Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) represent 90% of companies worldwide and contribute over 50% of global GDP. One in three of those MSMEs are led by women, who face unique challenges to starting and growing a business.   To commemorate the United Nations’ #MSMEDay, we worked with CARE to recognize the women-led MSMEs that anchor our communities and inspire our mission to building a more equitable and prosperous world. Whether it’s your favorite restaurant, your neighborhood coffee shop or the artist who made a custom portrait of your pet – small and medium-sized enterprises deserve recognition, today and every day. Explore the stories of women-led MSMEs around the world: https://lnkd.in/e6GtqBNY   We want to know – what do MSMEs mean to you? How will you support a MSME today? Share in the comments below. 👇

On this special day celebrating women, we’d like to recognize the indispensable role women play in building strong communities and how this ties together with food security, wellbeing and sustainable development. Advancing women’s access to land and resources has a demonstrable effect on incomes, resilience, productivity in addition to children’s nutrition and education. According to the FAO’s Status of Women in Agrifood Systems 2023 report, closing the gender gap in farming systems would increase global gross domestic product by 1% (~ USD 1 trillion) and reduce the global food-insecure by 45 million people. Impressive stats and a clear indicator that investing in women would accelerate progress for humanity while tackling broader planetary concerns. PHYLA.earth is working hard to build more inclusive societies that empower and invest in women 👩🏻🔬👩🏻🌾👩🏫 …because when you empower women, you empower communities and when you empower communities, you empower society... Here’s to the women making a difference in our lives, in our communities and in the world. We want to take this opportunity to wish all the amazing women out there a very happy International Women’s Day! ✨🌍💫 Latha Chandradeep, Gwen Jones, Gara Villalba,Rosamund Thomas (Dr), Anjou Dargar, Vibhuti Bajaj, Nabanji Nebwe Nkosi, Lina Isabel Brand Correa, Lizzie Caperon, Denise Madiro, Mibanga Mwiinga, Lisa Otto, Erika Degani, PhD, Geeta Jain #internationalwomensday #genderequality #internationalwomensday2024 #investinwomen #UNinvestinwomen #womeninagriculture #quoteoftheday #janegoodall #phylaearth #sustainabledevelopment #foodsecurity

The Case for Her is back in Stockholm after two eventful weeks of #ClimateWeek & #UNGA79 in New York City! 🙌 We started by attending the Summit of the Future #ActionDays hosted at the United Nations headquarters to galvanize key youth stakeholders to achieve the SDGs. With 50% of the global population under 30, strong players like the UN, governments, and multilaterals must include youth voices when shaping policies that are deciding our future. 💪 UNICEF Innovation hosted a roundtable breakfast with representatives from the investment sectors where we discussed how we can facilitate more equitable investments in emerging markets. Currently, only 4% of venture capital goes to women-led companies and we only see a 6% turnover rate of General Partners. There’s a huge need to change this system as closing the women’s health gap is a 1 trillion dollar opportunity. Thank you to Patty Alleman for including us! Project Dandelion and YLabs together with Organon & Panorama Global hosted valuable dialogues on the intersection of climate & #SRHR which is a cross-cutting investment opportunity to reach several SDGs and ensure comprehensive women’s health.🌿 For instance, 41.4 % of women who use modern contraceptive methods live in regions where the temperature exceeds shelf-stability recommendations. At the Clinton Global Initiative we participated in a roundtable on “Menstrual Health Equity” hosted by the Desai Foundation. The message is clear. We need to see menstrual health as an infrastructure and continue to develop a market-based approach to generate equal access globally to #MHH. Our partner WASH United also hosted “A Period Friendly World” addressing the need for continued advocacy and commitments from high-level stakeholders to put #MHH on the agenda. 🌟 We’re also grateful to all of our partners & friends we saw throughout the week: Lisa Witter, Apolitical Foundation, Susan McPherson, S. Mona Sinha, Equality Now, Joanna Bichsel, Kasha Global, Inc., The Inner Foundation Annika Sten Pärson, Ebba Salén, Nomi Fuchs-Montgomery, Nicole Ippoliti, MPH, Jacqueline Novogratz Acumen, Gerda Binder, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition 🌸

