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Why Gender Diversity Matters
Gender diversity matters in microfinance. WWB champions gender diversity because we believe that diverse perspectives lead to stronger decisions and healthier, more vibrant organizations. Incorporating women’s voices when designing and delivering microfinance products is particularly important when a majority of clients are women. Equally as important, microfinance clients often speak of the inspiration they derive from seeing powerful women leaders in the organizations that serve them. How best to achieve diversity? The answer lies in leadership and technical skill development of individual, high-potential leaders as well as in organizational transformations to ensure that all women and men work in environments where they can perform, excel and lead.
Featured Publication
“Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women” introduces WWB’s new methodology for helping MFIs support gender diversity at all levels of their institution. WWB has expanded its Women’s Leadership Development Program, which works with individuals, to include a tool that focuses on the challenges and opportunities microfinance institutions face in the attraction, retention, and promotion of qualified women staff members - the Organizational Gender Assessment. Now available in English and Spanish.
Gender Diversity
The Economic Empowerment of Women Is a Business Issue
In a recent Huffington Post article, the President of Pfizer Latin America, argues that while most people see the economic empowerment of women as an equality issue, it is in fact a business issue.
Ujjivan Financial Services celebrates International Women’s Day
Ujjivan Financial Services, a leading Indian microfinance institution and a member of the WWB network, celebrated International Women’s Day with great energy and creativity this year. Inspired by its work in 2010 with WWB to build a stronger demonstrated commitment to gender diversity, Ujjivan used this year’s Women’s Day to celebrate women at all levels of the institution.
Center for Microfinance Leadership Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Diversity in Microfinance
WWB hosted a roundtable discussion at the Access Microfinance India Summit on November 17, 2010. Elizabeth Lynch of the Center for Microfinance Leadership hosted the discussion, entitled “Championing Gender Diversity in Microfinance”, and presented on WWB’s cutting edge work in building workforce diversity in Indian microfinance.
The Wall Street Journal: Alyse Nelson, A 'Vital Voice' on Women in India
In an article published on September 13th in the Wall Street Journal, titled "A 'Vital Voice' on Women in India", Elizabeth Lynch, Manager for WWB's Center for Microfinance Leadership responds:
Alyse Nelson is absolutely right that India presents a mixed story when it comes to gender diversity in leadership. Women's World Banking (WWB), a global network of microfinance institutions, is fortunate to have among its founders some of the most influential women in the field of microfinance in India: Ela Bhatt, Vijayalakshmi Das, Jayshree Vyas.