INVESTING

Mobilising Investment in Women’s Health and Rights: Reflection From 16 Days of Activism

The annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from November 25th (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10th (Human Rights Day), provides an important opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize resources to support these efforts. The numbers are still very disturbing across Africa and the globe: more than 5 women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their family; One in three women have been subjected to violence at least once in their lifetime.

With the prevalence of what is considered the most pervasive human rights violation, the prosperity of many societies has been drawn back and we must rally and educate everyone to fight against gender-based violence in our bid to achieve equality and a just world. While it is important that we amplify our voices to join the fight against gender-based violence, mobilizing investment in women’s health and rights is crucial for promoting gender equality and improving the overall health and well-being of women and girls.

Investing in women’s health and rights has numerous benefits. This includes: improved maternal and child health, reduced rates of HIV and other infectious diseases, and increased economic opportunities for women. This in turn can have a positive impact on communities, as well as on the global economy.

To mobilize investment in women’s health and rights, it is important to focus on several key areas. First, there needs to be a strong commitment from governments, donors, and other stakeholders to prioritize and fund these efforts. This can include targeted investments in health care services, education and training programs, and economic empowerment initiatives for women and girls.

Second, it is crucial to engage with and empower women and girls themselves, as well as their communities, to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. This can include providing training and support to women’s organizations and community-based groups, as well as working with local leaders and decision-makers to advocate for policies and programs that support women’s health and rights.

Finally, it is important to monitor and evaluate the impact of these investments, to ensure that they are effectively addressing the needs of women and girls, and to make any necessary adjustments to improve their effectiveness. This can involve gathering data and evidence, conducting research, and engaging in ongoing dialogue and collaboration with key stakeholders.

As a reflection of our works in the social impact space, Sociocapital strongly believes that mobilizing investment in women’s health and rights is essential for promoting gender equality and improving the lives of women and girls around the world. By focusing on key areas and engaging with stakeholders at all levels, we can help ensure that these investments are effective and sustainable and that they result in real and lasting change for women and girls.

Towards a More Collaborative, Country-Led, and Global Nutrition Response

Sociocapital supported the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the World Food Program to equip and support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), the private sector, as well as humanitarian and development actors within the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network to collaboratively adopt safe and healthy nutrition business practices through the development of global convergence toolkit, technical assistance strategy and revised governance framework.

Advancing the Nigerian Creative Economy through impact Entrepreneurship, Education and Investment

Sociocapital led the development of the National Creative Hub Strategy towards advancing the Nigerian creative economy through impact entrepreneurship, education, and investment. The strategy is positioned to unlock impact capital to foster the growth of the creative economy and the establishment of incubator hubs for the creative industry in Nigeria.

Empowering Africa’s Female-led MSMEs for growth through Gender Lens financing

About 7 in every 10 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owned by women have little or no access to financial services; a reflection of the $42b gender financing gap in Africa. Sociocapital is one of the implementing partners of the Growth4Her project, an accelerator which provides women entrepreneurs with the capacity and tools needed to transition from small to high-potential fundable growth-stage businesses. The program offers investment readiness skills, direct links to funders, and fosters an ecosystem that supports these women to survive and thrive.