On today's #InternationalWomensDay, the United Nations highlights the need to #InvestInWomen in #AgriFood systems, as they are key to global, regional and national #FoodSecurity. 👩🌾👩🍳👩💼👩💻💰 The #FundingGap to achieve #GenderEquality in key areas, including achieving the SDGs to end hunger and poverty and support women's equal participation in societies, is approximately 360 billion dollars annually in 48 developing countries (FAO 2023). 💸 Here's what sector specialists have said about the urgent need to close the gender gap in this regard, benefiting the global economy in doing so. ⬇ 👉 "Investing in women means investing in #SustainableDevelopment. The return on investment is not just about overcoming poverty and inequality but about building stronger institutions, economies, and entire communities" — Gerardine Mukeshimana, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). 👉 "Given the crucial role of women in rural economies and agri-food systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries, addressing the #GenderGap in financing is key to more inclusive and equitable rural development" — Maria Helena Semedo (FAO). 👉 "When we invest in women and girls, we feed entire communities. We can win the battle against hunger and malnutrition by empowering and supporting women to take the lead" — Valerie Guarnieri, World Food Programme. At FOODITY, we are committed to helping create #BetterFoodSystems for people and the planet — healthier, more sustainable and equitable. We're currently developing an impactful #PilotDevelopmentProgramme, through which we're investing €2M to fund data-driven innovations in food and nutrition. 💜 We strive to ensure that our #FundingOpportunities reach as many women as possible, encouraging them to boost their impact and help to close the gender gap in this field. (👀 #StayTuned; we will soon share news on our upcoming open call). This #IWD2024 (and every day), let's transform our challenges into opportunities and shape a better future for everyone! #SustainableFoodSystems | F6S F6S Innovation | AUSTRALO | Sploro | SOFTEAM Consulting | Centre for Social Innovation | Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) | Jibe Company

#UNGA79 and #ClimateWeek were filled with many interesting and important dialogues. But what are the takeaways and where do we go from here? The United Nations Summit of the Future #ActionDays overall call to action was to include more youth voices in decision-making processes as we represent 50% of the overall population. I am curious how we will see this implemented from concept to practice. We also need to see significant efforts directed at increasing more diverse representation in the general assembly as only 9 of 133 speakers were women. How will we create a future for all when decision-makers are not even close to representing the citizens of our world? Investing in the intersection of climate and women's health is integral if we want to achieve the first half of the SDGs before 2030. It makes me hopeful to see key stakeholders such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation & The Clinton Foundation, to mention a few, are dedicating efforts and resources towards addressing this intersection. The Case for Her's partners Project Dandelion and YLabs are already doing excellent work laying the groundwork for understanding the opportunities of focusing on climate & #SRHR. To effectively dedicate resources to women's health, we need to close the VC funding gap. By investing in female-led VCs we generate the following opportunities: 🌟Increase the number of female venture capitalists 🌟Support the increasing number of women-led and women-founded corporations and business 🌟Increase the number of goods and services designed by and with women in mind, to address women’s needs Read more below about what The Case for Her was up to during UNGA 🌸

