Advancing Women's Economic Opportunity Through Member-Owned Enterprises

Member-owned enterprises - or cooperatives - are catalysts for women's economic empowerment. Through ownership of these businesses, women globally earn higher wages, have better market access, and more easily obtain leadership positions. However, barriers still exist at all levels which prevent women from fully participating in the economy.

Please join us and experts from the International Cooperative Alliance, the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council, HealthPartners, Land O'Lakes Venture37, Global Communities, and Equal Exchange as we learn from their research and experience in the field. Panelists will share insights from studies and interventions conducted across various sectors in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Keynote

María Eugenia Pérez, Chair, Gender Equality Committee, International Cooperative Alliance

Introduction

Sylvia Cabus, Senior Gender Advisor, Office of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment, USAID

Wade Channell, Senior Economic Growth Advisor for Gender, Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment, USAID

Panel Discussion

Moderator

Emily Varga, Director of Cooperative Development, Office of Local Sustainability, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment, USAID

Panelists

• Judith Hermanson, Ph.D., Research Director, U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council
• Sarah Murungi, Chief of Party, HealthPartners Uganda
• Kari Onyancha, Chief of Party, Land O'Lakes Venture37
• Kristin Wilcox Feldman, Chief of Party, Global Communities
• Julia Baumgartner, Cooperative Development Program Manager, Equal Exchange

Questions? Please email Kristina Evans at krevans@usaid.gov.

This event will be recorded.