Panafrican News Agency

Ivanka Trump meets AU officials on advancing women empowerment

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union (AU) and the United States of America have agreed to forge closer collaboration on women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, the AU and the US announced Monday.

AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Kwesi Quartey announced the commitment by the continental body and the US following a meeting with Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President of the United States of America (USA), and daughter to US President Donald Trump, who is on a visit to Ethiopia to discuss the empowerment of women in Africa and the world.

The US Presidential Adviser is accompanied by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green where discussions on how to deepen the Strategic Dialogue between the African Union Commission and the United States took place, the AU said.

Ambassador Quartey and Ms Trump held talks on ways to catalyze the potential of women in the workforce and the goal of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) to prioritize women’s empowerment as a key driver to spur economic growth in Africa.  

The United States launched the W-GDP Initiative in February 2019 by signing a National Security Presidential Memorandum.

The initiative will ensure women around the world are empowered and have the resources needed to meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic opportunities.

The W-GDP Initiative aims to support women in the economy around the world to help them thrive in the workforce, launch businesses, and create value for their communities.

Through the initiative, the Unites States aims to reach 50 million women across the developing world by 2025, boosting global gross domestic product and advancing peace, security, and stability for all.

To deepen the United States’- African Union Commission partnership, the AU diplomat and the American adviser renewed a commitment to strengthen women’s economic participation and entrepreneurship across the African continent and to boost economic prosperity — key enablers of peace and stability in the region, the US embassy said in a read-about statement. 

Both sides expressed a commitment to strengthen the collaboration between the AUC and the U.S. within the existing Cooperation Framework as outlined in the 2018 High Level Dialogue held in Addis Ababa, on 29th November 2018, the AU said seperately.

The two high officials specifically reaffirmed the US and the AU’s unwavering commitment to advance women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship across the continent by promoting opportunities for women’s participation in the work force, increasing women’s access to finance, trade, employment, education, and skills development.

The two also pledged to combat scourges including child and forced marriage, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation and abuse.

Both sides further reaffirmed their commitment to shared values such as equality of opportunity, respect and promotion of women’s rights as well as ending all forms of gender-based violence and abuse in all spheres of life.

The Deputy Chairperson briefed the U.S. delegation on ongoing AUC-led initiatives on Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment including the adoption of the first AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2018-2028), the Continental Results Framework for monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the AU Funds for Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage as enshrined in the AU Agenda 2063 priorities.

The Deputy Chairperson further highlighted the importance of building bridges between the African Diaspora and US businesses with a particular emphasis on women entrepreneurs.

The US delegation discussed the White House-led Women’s Global initiative aimed at empowering 50 million women across the developing world by 2025.

The US also managed a separate Initiative which seeks to mobilize US$1 billion in investment towards providing women in Africa access to finance, high-quality jobs and critical services.

The AUC expressed appreciation to the United States for its various support including to the AUC Departments of Social Affairs, Trade and Industry, and the Office of the Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace, and Security.

Ms. Trump congratulated the Deputy Chairperson on the AU’s leadership in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and encouraged continued efforts to increase women’s participation, voice, and empowerment in decision-making on security issues. 

Ms. Trump raised the two entities’ mutual interest in working together to combat gender-based violence.

During the meeting, Ms. Trump and Quartey signed a joint communiqué committing to a partnership to advance women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship across the continent. 

-0- PANA AO/VAO 15April2019