Private Sector Collaboration with Government Agencies for the Launch of the New W-GDP Initiative

On July 16, 2019, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Department of State, and The White House to host five W-GDP experts: Ms. Jeni Healy (USAID), Ms. Kathryn Kaufman (OPIC), Ms. Mia Mitchell (National Security Council), Ms.Bari Rogoff (U.S. Department of State), and Ms. Stewart Young (White House). The discussion focused on the new Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, (W-GDP) with the goal of increasing awareness within the public and private sector.

In February 2019, the W-GDP Initiative historically became the first whole-of government effort to advance global women’s economic empowerment. The W-GDP Initiative intends to use its three pillars— Women Prospering in the Workforce, Women Succeeding as Entrepreneurs, and Women Enabled in the Economy— to guide its work. Despite its recent development, the Initiative has achieved great success in advancing their goal of reaching 50 million women in the developing world by 2025. On July 10, the Initiative announced $27 million in new grants slated to fund projected based in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

With Ivanka Trump, advisor to the president, in charge the Initiative utilizes her relationships with leaders around the world to secure funding through U.S. government activities, private—public partnerships, and a new innovative fund. The private sector creates nine out of 10 jobs in emerging markets, and remains a top priority for the Initiative because of its power to promote women’s economic growth by increasing opportunities available to women both in the U.S. and abroad. Interest from the private sector has continued to grow due to a multitude of reports that detail the potential economic gains available for including more women in the workforce. Additionally, the private sector is petrified by the thought of the global economy suffering if insufficient efforts are made to include women in the workforce. Considering that both the W-GDP Initiative and the private sector stand to gain, considerable changes may be near.

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