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Private Sector Pioneers driving gender equality in trade with Women's Empowerment Principles in AfCFTA Virtual Training
UN Women aims to build the capacity of private sector entities, women’s organisations, and women-owned businesses on the AfCFTA and responsible business practices, including the Women’s Empowerment Principles. The expected result is that women’s networks and organisations can identify WEE-related issues within the AfCFTA and use their voice, leadership, and agency to advocate for promoting women’s economic rights at the highest levels of companies and organisations.
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Event type:
Start date: 30 November 2023 | Start time: 12:00 UTC +00:00
End date: 29 February 2024 | End time: 14:00 UTC +00:00
Location:
Virtual,
Registration details below.
Event description
To advance women’s rights to decent work, UN Women and the UN Global Compact established the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). This set of Principles offers guidance to businesses on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. It is on this background that the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), requested UN Women to build the capacity of private sector entities, women’s organizations, and women-owned businesses on the AfCFTA and responsible business practices, with a focus on the Women’s Empowerment Principles through a virtual training. The training will also be open to women’s business networks, and private sector companies working with ESA UN Women country offices among other networks. This initiative is anchored within the Global Affairs Canada-funded project whose objective is to empower women entrepreneurs and stakeholders to engage and promote women’s economic rights, meaningful trade, and business opportunities for women within the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
#TradeEquality
#WomenInTrade
#EmpowerHerTrade
#AfCFTA4Women
Concept note and agenda available here
Sessions will run on:
- 30th November 2023 3.00pm to 5.00pm EAT
- 7th December 2023 3.00 pm to 5.00pm EAT
- 25th January 2024 3.00pm to 5.00pm EAT
- 1st February 2024 3.00pm to 5.00pm EAT
- 15th February 2024 3.00pm to 5.00pm EAT
- 22nd February 2024 3.00pm to 5.00 pm EAT
- 29th February 2024 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm EAT
NB: Participants must attend and actively engage in all training sessions in order to obtain a certificate.
PRESENTATIONS
Session 1
- AfCFTA History and the AfCFTA Feminist Analysis research.
- WEPs background and WEP Principles 1: Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
- Video: AfCFTA History, AfCFTA Feminist Analysis Research and WEPS Basics and WEP 1
Session 2
- WEP Principle 2: Treat all women and men fairly at work- respect and support human rights and non-discrimination.
- Why Women Earn Less? Gender Pay Gap highlights in ESA Region.
Session 3
- WEPs Principle 3: Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
- Presentation on Convention 190 (prevention of violence and sexual harassment Convention)
- Video: WEPs Principle 3 and Presentation on Convention 190
Session 4
- Presentation on WEPs Principle 4: Promote education, training, and professional development for women
- Video: Introduction to WEPs Principle 4 and Practical Applications in the Private Sector
Session 5
- Presentation on WEP Principle 5
- Presentation on GRP experience from Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030
- Presentation on GRP experience from Swarovski
- Video: Introduction to WEP Principle 5 & Experience sharing on implementation of GRP in the private sector.
Session 6
- Presentation on WEP Principle 6
- Video: Session 6: Introduction to WEP Principle 6 & Promoting Equality in the Private Sector through CSR
Session 7
Sponsored by: East and Southern Africa Regional Office
Other Co-Sponsors: Global Affairs Canada(GAC)
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12/03/2025