The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) has partnered with non-profit organisation One World Media to introduce the new Women’s Solutions Reporting Award. Secretary General of EIB, Marjut Falkstedt, speaks with One World Media and shares why this award is so important.
Improving conditions for women
Marjut explains why the world needs to learn more from women and girls.
"Improving conditions for women is one of the best ways we can turn around the climate crisis and end COVID-19," she says.
Addressing important issues
"As the first female secretary general of the European Investment Bank, I am trying to help women everywhere get equal treatment, receive a good education and get good jobs," comments Marjut.
"I am pleased to sit on a global panel of professionals that will choose the winners of One World Media Women’s Solutions Reporting Award in 2022, because it is important to recognise these stories. This award will highlight successful initiatives by women or for women that address issues such as climate change, the environment, education or health care," she says.
"Today, women earn nearly 25 per cent less than men. Nearly a billion women can’t get loans to start a business and they can’t open a bank account to save money. Advancing women’s equality in banking and the workplace could add as much as $28 trillion to the global economy by 2025."
Advocating for gender equality and women's economic empowerment
Marjut explains that to help women get financial support, the Bank designed an EIB Group Strategy and action plan on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
"We also signed the Finance in Common’s global summit statement on gender equity in the financial system, and we joined many other financial institutions in a joint statement on preventing the exploitation of women. We are part of the 2X Challenge and adopted the 2X Challenge criteria that are setting global standards for empowering women through investment.
"Two years ago, we launched the SheInvest initiative to mobilise €1 billion in investments that help women get loans and run businesses across Africa. In 2021, we doubled our goal for this initiative to €2 billion. We do many other projects, such as a $24.6 million investment to build a large fund for small businesses that support women in Africa," she adds.
Encouraging quality reporting to break down prejudice
One World Media was founded over 30 years ago by a group of journalists who recognised international reporting at that time was limited and often reinforcing stereotypes. It sets out to encourage better quality reporting from the global south and celebrates underreported stories that break down prejudice and connects cultures.
The One World Media Awards recognise the best media coverage of the global south. These are stories that break through stereotypes, connect people across cultures and change the narrative.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.