Watch the recordings of GEM24: Breaking Barriers for Women and Girls panels and discussions on CID's YouTube channel.
By Mary Mei
Harvard Center for International Development (CID) held the 15th annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) on May 1-2, 2024. GEM24: Breaking Barriers for Women and Girls focused on advancing gender equity worldwide by exploring pathways to enable women and girls to reach their full potential.
Co-hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Women in Public Policy Program (WAPPP), GEM24 welcomed 230 leaders from 38 countries, representing 76 organizations across public and private sectors. The CID and WAPPP teams collaborated with 20 different Harvard Centers, programs, and departments in the planning of GEM24. The conference featured a series of panels, discussions, and interactive incubation sessions that provided a platform for speakers and attendees to share insights, exchange ideas, and formulate actionable solutions.
As the conference unfolded, GEM24 catalyzed meaningful dialogue and collective action, driving forward the global agenda for gender equity and empowerment.
Unveiling Inspirational Narratives through Art and Culture
Before the opening dinner on the evening of May 1, the conference began with an optional tour of the "Hum Sab Ek (We are One)" exhibition at the Tsai Auditorium. The tour was led by CID Faculty Affiliate Dr. Satchit Balsari, SEWA Secretary General Jyoti Macwan, and Harvard graduate students.
The multimedia art exhibition, inspired by women working with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed attendees to explore SEWA’s resilience in the face of adversity. The exhibition, which is co-sponsored by the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and the Office of the Provost at Harvard, is open for self-guided tours.
GEM24's welcome reception and opening dinner were held at the Harvard Art Museums. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a treasure hunt for artwork by female artists within the museum's first-floor galleries.
The dinner tables featured "Coding De Future" Kawandi Centerpieces, made by skilled women from the Kawandi Artisans collective within the Indian NGO, Siddi Chittaraa. The pieces symbolized the Siddi women's art heritage and highlighted their significant contributions to their communities. Guests were invited to take the centerpieces home with them, extending the celebration of women's creativity and resilience.
The evening’s remarks kicked off with a welcome from Fatema Z. Sumar, Executive Director of CID. Sumar acknowledged the global representation of the conference’s attendees and their shared dedication to advancing gender equity and sustainable development. Nicole Carter Quinn, Executive Director of WAPPP; Iris Bohnet, Co-Director of WAPPP; and Asim I. Khwaja, Faculty Director of CID gave additional welcome remarks.
Sisterhood in Entertainment and Advocacy
In line with the theme of women and girls in the arts, the evening's fireside chat was titled "Shattering Gender Norms in Global Film.” Khwaja moderated the session, which featured esteemed activists and actresses H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, Ashley Judd, and Smriti Kiran.
During the discussion, these influential women shared their remarkable journeys advocating for women and girls in the global film industry and beyond. As first lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Bio discussed her efforts to protect women and girls from sexual violence through the ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ Campaign. Judd shared her experiences as a vocal advocate for gender justice through the #MeToo movement, emphasizing the importance of collective action for female empowerment. Kiran echoed these sentiments, stating, "I don't want to remove myself from my professional life just because it's rigged against me. I want equal opportunity."
Their conversation underscored the power of community to advance gender equality and seek justice for women facing exploitation and sexual violence. Through their inspiring stories and advocacy efforts, the speakers exemplified the transformative potential of women's leadership in the arts.
Inspiring Dialogue and Ideating Solutions
Khwaja and Bohnet kicked off the second day of GEM24 by providing the morning’s opening remarks after an opening video which emphasized the urgency around the issue of supporting gender equality in developing countries.
Khwaja highlighted the unique nature of the conference’s interactive Incubation Rooms, which provide attendees with the opportunity to develop early-stage ideas within small groups. Khwaja underscored the importance of collaboration in the field of international development, identifying the need for all global regions to come together “intellectually and financially with the will for change."
Khwaja also announced the launch of the 2024 GEM Incubation Fund which is now open for applications to support innovative research in the field of gender equity in developing countries.
Bohnet followed with a reflection on the power of evidence-backed narratives. She shared four powerful stories from across the world, emphasizing the role of public policy, organizational procedures, social norms, and agency in shaping approaches to gender and equality.
Panel One: Innovative Interventions in Advancing Gender Equity
The first panel explored examples of successful and innovative interventions aimed at empowering women and girls. Moderated by GBH Features Editor, Jennifer Moore, the panel featured a diverse group of speakers from government, academia, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector.
Claudia López Hernández, Former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia, emphasized the necessity of supporting women with comprehensive care services to alleviate overworking and restore opportunities. She discussed the vitality of care services for urban well-being and described her administration's success in establishing care blocks.
Gary Barker, President and CEO of Equimundo, reflected on the importance of engaging men in conversations on advancing gender equality, ending violence against women, and changing social norms.
