BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 7 Vital-Voices-women
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Inter-American Development Bank announces a new partnership with the Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women Initiative to benefit women in Latin America and the Caribbean. The announcement was made by IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and Dina Powell, Managing Director and Global Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement for Goldman Sachs, during the Vital Voices of the Americas: Women as a Bridge to a More Prosperous Future Summit being held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 5-8, 2008.
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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced a strategic partnership with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative to support and promote women entrepreneurs in the region. Through this partnership, the IDB and the 10,000 Women Initiative will jointly commission a study with the aim to identify the problems facing women entrepreneurs, and suggest how to promote and support underserved women entrepreneurs through training and capacity building for economic empowerment. Dina Powell reported, "10,000 Women is rooted in developing the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs and managers, and working with outstanding partners to leverage our collective investments towards this aim. The women of Latin America are uniquely poised to drive social and economic change, and we are proud to work with the Inter-American Development Bank and Vital Voices, both of whom are leading the charge to identify, cultivate and unleash the potential of women throughout the region."
The IDB with its Multilateral Investment Fund and the partners in this initiative seek to positively impact women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, the IDB is considering the creation of a Gender and Diversity Fund to strengthen countries' efforts to integrate gender and diversity issues in public policies and national programs, particularly those financed by the IDB. This fund would foster equal conditions and opportunities for women and men belonging to different ethnic and racial backgrounds, attack the root causes of discrimination and empower people to control their own social, economic and cultural development.
President Moreno noted that Vital Voices has been a big promoter of positive change for women all over the world. They have played an instrumental role in bringing together the IDB with other key players in Latin America and the Caribbean to help empower women in the region.
In March 2008, Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Women, a global initiative that will provide 10,000 underserved women, predominantly in developing and emerging markets, with business and management education and improve the quality and capacity of business management education around the world.
This commitment to women's leadership in the region by Goldman Sachs and the IDB was hailed on September 27th by former US President Clinton as an invaluable source of support. Additionally, President Clinton applauded Vital Voices, ExxonMobil and the Club of Madrid for their new commitment of support for women's economic and political leadership training programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Today marked the second day of the Vital Voices Women's Leadership Summit. Assembled this morning at Buenos Aires' Malba Museum of Latin American Art, Vital Voices attendees received the announcement with great enthusiasm. "The investment by the Inter-American Development Bank, Goldman Sachs, Vital Voices, the Club of Madrid and ExxonMobil is significant recognition of the importance of the role women can and must play in driving economic growth. Goldman Sachs investment in business and management education and training is a high return investment that will positively impact countless more," said Melanne Verveer, Chair and Co-Founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership.
Since 1998, Vital Voices Global Partnership has conducted more than two dozen leadership programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching hundreds of emerging women leaders in business, government and civil society. Those women, in turn, have educated and trained thousands more women and established Vital Voices chapters across the hemisphere. This Women's Leadership Summit highlights 10 years of work in the region and a significant opportunity to plan for the challenges that lie ahead.
Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in emerging women leaders -- pioneers of economic, political, and social advancement in their countries -- and builds the capabilities, connections, and credibility they need to unlock their potential as catalysts of global progress. Through our leadership development and local empowerment programs around the world, Vital Voices works to expand women's role in generating economic opportunities, increasing political participation, and protecting human rights. With over a decade of experience empowering women in Latin America and the Caribbean, we have hosted over two dozen leadership and training programs, resulting in the birth of eight local chapters.
CONTACT: Maria Gabriela Hoch of Vital Voices Global Partnership, 011 +54-11-4703-1080 ext 23, 011 +54-15-4146-6911 (cell), mghoch@mghcm.com
SOURCE Vital Voices Global Partnership
