Putting Sustainability at the Center of Business Strategy

According to the 1994 Oslo Symposium, which aimed to examine a new approach to consumption, production and consumerism, Sustainable Consumption is defined as: “the use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as emissions […]

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Closing the Gender Gap

Gender-focused research initiatives are alive and kicking. They include Catalyst, a non-profit membership organization founded in 1962 that expands opportunities for women and business, and the Closing the Global Gender Gap Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School. According to the Kennedy School, the three purposes of this Initiative are: “to examine and quantify the impact of specific policy interventions, […]

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Women Working for Social and Economic Change Worldwide

The YWCA’s mission statement is the following: “YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” This grandmother of an organization – in 1855, the first YWCA was founded in London while the first chapter was formed in 1858 in the US – represents 2 million women, girls and their families […]

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Developing Cross-border Trade between Jordan and Egypt

In November 2011, EnACT, the International Trade Centre’s Enhancing Arab Capacity to Trade programme, gathered 40 companies from all 5 member countries to create better market awareness and enhance business opportunities among them. ITC experts created a business matching map and brought buyers and sellers together to discuss potential complementarities, sell to each other and […]

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Good News from Afghanistan

A bit of good news from Afghanistan! As this story shows, it’s possible to have a good time in Kabul, and it’s possible for one woman, against the odds, to own and run a business in this male dominated society. Meena Rahmani, 28, borrowed money from her parents and opened a 12-lane bowling alley in the […]

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Algeria’s Web Marketing Trainers: Spreading the Knowledge

In 2011, the EnACT programme in Algeria put a special emphasis on supporting the inclusion of women and youth in international trade, specifically focusing on raising awareness of Web marketing  and e-commerce solutions as affordable and efficient tools to conduct business through the World Wide Web, their benefits and their techniques. Jointly with the Ministry […]

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Challenging Stereotypes in India, and Much More

Azad Foundation is challenging stereotypes in India. It is fighting discrimination against women and girls. The Foundation’s mission is “livelihoods with dignity for women.” Azad Foundation has reached into the slums of Delhi, recruiting young women to help them become breadwinners, while simultaneously giving them a profession, empowerment and confidence. It does this through one of […]

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Bringing Jordan’s Handicraft Tradition to the World

The International Trade Centre’s EnACT programme is working in Jordan to create sustainable economic opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them to international markets and non-traditional high-end buyers. In September 2011, three Jordanian handicraft manufacturers were introduced to the French market through a unique business meeting with the Louvre Museum in Paris. […]

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Helping to End Global Hunger

A promising and feasible way of addressing global hunger is described in an article by Amanda Richardson, Fellow at the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights. Here’s an excerpt: “…even though in general the land women own is usually smaller and of poorer quality than land men own, [according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of […]

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Women Helping Women (and Others)

Giving Women is a non-profit association based in Geneva. Its members support selected projects directed at women and/or founded by women. Village Exchange International-Ghana (the VEG Project) is one such venture. It aims “to improve the lives of women in poverty through a combination of income-generating activities, education, and financial services.” Specifically, the project promotes “the self-actualization of Ghana’s […]

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