The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Investment Technology and Promotion Office (UNIDO ITPO) Nigeria has unveiled the Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice (GLICOP) to bolster women's entrepreneurship and advocate for gender equality in the business sphere.
This initiative was inaugurated in Lagos during the inaugural Gender Lens Investing Training, addressing the hurdles encountered by underfunded women-owned businesses. GLICOP's primary objective is to bridge the funding gap that often hampers the growth of women entrepreneurs. It achieves this by offering greater access to resources, funding opportunities, networking avenues, and capacity-building support.
By fostering an environment that levels the playing field for both aspiring and established women entrepreneurs, GLICOP aims to create an ecosystem where women can flourish in the business world.
The launch of this program involved distinguished experts and thought leaders, including Etemore Glover from the Impact Investors Foundation, Dr. Funmi Adewara, the Founder of Mobihealth, Nonye Umahi, Managing Consultant at CUANU Consult, and Dr. Ola Brown, the General Partner of HealthCap Africa. Their contributions played a vital role in shaping GLICOP's mission of promoting funding equality and driving economic growth.
The launch event underscored actionable goals, such as the establishment of information hubs, enhanced networking opportunities, and support for women fund managers. Discussions also shed light on the significance of regulatory frameworks, policy advocacy, and bias removal to cultivate an environment conducive to the growth of women-led enterprises.
A central theme of the launch was the call for strategic policies that allocate funds specifically for women-owned businesses, accompanied by rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This approach seeks to dismantle historical barriers and biases that have hindered the progress of women entrepreneurs, recognizing the immense potential of investing in women as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.
GLICOP's launch signifies the collaborative nature of transformative change, involving stakeholders ranging from government bodies and NGOs to development finance institutions (DFIs) and venture capitalists (VCs). Together, this collective effort aspires to shape an inclusive ecosystem that offers essential resources, opportunities, and support for women-owned businesses.
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