The ICA Gender Equality Committee (GEC), with the support of the ICA-EU Partnership (#coops4dev) team is organising a webinar on the theme of “Women in leadership for a just recovery” on 18th March today.
The webinar will be structured into two parts. At first, representatives of the GEC will present some regional updates. Secondly, initiatives and recommendations for empowering women through the implementation of policies and programs will be shared by cooperative development and international actors.
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, the ICA Gender Equality Committee has gathered some cooperative best practices from around the world on the theme of “Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, reads the release.
The release also features publications highlighting some inspiring stories of women co-operators on the front line of the pandemic in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Apart from Dr Nandani Azad, those participating in the Webinar include Maria Eugenia Perez Zea, ICA, GEC President, Esther N. Gicheru, GEC executive committee, Chair of the Research and Gender Committee of ICA Africa, Stefania Marcone, GEC Executive Committee, Vice President of Cooperatives Europe and Chairman of its Gender Equality Working Group, Camilla Lundberg Ney, Advocacy Coordinator, WeEffect, Dr. Judith Hermanson, Director, International Cooperative Research Group and others.
As per the Covid 19 report, the women’s leadership forms an effective response to building back better” women standing at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers, and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic.
The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women carry. Women leaders and women’s organizations have demonstrated their skills, knowledge, and networks to effectively lead in COVID-19 responses and recovery efforts.
Based on the above, the ICA GEC publication showcases several cooperative best-case examples from the regions of Africa, America, Asia Pacific and Europe of women co-operators in leadership during this pandemic. With the objective to showcase the perspectives of women and girls’ co-operators playing an important role in all spheres and at all stages of pandemic response and recovery.