Latanya Mapp, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, highlighted the need to uplift grassroots leaders and foster partnerships for sustainable change. She emphasized the importance of a bottom-up approach to address systemic issues, asserting that supporting these leaders is as crucial as implementing policies and laws.
Eliana La Ferrara, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, underscored the role of early education in fostering gender equality and solidarity. She emphasized the imperative of instilling values of social good and solidarity from a young age, irrespective of gender.
Watch the recording of the panel discussion.
Fireside Chat: The Politics of Centering Women and Girls in Policy and Practice
In the morning’s fireside chat discussion, Amna Nawaz, Co-Anchor of PBS NewsHour, moderated a conversation between two former leaders from West Africa and the Middle East.
Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Patrick Achi, and Former Prime Minister of Jordan, Dr. Omar Razzaz, shared insights into their experiences navigating the realms of politics and policy advocacy for women and girls.
Achi emphasized the pivotal role of women in governance and the need for their inclusion at all levels of decision-making. He described the significance of women in shaping the political landscape of Côte d’Ivoire and positioned their involvement as crucial for future progress.
Razzaz echoed these sentiments, advocating for a global approach to combat rising autocracy and safeguard women's rights. He championed collaborative efforts in implementing impactful policies such as maternity leave, emphasizing the collective contribution of both men and women in driving positive change.
Watch the recording of the discussion.
Lunch With Grandmother
Over lunch, attendees at GEM24 learned about the vital role of grandmothers in community care. The discussion featured Jolly Babirukamu, Grandmother Program representative at the Ugandan NGO Nyaka, and Jackson Kaguri, CEO and Founder of Nyaka.
Babirukamu shared insights into the impactful work of a network of grandmothers associated with Nyaka, illustrating their role in spreading love and support within communities. The session provided a platform for dialogue on the challenges faced by women and girls in Uganda and the potential for transformative change through education, economic empowerment, and home-based care.
Watch the recording.
Panel Two: The Next Frontiers for Women and Girls
In the afternoon’s final panel, Raj Kumar, President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex, moderated a discussion on the multifaceted challenges in the global advancement of women and girls. The panel included a diverse array of practitioners and researchers at the forefront of gender equality efforts, offering insights into the grassroots realities and initiatives shaping the landscape of women's empowerment.
Madam Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security, discussed the importance of political will in combating violence against women in Africa. She emphasized the need for engagement at the highest levels of leadership to drive forward the gender equity agenda.
Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, Chair of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls, highlighted the challenges in building alliances to counter gender backlash effectively. She stressed the importance of adopting an intersectional approach and promoting synergy between movements to achieve lasting change.
Janet Pau, Executive Director of the Asia Business Council, shed light on the unique challenges faced by women in Asian economies. She called for addressing cultural norms and promoting couple equity to enable women to fully participate in the workforce and leadership roles.
Mia Perdomo, CEO of Aequales, underscored the critical role of corporations in addressing gender disparities. She emphasized the need for businesses to understand and address the holistic environments of women's livelihoods, both at home and in the workplace.
Watch the recording of the panel discussion.
Co-creating Solutions to Advance Gender Equity in GEM Incubation Rooms
Following the panel sessions, participants engaged in smaller-group GEM Incubation Rooms. These sessions provided a platform for attendees to explore innovative ideas and develop partnerships aimed at addressing gender-related challenges in the workforce, healthcare, leadership, and security.
GEM24 Incubation Rooms:
- Enabling Women's Skilling Journeys
- Shifting the Balance of Power on Maternal and Reproductive Health
- Paths to (Better) Paid Employment
- Women and Leadership: Leveling the Playing Field to Power
- Advancing Women, Peace, and Security
Participants were encouraged to develop collaborations within these sessions for submission to the GEM Incubation Fund, which provides seed funding for research proposals seeking to advance gender equity in developing countries.
The Road to GEM and Beyond
CID's Global Empowerment Meeting was the culmination of many months spent learning from leaders on the front lines of gender-related work in developing countries. Through podcasts, events, and articles, CID's Road to GEM elevated the perspectives of practitioners, researchers, and change-makers who are making a difference for women and girls around the world.
GEM24 concluded with a final reception, where attendees networked and reflected on the insights gained throughout the conference. The reception marked the end of two days of productive discussions and collaboration aimed at advancing gender equity and empowerment worldwide.
A special thank you to the 47 individuals who joined GEM as speakers or facilitators of our GEM Incubation Rooms, to the 220+ guests who traveled to Boston and engaged with passion and commitment, and to our staff, dining, and custodial teams for ensuring the event ran smoothly. Check out the conversations on LinkedIn and Twitter using #GEM24.
Mary Mei
Mary Mei
Mary Mei is a Master in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on economic development and education policy. Prior to HKS, Mary spent a year teaching English in Poland on a Fulbright Grant and worked as a public sector consultant for local and state government clients in Washington, DC. She has a B.A. in Economics and Government from Georgetown University.
Image Credits
Matt Teuten
Read Next Post
