The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) launched an initiative to mark annual International Women’s Day this year which geared towards removing the barriers to women’s empowerment. The new drive constitutes the IsDB’s renewed commitment to achieving women’s empowerment as enshrined in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Bandar Hajjar, the President of IsDB Group launched the “SheCAN” Initiative in Tunisia at the occasion of International Women’s Day. The initiative calls for stepped up efforts and concerted global actions to enable women to realize their full potential, such as lack of access to basic services, resources and opportunities for economic advancement.

“If given the opportunity ‘SheCAN’ transforms her families, communities, and economies resulting in more inclusive, productive, and resilient societies,” sums up the thrust of IsDB’s new initiative. IsDB Group has been contributing to women empowerment through its interventions in improving health, food security, economic opportunities and education. It has been working effectively to improve women’s access to time and labor-saving equipment and infrastructure that ensure economic opportunities. It has also been easing their access to essential services and supporting their financial inclusion through Islamic microfinance.

On this occasion, the bank reconfirmed its commitment to continue empowering women through targeted interventions and improved access to education, health, financial and non-financial services, agricultural inputs, and infrastructure that leverages women’s empowerment. Internally, IsDB has enhanced the role of women in its leadership positions and tends to take further steps to increase the number of women in professional and management positions in the bank.

“SheCAN” Initiative is based on the reality that women’s empowerment is necessary to the IsDB member countries’ socioeconomic development, and thus it lies at the heart of IsDB’s Strategy. IsDB’s Five-Year Plan dictates its commitments towards women’s empowerment into tangible actions. It emphasizes on increasing financial, technical and human investments in programs and initiatives that create opportunities for women to participate in and benefit from the development assistance provided by the bank.

IsDB intends to join the G20 efforts for women’s empowerment which aims to introduce additional 100 million women into the workforce by 2025. Also, it wants to extend its assistance to the private sector to fulfill their commitment to conducive workplaces that attract, retain and promote women.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development urges that no one is left behind, and women are the key to the realization of this Agenda.