The Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, has announced the establishment of a US$1billion Women in the Digital Economy Fund through the United States Administration and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
According to her, US$60million out of the total US$1billion allocated for the establishment of the fund is to tackle affordability, gender inequality, among others, as part of the US Government’s effort to advance women’s economic participation across the African continent.
The remaining US$40million added is an investment from the Melinda Gates Foundation to cater for the afore-mentioned adjustments as well.
“I am pleased to announce here with the US leader that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, together with our administration, will establish the Women in the Digital Economy Fund, which is a US$60million global fund, which among other things, will address access, affordability, digital literacy, and gender inequality. In addition, the Gates Foundation is investing an additional US$40million to support these adjustments,” she said.
Ms. Harris made this statement during a roundtable discussion with women entrepreneurs on economic empowerment during her visit to Ghana.
These investments were derived from sources that are in the technology sector, financial services sector and healthcare industry; and will help to do mainly three things, which include: digitise women-owned small businesses, provide access to capital, healthcare and education, and combat gender-based violence.
Ms. Harris was positive that the investments outlined will help build a future where women will not just be treated equally, but also be able to thrive and have the opportunity to lead – a future where there will be no barriers for the ability of women to participate in the economy.
Speaking on women empowerment, Ms. Harris stated that the empowerment of women resides in their freedom to operate without interference from society.
She explained that there are numerous factors that could influence the potentials of a woman to survive and thrive. She said empowering women economically goes a long way to lift up the economic status of families, communities and the society at large.
“Our belief is that the empowerment of women is rooted in the concept of freedom, a concept that is true to this country and to the United States. And when I talk about freedom in the context of our conversation today, it is not only the freedom from harm or violence, it is the freedom to create one’s own future, unobstructed, unimpaired.”
She tasked the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, to continue conversations around women empowerment through the Advisory Council for Women Entrepreneurs.
