Goverment: New Zealand Foreign Ministry, US State Department
Business: CXCatalysts (woman-owned SME), Greif, Microsoft
Multi-laterals: IDB, ILO and UN DESA
NGO: International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International)

Full Title: Innovative collaborations enabling women to develop scalable green economy businesses to accelerate sustainable development (Learnings from Brazil, Guatemala, India, Kenya, New Zealand and Turkey)



The purpose of this side event is to share learnings from creative collaborations among businesses, NGOs and governments that help women access clean water and renewable energy sources to improve their family?s health and livelihoods and empower them to be part of green supply chain.

Topics:
Women Empowerment: Capacity building and preparing women for income producing activities and or transition to green business (BPW, ILO)
Innovative clean water clean energy businesses for women (NZ agroponics, CXCatalysts, Greif, Tree Is Life)
Financing inclusive green growth (IDB)
Spreading knowledge with technology and through partnerships (Microsoft, UN DESA & US State Dept)

Confirmed Participants:
Dr. Chantal Line Carpentier (UN DESA) Collaborative actions for inclusive sustainable growth
Deputy Secretary Amanda Ellis (New Zealand International Affairs and Head of New Zealand Aid Program) New agroponics businesses
Mr. Scott Griffin (Greif largest industrial packaging company in the world): Water backpacks
TBC Mr. Paul Hengeveld (Microsoft): Scaling solutions with micro-tech centers
Ms. Tess Mateo (BPW NY, CXCatalysts): Creating clean water clean power microfranchises for women in Kenya, India, Guatemala
Dr. Vinod Thomas (Asia Development Bank Philippines): Financing inclusive green growth
Dr. Arzu Ozyol (BPW Turkey): UN Global Compact Women Empowerment Principles
Mr. Vinay Rao (CXCatalysts India): Moderator
TBC Mr. Kees Van der Ree (ILO): Green jobs and training women entreprenuers & SMEs
TBD, (US State Dept): Global Alliance for Cookstoves
Ms. Yara Blochtein (BPW Brazil): Tree Is Life, creating seeds nurseries for women in Brazil

Problem Definition:
In many developing countries, women and girls are often affected by lack of water as they are primarily responsible for obtaining and transporting it for daily use. At the same time, women are often tasked with collecting and managing traditional fuels, limiting their time and opportunities for education. The effects of climate change in the agricultural sector and its strain on food security add on to these realities.
The private and public sectors are increasingly recognizing the multiplier effects of investing in women, particularly in emerging economies, and can play significant roles in changing the scenario above. Collaborative action to not only help women address their current challenges but also create new economic opportunities for them can change the face of development. Global Alliance for Cookstoves is helping reduce health issues associated with indoor open fires while also combating climate change by decreasing use of biomass (wood) with more energy efficient clean cookstoves. Having a clean cookstove frees up at least three days for a woman. Converting time spent on fetching wood into income generating activities, the woman?s family and her extended community greatly benefits. Directing women towards activities and opportunities that promote or support green economic growth, can further accelerate sustainable development.
All levels of governments and all types of businesses are now considering how to generate positive impacts through inclusive and green procurement and supply chains. The United Nations Global Compact?s Women Empowerment Principles provides guidance on how organizations can advance women, and point the way to a future that is both more prosperous and more fair for everyone.

Format for the Side Event:
Panelists will be seated in chairs arranged in a semi-circle and looking toward the audience. The Moderator will give welcoming remarks and after introducing the participants putting forward some questions. Because, the main objective is to engage the participants in a lively discussion, the last 40 minutes will be reserved for interactive dialogue between the speakers and the audience.

Rather than speakers presenting a lecture on the topic, the facilitator will address them directly and pose a concrete question relevant to their work and experience on the intersection between women, clean water and sustainable energy. A script with questions will be prepared in advance and shared with the facilitator and speakers. However, speeches have to reflect; Relevant country experiences on the adverse impacts of water scarcity, traditional fuels and climate change on women; Concrete initiatives from local to global levels to ensure women?s participation in sustainable energy and access to clean water; New opportunities that deliver both womens empowerment and green economic growth.