Justina Mutale’s Post

Super excited to lead my team and our delegation of the Justina Mutale Foundation to the United Nations 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Looking forward to convening the Justina Mutale Foundation’s United Nations CSW68 official Parallel Event titled, “Financing Female-Led Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. Our event will be an intergenerational dialogue, focusing on empowering women and girls through the financing of female-led innovation and entrepreneurship to drive gender equality and eradicate poverty by harnessing the potential of women-led initiatives. Speakers and participants will highlight the importance of investing in women and girls and share insights, opportunities, challenges, emerging trends and realities on the ground in paving the way for women and girls to embark on entrepreneurial ventures, innovation, and start-ups. At the Justina Mutale Foundation, we believe that investing in women is not just a commendable endeavour, it is an essential driver of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We also believe that empowering female entrepreneurs and innovators is not merely a moral imperative, but that it is a strategic investment for a more sustainable and equitable future for all. We believe that by unlocking the potential of women, we ignite a ripple effect of innovation, job creation, economic growth, human prosperity and progress for all. By so doing, we contribute to economic prosperity and tackle pressing social and environmental issues including poverty alleviation and climate action. This is a FREE in-person event at the United Nations in New York. However, all delegates are required to register in advance. You can join the conversation by registering on this link: https://lnkd.in/eAhDCA2h #csw68 #csw #csw2024 #unitednations #genderequality #womenleaders #worldleaders #innovation #entrepreneurship #femaleleaders #femaleentrepreneurs #femaleentrepreneurship #femaleleadership #newyork #newyorkcity #startup #venturecapital #investment #investors

Investing in women is financially smart and good for our planet. Women-led ventures generate more revenue, are more financially sustainable, and have a greater focus on sustainability and social consciousness compared to their male counterparts. Surprisingly, this group of entrepreneurs receives no more than 5% venture capital funding globally every year. This is the reality for women entrepreneurs across the world. At EIT Climate-KIC, we’re committed to driving systemic change in gender equity across the climate innovation sector. Our programme, supported by Irish Aid, helps partners identify gaps in their understanding of gender inequity and implement concrete actions for organisations to embed a gender lens into their everyday work. Today, on International Women’s Day, we are kicking of a series of impactful activities and highlighting the gender work we do. Until June, we'll spotlight one action each month through interviews and case studies. So what actionable steps can organisations take to address gender inequity in climate entrepreneurship? Download our "5 actions to be gender smart for innovative climate entrepreneurship" here: https://bit.ly/48JkKlR #IWD #InspireInclusion #SystemsChange #ClimateEntrepreneurship #WomenEntrepreneurs

Happy #InternationalWomensDay. Today we reflect on the importance of inclusion, diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society. We reflect on where we came from, where we stand today and the road that is still ahead of us. Working in the #climateinnovation space, characterised by its commitment to innovation and renowned for its pioneering spirit, I was kind of surprised to see that here too there is still a huge gender inequity problem. Despite generating more revenue, being financially more sustainable, and having a greater focus on sustainability and social consciousness compared to their male counterparts, women entrepreneurs globally receive no more than 5% of venture capital funding each year. And, a 2022 study showed that women-founded enterprises in Europe accounted for only 10 per cent of total start-ups created. Let’s take time to think about what we all can do to shift the status quo. Investing in #women is financially smart and good for our planet.   Together with my colleague Wallis Grant, I collaborated on a series of insightful stories aimed at raising awareness and showcasing the gender work we do with our partners around the globe at EIT Climate-KIC. We developed a practical guide with 5 actions organisations can take to be gender smart. We proudly launched our campaign today. Each month, we'll be spotlighting one action through interviews and case studies. I’m looking forward to sharing these stories with you in the coming months. Are you already gender smart in your organisation? Check out our practical actions to start today below. 

Would you also like to witness gender equality in your life time? According to UN Women's most recent report, at the current rate of progress, it will take 286 years for the world to achieve gender equality. Per the World Economic Forum it will take another 132 years to close the global gender gap.

Investing in women is financially smart and good for our planet. Women-led ventures generate more revenue, are more financially sustainable, and have a greater focus on sustainability and social consciousness compared to their male counterparts. Surprisingly, this group of entrepreneurs receives no more than 5% venture capital funding globally every year. This is the reality for women entrepreneurs across the world. At EIT Climate-KIC, we’re committed to driving systemic change in gender equity across the climate innovation sector. Our programme, supported by Irish Aid, helps partners identify gaps in their understanding of gender inequity and implement concrete actions for organisations to embed a gender lens into their everyday work. Today, on International Women’s Day, we are kicking of a series of impactful activities and highlighting the gender work we do. Until June, we'll spotlight one action each month through interviews and case studies. So what actionable steps can organisations take to address gender inequity in climate entrepreneurship? Download our "5 actions to be gender smart for innovative climate entrepreneurship" here: https://bit.ly/48JkKlR #IWD #InspireInclusion #SystemsChange #ClimateEntrepreneurship #WomenEntrepreneurs

Today is #InternationWomanDay! When I was reporting on climate solutions at The Beam, something became clear very quickly: women entrepreneurs do not get a fair share of the cake when it comes to investment. Things haven't changed that much since then. The problem is: When all the solutions come from the same people, those who get the most investment - aka, white men - they are often not adapted to women, especially black and brown women. I remember clean cooking stoves that had been designed in European offices for the African market. The smart engineers forgot one thing: to ask the end-users, women in Africa villages, what they needed. A month after they were delivered and once the team from Europe left, the stoves were abandoned. They weren't adapted. All of this to say, one of the biggest and most effective actions one can take is to give direct investment or financing to women-led organisations. This will go a huge way in closing the investment gap that exists. And as a bonus, we now know that investing in women-founded companies generates more revenues, and for longer, compared to companies founded by men. There are more ideas on what to do in "5 Actions to be gender smart for innovative climate entrepreneurship" that you can find in the post below and on Climate-KIC gender mainstreaming page: https://lnkd.in/ermYMwKT

It’s #internationalwomensday ✨ let’s explore how your organisations can support women-led innovations and continue to learn about gender-smart investing 🏄🏻♀️ Entrpreneurship Supplry Organisations, these are some steps to shape up your role as key #allies in #entrepreneurship #ecosystems 🌱

“Beyond Equality - Investing in the Women Driving Africa’s Economic Growth.” Investing in Africa's women entrepreneurs isn't just a social project; it's a smart business move. Despite facing significant barriers, women entrepreneurs in Africa are driving economic growth. Yet, they often lack access to the right kind of funding. Leveraging new technology and data, we can unlock more investment opportunities and empower women to build thriving businesses. Read more about how data is revolutionizing how we reach overlooked opportunities. https://lnkd.in/d-cU9i8s

On this International Day of Rural Women, we celebrate the crucial role rural women play in combating hunger, driving rural economies, and strengthening communities. Despite making up a large portion of the global population, many of these women lack the resources, recognition, and opportunities they need to thrive. We envision a future where rural women entrepreneurs are empowered with strategic guidance, tailored training, and access to vital networks—enabling them to scale their businesses, uplift their communities, and create lasting impact across Africa’s diverse landscapes. Let’s continue to support their journeys and amplify their voices, as they lead the way toward a more resilient and inclusive future. #RuralWomen #Entrepreneurship #InternationalDayofRuralWomen #WomenInAgriculture #Empowerment

Check out this piece I wrote about data-driven investments in Africa 🚀