education & Chief Innovation Officer, Sierra Leone

@dsengeh
Jaha Dukureh

CEO & Founder of Safe Hands for Girls, and Africa Regional UN Women Ambassador  

@JahaENDFGM
Soukeyna Kane

Director, Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, World Bank

@soukeyna_kane
Anita Asiimwe

Director-General, National Child Development Agency, Rwanda

@anita_asiimwe
Pablo Fajnzylber

Acting Vice President and Director of Strategy and Operations, Infrastructure, World Bank
Natalia Kanem

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

@Atayeshe
Mamta Murthi

Acting Managing Director of Development Policy & Partnerships and Vice President for Human Development, World Bank

@MamtaMurthi
Ousmane Diagana

Vice President, Western and Central Africa, World Bank

@ousmane_diagana
Hafez Ghanem

Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa

@HafezGhanem_WB

Hosts

Nayé Bathily

Manager, External Affairs, Western and Central Africa, World Bank

Nayé Anna Bathily
Edith Jibunoh

Manager, External Affairs, Eastern & Southern Africa, World Bank

Edith Jibunoh