UAE Green Building Council Engages in OECD Forum to Champion Gender Equality Initiatives

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

The UAE Gender Balance Council (UAE GBC) participated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Forum on “Gender Equality: Navigating Global Transitions,” held in Paris on June 10 and 11. This significant forum brought together leaders and experts from governments, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society from around the globe.

The forum focused on strategies to advance gender equality amidst global shifts in sustainability, energy, climate, and the rapid pace of digital transformation. Over the course of two dynamic days, the forum explored the unique challenges and opportunities related to gender balance. Participants discussed innovative strategies and policies, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to ensure gender equality in the digital era and in sustainable initiatives.

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Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, participated in the OECD session on “Leveraging Government Tools and Data for Inclusive Global Transitions.” This session examined how governments can adapt to green and digital transformations to achieve gender equality and overcome related challenges. Key topics included policies, programs, initiatives, and advanced technology to help bridge gender gaps and ensure effective budgeting for enhancing green and digital agendas alongside gender balance initiatives.

The session featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile; Elsa Pilichowski, Director of Public Governance at OECD; Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councillor of Switzerland; Renata Vargas Amaral, Secretary for International Affairs and Development, Ministry of Planning and Budget, Brazil (G20); Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum; María del Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, Director for Development Cooperation at OECD; and Susan Snider, Vice-President of Strategy, Innovation, and Impact at Equality Fund. British TV presenter and journalist Femi Oke expertly moderated the discussion.

Her Excellency Mona Al Marri underscored the UAE Gender Balance Council's commitment, led by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to forge impactful global partnerships. She emphasized the UAE’s dedication to advancing gender balance globally, particularly in technology, environment, sustainability, and the green economy. Her Excellency also highlighted efforts to increase women's participation in leadership and decision-making roles, aligning with the UAE's significant contributions to international sustainable development goals.

Her Excellency pointed out that the UAE has fostered an environment conducive to women’s participation and leadership in green and digital transformations through various policies and initiatives. The UAE's comprehensive strategy focuses on enhancing Emirati women's empowerment and gender balance across multiple sectors, including the green and digital economy. This strategy encompasses initiatives to promote women's roles in decision-making, education and training, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

She also highlighted the "Framework for Gender Balance in the 4th Industrial Revolution" initiative launched by the UAE Gender Balance Council. Developed in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, this pioneering initiative is a global guide to help governments, the private sector, and academia effectively achieve gender balance and create a more equitable future.

Her Excellency discussed the UAE’s efforts to bridge gaps in the technology, green transformation, and sustainability sectors. The government has launched the "National Program for Coders," which aims to build the capabilities of 100 Emirati women in artificial intelligence technologies. Additionally, the "Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy (WiSER)" initiative supports talented women and prepares them to become sustainability and renewable energy leaders. Over 100 women from 30 nationalities have graduated from this initiative, and an annual forum is held to encourage innovative solutions for female sustainability leaders. The UAE boasts one of the highest rates of female enrollment in STEM majors and programs, with women constituting 56% of public university graduates in these fields.

Her Excellency Mona Al Marri stressed that women's representation in leadership positions in these areas is crucial for attracting more women to these fields. She highlighted prominent examples such as Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, who serves as the UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, who holds the position of Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Currently, women comprise about 29% of ministerial portfolios in the current UAE government, reflecting a high level of female representation.

During her speech, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri emphasized the importance of recognizing institutions that integrate gender balance policies into their strategies. Such recognition is crucial in inspiring other organizations to do the same. She highlighted the UAE's National Gender Balance Index, an annual recognition program that honors individuals and entities that support gender balance nationwide. She also mentioned the "SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Women's Leadership in the UAE Private Sector” initiative, signed by over 64 international and local institutions across various economic sectors. This pledge commits to increasing women's participation in leadership roles to 30% by 2025.

Her Excellency also highlighted the transformative role of advanced technology in enabling governments worldwide to identify and address gender balance gaps in the public and private sectors. By developing tailored solutions for each institution, these efforts can ensure the integration of women in green and digital fields. The UAE’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy has created an environment that promotes women's contributions to green initiatives. Women in the UAE have actively participated in renewable energy projects, environmental conservation, and sustainable urban development. Their significant presence at COP28, held in Dubai last November, underscores their vital role in these fields.

She stressed that the UAE continually enhances data collection and analysis on gender gaps in various fields, including the green and digital sectors. This data is vital for measuring progress and helping decision-makers implement effective policies to promote gender balance.

Addressing the critical measures needed to ensure budget effectiveness in advancing green and digital transformations alongside gender balance, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri emphasized that incorporating gender balance into budgets positively addresses women's needs and requirements. She highlighted the importance of allocating funds to educate women in STEM fields and train them as leaders in green industries, thereby creating gender-inclusive budgets. At the national level, the UAE Gender Balance Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has been working on a gender-responsive budget project.

On the forum's sidelines, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri met with Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD. They discussed new opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the UAE Gender Balance Council and the OECD, building on their cooperative relationship since the Council's inception in 2015. Key initiatives include the launch of The Gender Balance Guide, featuring globally applicable tools to enhance women's participation, and their collaboration with the Global Council for Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals to develop a toolkit for advanced global gender balance practices. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close relations and advancing efforts to enhance gender balance regionally and globally.