The United States is cutting billions in foreign aid. In Nigeria, pregnant women and others now face higher risks from HIV Kyuntu John, a mother of three, is running out of her antiretroviral drugs needed to fight AIDS. In a matter of days, her supply will end. But in the wake of the Trump administration’s…
Johannesburg — As we open the #WCWSummit2025, our CEO Theo Sowa and Director of Programmes Shiphra Chisha (M.Inst.D), MBA set the tone for the day, centered on purpose, impact, and collective power. Theo reflected on the deeper purpose of our work, emphasizing that true equality requires collective action, balance, and systemic change. Inspired by a…
Women entrepreneurs hold the potential to transform Africa’s economic future. Across the continent, women-owned businesses are creating jobs, lifting families out of poverty and reshaping communities, thanks to their resilience, creativity, and belief in succeeding against all odds. Justina Opit, the CEO of Omega Foods in Zambia, is just one example. “I created Omega Foods…
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – During the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Spotlight Initiative co-hosted a high-level side event to mobilize new commitments towards gender-based violence prevention and response. ‘Full Speed Ahead: A Global Partnership to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls’ was co-hosted with the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU),…
Amid predictions of Africa’s growth and the potential of its youth, one inconvenient statistic tells a different story. Africa has the highest rate of femicide worldwide [2.9 victims per 100,000 in 2023] – around 22,000 women and girls are killed every year by an intimate partner or family member. I spend a lot of time…
Despite important progress in diversity, the payments industry continues to face a persistent gender gap. These statistics are not abstract, they directly affect how talent is developed, how innovation is nurtured and how the payments ecosystem evolves. Addressing this gap is both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative. Across tech and payments, women continue…
For black people living in South Africa during apartheid, simply moving around the country was a fraught activity, let alone crossing its borders. This was especially the case for black women, who were “rock bottom of the racial pile”, as South African writer Lauretta Ngcobo expressed it. Coming to power in 1948 and ruling for…
In the quiet, sunbaked landscape of Mtakuja Village in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, farming has always posed significant challenges. The heat is often extreme, the soil dry, and the rains delayed for months. Yet, amid these challenges, a spirit of resilience is flourishing. At the heart of this transformation are women such as Margaret, a…
The fundamental rights of society’s most vulnerable – women, girls and gender diverse people – are currently under threat as a fascist right agenda continues to rise. In response, Women Deliver has launched the development of a Feminist Playbook, a co-created strategic document that will be finalized at the Women Deliver 2026 Conference to be…
More than 351 million women and girls could still be living in extreme poverty by the end of the decade if current trends persist. The world is retreating from gender equality, and the cost is being counted in lives, rights, and opportunities. Five years from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline in 2030, none of…