This #InternationalWomensDay, I find myself reflecting on a powerful message shared at the Semex Conference 2024 earlier this year: “If you change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” At the conference, speakers like Abi Kay from Farmers Weekly and Frances Evans, a UK Dairy Farmer from West Wales, offered invaluable insights into the sector and its future. As a woman working in the dairy/ tech space, I often find myself as the sole female presence in the room or 1 of 2 women. Female farmers have approached me at agricultural events, expressing their delight in seeing a female Co-Founder of an #agritech business. They've shared how my presence made engaging and asking questions easier for them. While women have always played a role in agriculture, their contributions have often been overlooked, particularly in leadership positions. To accelerate progress, I believe we need more women in farmer board positions. These women can serve as mentors and role models for the next generation and also help those already playing a vital role in their family farm business get recognition for their contribution. Ultimately, it is an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of women in the sector and move beyond the image of a male-dominated industry. We understand that diversity breeds innovation; embracing diverse perspectives brings fresh thinking and innovative solutions to challenges. However, to attract more women to agriculture and technology, we must move beyond mere representation and ensure genuine diversity. Today, I celebrate the remarkable female leaders in #agricultureandfarming and advocate for a future where women hold equal footing in leadership positions, driving positive change and innovation in our sector.  👏 Minette Batters  👏 Alison Capper  👏 Abi Reader  👏 Amy The Dairy Daughter  👏 Karen Halton  👏 Paula Hynes  👏 Luciana Lixandru, Sequoia Capital  👏 Shelagh Hancock, First Milk #IWD #IWD2024 #WomenInAgriculture #WomenInTech #WomenInDairy

Happy International Women’s Day 2024 to The Unsung Heroes- "Inspire Inclusion," We confront longstanding power imbalances entrenched in patriarchal societies, impacting women farmers globally. Despite the women farmers comprising 60% - 70% of the agricultural labor force, they face multifaceted challenges hindering productivity and contribution to food security. Stemming from Patriarchal norms which limit their access to resources and perpetuate gender-based violence. Service delivery gaps exacerbate these systemic inequalities, including inadequate access to inputs, technologies, and exclusion from decision-making spaces. "Inspire Inclusion" urges systemic change, advocating for equity and amplifying marginalized voices. The need for intentional concerted action by all concerned is implied in the mantra of "Inspire Inclusion". Government leaders and stakeholders must ensure land rights, financial access, and value chain integration for women farmers. Gender-transformative practices and intersectional approaches are key to fostering a just and equitable society. #inspireinclusion #accelerateprogress #iwd2024

Today, on International Women's Day, let's celebrate the incredible contributions of women in agriculture and food security! From nurturing crops to leading sustainable practices, women play a pivotal role in feeding our communities and driving innovation in the agricultural sector. Let's continue to support and empower women farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders, ensuring a more inclusive and prosperous future for all. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInAgriculture #FoodSecurity"

On this International Day of Rural Women, we shine a light on the resilience, strength, and innovation of rural women across the globe. These women are not only the backbone of their communities but also drivers of sustainable food systems. As they nurture their land and cultivate food for millions, they are increasingly harnessing the power of digital tools to enhance productivity, access new markets, and secure better livelihoods. Today and beyond, we continue to honor their critical role in transforming agriculture and shaping a brighter future for all. #IDRW2024 #RuralWomen

Team work makes the dream work. 💪 ✨ I can't think of a better team than the folks in the image featured in Andrew Wills' post below. While this comment might appear slightly self-serving on the surface (I am in the picture after all), I can truly say that this team is testament that so much great work can be done if the right systems, attitudes and team work are in place. Yesterday we hosted a fabulous event with over 150+ people at 1WS celebrating International Women's Day. It was a great day and I would love to echo Andrew's sentiments below (seems wasteful to repeat his fabulous commentary). IWD is becoming increasingly important in our annual calendars. It provides an important moment to pause, reflect, review the data, and listen to important narratives about what came before, what is happening now, and what needs to happen to enact change. And - that is where IPAA Queensland comes into the frame. I love IPAA. What I appreciate most about this organisation is the platform provides the community. IPAA connects. IPAA engages. IPAA provides a platform to share the voices of people that *need* to be heard. And yesterday's event is just one of several examples where the team brought the right voices to the front. If you aren't connected with IPAA Queensland, you should be. Irrespective of where you work. While our focus is on the public sector, I can guarantee that the work we do translates; simply because we are all part of an interconnected network that needs to collaborate to make good things happen. I encourage you connect with us. We are very cool people doing very cool things.