As 191 nations prepare to arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai, NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) is all set to leverage the opportunity to push its agenda on advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment on a global stage.

With its presence at the Women’s Pavilion from October 2021 – March 2022, NAMA will engage in impact-driving/energetic discussions with a host of stakeholders and partners, policy makers, international and grassroots organisations, to shape more inclusive and equitable societies through the socio-economic advancement of women.

Along with its three affiliates, Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (Irthi), and Badiri Education and Development Academy (Badiri), NAMA will be leading 12 roundtable debates and panel discussions, along with several interactive and impact-driven workshops to identify solutions to various impediments to women’s full inclusion in society and economy.

From workshops that aim to raise awareness and share best practices to promote gender-inclusive workplaces to panel discussions that shed light on gender-responsive budgeting to achieve gender equality outcomes, NAMA and its affiliates will mobilise efforts to tackle emerging and existing gender gaps to create lasting change.

NAMA shines light on women’s inclusion and gender-responsive strategies

In October, NAMA will host a panel featuring distinguished male and women leaders from private sectors to build the case for women’s inclusion and emphasise the need for men to champion women’s inclusion. An interactive workshop in December aimed at marketing, media and content professionals will share best practices on communication strategies to promote gender-sensitive messages and debunk biases.

In January 2022, in partnership with UN Women, NAMA will host a panel discussion and workshop to discuss gender-responsive procurement as a transformative strategy to achieve global sustainable development goals.

Ahead of the six-month event, ReemBinKaram, Director, NAMA, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai underlines the UAE’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment as this is the first World Expo since the 1900s to have a stand-alone pavilion dedicated to women. NAMA is championing the call to action for accelerating progress on gender equality and developing an ecosystem in which women’s full potential is realised by taking these issues to the centre stage”.

The NAMA Director added: “At NAMA, we believe in a holistic and multisectoral approach to ushering impactful and lasting women empowerment across the world. As global experts gather at this World Expo to resolve some of the world’s most pressing challenges and create a better future for all, we look forward to stimulating conversations and boosting cohesion with our partners and stakeholders to steer efforts for a more gender-just world and take decisive steps to empower women and girls everywhere.”

NAMA affiliates call for the adoption of reskilling and sustainable practices 

As part of NAMA’s participation programme, SBWC will host an innovative pitching event for women entrepreneurs and lead discussions on sustainable business practices while exploring opportunities for women in emerging sectors such as Argi-tech.

Irthi will discuss the importance of forging global connections through culture and highlight ways to advance the crafts, textile and design industries through sustainable crafts practices, while Badiri will lead an interactive workshop to spotlight the importance of skilling and reskilling women in preparation for future work requirements.