empowHer! : The Podcast for Women's Economic Empowerment

In Nepal, female graduates of the SDC Apprenticeship Program are 2.5 times more likely to secure employment compared to their non-apprentice peers. In this episode, we’re joined by Pankaj Parajuli , an expert from SDC Nepal, to explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)—a cornerstone of Swiss development cooperation and a pivotal tool for women’s economic empowerment. Tune in t...

Are we on track to achieve gender equality by 2030? Alison Holder , Executive Director of Equal Measures 2030 , is sounding the alarm: progress is stagnating, and in some areas, we’re even losing ground. In this episode, we explore the findings from the 2024 edition of the SDG Gender Index , revealing the latest data on where the world stands in key areas like workplace equality, education, care w...

With 1 in 4 people who menstruate struggling to manage their menstruation safely, it's clear the global community has overlooked a vital development and investment opportunity. In this episode, we explore the challenges and opportunities in the menstrual health and hygiene market from two perspectives: Adrian Dongus, Menstrual Health Markets Specialist at the UN Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, di...

In the face of worsening gender disparities, investing in girls and women emerges as a vital strategy. Join us as we delve into the transformative power of gender lens investing with Jessica Espinoza, CEO of 2X Global . From entrepreneurship to supply chain practices, Jessica Espinoza sheds light on the potential of gender lens investing to drive both financial returns and social impact. Envision...

Economic deprivation and economic exclusion of women is connected to gender-based violence (GBV). In this episode, Rana Al-Motairi and Reine Musharbash from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) explain how they use women's economic empowerment as an entry point to engage men and boys in the prevention and reduction of GBV in refugee camps and the wider society in Jordan. Paired with econom...

Refugees, especially women, are often excluded from financial services because they are regarded as too high-risk and "unbankable". In this episode, Bdour Al-Hyari from the Jordanian Microfund for Women (MFW) tells us how they successfully developed holistic financial products according to the needs of Syrian women refugees. To more effectively make use of MFW’s loans, the beneficiaries...

Lorsque son mari est tombé malade, cette mère de famille a contracté un microcrédit et est devenue entrepreneuse en savon artisanal, employant dix personnes. Elle peut maintenant envoyer ses enfants à l'université. Elle fait partie d'un programme de développement économique local soutenu par DDC à Koutiala, au Mali. Dans cet épisode, vous entendrez Hamet Cissé, ancien Chargé de Programme D...

Returning survivors of human trafficking in Bangladesh are faced with stigmatisation and discrimination by their families and communities. In this episode, Dipta Rakshit from Winrock International talks about the hardships of returned trafficking survivors and how the project Ashshash supports them in rebuilding their lives. As part of the project’s holistic approach, trafficking survivors access...

In this episode, Nathalie Paarlberg talks about Turquoise Mountain and the work they do with women weavers in Myanmar. Myanmar has a long artisanal tradition of weaving, and Turquoise Mountain ensures that the weavings are spread throughout the world. The organization not only helps female weavers earn an income, but also encourages them to pass on an ancient tradition with special fabrics like si...

In this episode Yasmin Kayali shares the story of Shatila Studio, a social enterprise based in a refugee camp in Lebanon. The Shatila Studio not only allows women to develop an artisanal skill and generate income, it also provides a safe space for its community of women who have overcome incredibly difficult obstacles.   

In this podcast, Fauna Ibramogy explains how they use a gender transformative approach in Mozambique to create structural change in the perception of gender norms and promote equality in rural communities. Fauna Ibramogy is a national programme and gender focal point at the Swiss Embassy in Mozambique.  

Raising awareness of privilege and prejudice is key towards a more just society. In this podcast, Vesna Bajsanski-Agic the director of the Mozaik Foundation, a start-up incubator in Bosnia & Herzegovina, tells us how they are addressing privilege & prejudice, and how something as simple as being thoughtful in the use of language may encourage young women to become entrepreneurs.  

In this podcast, Federico Restrepo Sierra from the Impact Hub in Medellin shares how to improve gender equality through women economic empowerment. Their program for women entrepreneurs provides them with tools, benefits and connections to even the playing field and pave their way to success.

Las mujeres rurales tienen el potencial de ser creadoras del desarrollo de destinos sostenibles. En este podcast, Rocío Rojas, de Turistech LivingLap (y ganadora del premio a la mejor iniciativa de integración de la perspectiva de género en PesLatam) habla de Redintur, un proyecto en Perú en el que se empodera a mujeres y niñas de zonas rurales a través de la cocreación de conocimiento. Centrándos...

Rural women carry the potential to be creators of sustainable destination development. In this podcast Rocio Rojas, from Turistech LivingLap (and winner of the Best Gender Mainstreaming Initiatives of Enterprenours in PesLatam) talks about Redintur, a project in Peru where women and girls from rural areas are empowered through the co-creation of knowledge. Focusing mainly on training in participat...

In this podcast we will learn how the project "Mercados Rurales" in Bolivia came up with a concrete idea to improve women's economic empowerment by redesigning boxes for fruit vendors in markets. Rocio Tarraga (Swisscontact Women Empowerment Consultant) also shares how they used a Gender Mainstreaming Business Model and other approaches to make that happen.

In this podcast our guest is Peter Sidler, Head of the Domain Employment and Income, in the Swiss Embassy in Tanzania.  We will talk about including gender in a tender process, what is important for tendering, and how you can win one.