The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO)

On today’s episode, we look at how Nigerian women are changing social norms through the film industry. First, reporter Yecenu Sasetu profiles the Girls Voices Initiative’s Girl Nation Academy and how it is increasing access to women looking to break into film. For deeper analysis host Reena Ninan then speaks to Ojoma Ochai, the Managing Partner of The Creative Economy Practice at CC Hub, which hel...

According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have experienced FGM, or female genital mutilation. That’s about 5 percent of women and girls around the globe. How can the world finally end this?  On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women – our first of Season 3 – reporter Eunice Maina explains how financial factors incentivize wom...

Season 3 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, December 13th. This time around, host Reena Ninan partners with journalists around the world to cover underreported ways women are challenging the status quo. Topics this season include justice for domestic migrant workers in Gulf states, how to break down gender barriers in the film industry, and the financial factors...

Indonesia has the eighth highest number of child marriages in the world. Beyond being a human rights issue, child marriage significantly increases the chance of domestic violence, dropping out of school, and poverty. Misiyah Misiyah, founder and director of feminist organization Institut KAPAL Perempuan, wanted to convince Indonesian President Joko Widodo to increase the legal marriage age from 16...

According to the World Bank, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comprise about 90% of the global economy. But these kinds of businesses – too big for microfinance and too small for commercial bank loans with favorable rates – face many hurdles to borrow money. On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we delve deeper into the “missing middle” credit gap and what can b...

In its simplest definition, microfinance refers to small loans usually worth less than $1,000 for people with low incomes. Microfinance is a widely discussed idea in development circles, particularly surrounding women’s empowerment. But how effective is it? On this episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we look at why microfinance has had mixed results and learn about the best ways t...

Access to property is arguably one of the most important paths for women’s income security. But for many, there are not only economic barriers to owning property but also legal obstacles. For example, there are approximately 75 countries where women still do not have the same rights as men to inherit property. On today’s episode of The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we follow the story of R...

On this week’s show, we look at how reforming marital rights could be the biggest first step toward gender equality. We found the idea for this show from the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) project, which ranks 190 economies every year for how well their policies are for gender equality. According to the WBL, South Africa has made the third-most progress regarding gender equality o...

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates and Nobel Prize economist Esther Duflo talk with host Reena Ninan about the best ways to empower women economically post-COVID-19 on the premiere episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women’s (HERO) second season. French Gates is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports this podcast. French Gates is also the founder of Pivotal...

Season 2 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, March 8th – also International Women’s Day. This time around, host Reena Ninan talks to women around the world changing their communities, and countries, through financial empowerment. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See...

Season 2 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is out soon! Host Reena Ninan shares more – including a potential gift for our listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we considered what to do for this last episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women’s first season, it was hard to think of the right people to interview. Who could really comment on what women are facing in the entire world? Thankfully, we were able to connect with two of the most influential women in the world fighting for global gender equality. They reflect on some of the themes we...

Violence between cow herders and farmers has killed more people in recent years in northeastern Nigeria than the Boko Haram insurgency, according to the International Crisis Group. One solution to this conflict is creating a better environment for dairy producers so cattle herders do not need to travel as far to get feed for their cows. This would impact not only the country’s security but also th...

When we use the phrase “remarkable women” for this podcast, Letty Chiwara definitely fits the bill. She is the current U.N. Women Representative to Ethiopia, the Africa Union Commission, and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa. Although these are broad titles, one major part of her work is helping others get better data on the lives of Ethiopian women, including their full financial contributi...

According to the ILO, 81.6 percent of women’s employment in India is concentrated in the informal economy — this is work that’s not taxed, or under the table. On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we examine why India has one of the highest rates of women in the informal sector and what can be done to get them more rights, income, and support. Host Reena Ninan first speak...

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we’re headed to Uganda, where a group of women are saving money—and participating in a pilot program called “Household Dialogues” from the nonprofit CARE, where they’re attending a form of couples counseling. Host Reena Ninan speaks with Namara Eve, who participated in the Household Dialogues, and Julia Arnold, senior research directo...

As FP Analytics highlights in its new report, “Elevating Gender Equality in COVID-19 Economic Recovery, there’s a dire global child care shortage, which the pandemic only worsened. But increasing COVID-19 recovery plan investments in care work -- especially the child care sector -- would deliver greater and more sustainable stimulus than other measures, such as construction-oriented funding. Still...

Could empowering women in the workplace be the simplest way to boost the global economy moving forward? Host Reena Ninan talks to women around the world changing the status quo in surprising ways to improve their lives, their families, and ultimately, the world. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀) is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Learn more...