Invincible
On the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Mastercard Foundation and ALADI were joined by visionary leaders on September 22nd to address critical issues of young women’s economic empowerment in Africa.
Invincible: Empowering Young Women, Transforming Africa
Our second event at UNGA 79, Invincible: Empowering Women, Transforming Africa, in partnership with Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI), focused on the role of young women in driving Africa’s economic transformation, with insights from leading experts in finance, policy, and development. This exciting event featured leading finance, policy, and development experts and highlighted the potential impact of Africa’s young women in driving economic transformation.
Our Focus for Invincible: Empowering Women, Transforming Africa:
- Inspirational Keynotes: Hear from invincible women who have defied the odds to build successful businesses.
- Dynamic Panel: Engage with experts on reimagining and transforming Africa’s financial systems.
- Spark Talks: Young changemakers share inspiring stories and innovative solutions.
- Impact-Driven Solutions: Actionable recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, and development organizations.
- Networking: Connect with influential leaders, visionaries, and trailblazers.
- Interactive Dialogue: Engage in real-time discussions with satellite-linked participants worldwide, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving.
Watch the highlights of this incredible event:
Panels
During this event we were joined by an incredible roster of speakers and panelists:
Opening Session: Art for Empowerment
Fanta Ballo
Rix Poet (Live from Nairobi)
Welcome and Context Setting
Julie Gichuru
Founder and CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
Insights and Impact - Gender Report Findings
Marieme Esther Dassanou
Director Gender, Programs, Mastercard Foundation
Keynote Address: Rise and Shine Women Leading the Way
Hon. Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim
Honorable Minister for Youth Development Nigeria
Spark Talk: Story of Change
Areej Noor
Founder, CEO at STATEMENT
Panel Discussion: Visionaries in Conversation: Charting New Paths
Moderator: Redi Tlhabi
Journalist, Producer, Author
Dr. Jemimah Njuki
Chief of the Economic Empowerment section at UN Women
Nathalie Akon Gabala
Global Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion, IFC
Deniece Laurent-Mantey
Executive Director of the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States
Spark Talk: Story of Innovation
Thembiso Magajana
Co-Founder, Social Coding
Panel Discussion: “Revolutionizing Access to Affordable Finance”
Moderator: Julie Gichuru
Founder and CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
Rukayat Bello (video)
CEO, Regxta
Dr. James Mwangi
CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited
Tolulope Lewis Tamoka
Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs and Africa, UN Global Compact
Jules Ngankam
CEO, African Guarantee Fund
Sabine Mensah
Deputy CEO, AfricaNenda
Keynote address: The Choking Debt
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Call to Action: “Commit to Change: Pledge for Progress”
Madame Monica Geingos
Former first lady of Namibia
Sanda Ojiambo
Assistant Secretary General & CEO, UN Global Compact
Amadou Gallo Fall
President, Basketball Africa League, Founder NBA Africa
Baroness Valerie Amos
United Nations Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Dr. James Mwangi
CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited
Myriam Sidibe
Founder, Chief Mission Officer and Author of Brands on a Mission
Wendy Teleki
Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Secretariat, housed in the World Bank
Julie Gichuru
Founder and CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Concluding remarks
Hannah Tsadik
Acting Country Director, Kenya Programs, Mastercard Foundation
Julie Gichuru
Founder and CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
Our Learnings and News
The Mastercard Foundation Brings Together Key Stakeholders to Drive Impact on Secondary Education and Women’s Empowerment in Africa at UNGA 79
Mastercard Foundation, CAMFED, and FAWE Partnership to Accelerate Education and Access to Work Opportunities for Over 70,000 Young Africans
Gender Parity will unlock $287B for Africa’s Economy by 2030: Mastercard Foundation Report
Educating Girls Generates Economic Transformation In Africa
Young Women in Africa: Agents of Economic Growth and Transformation By 2030
