Economic Empowerment
South African women’s economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable development and successful achievement of the goals outlined in the country’s National Development Plan (NDP), Brand South Africa said on Wednesday. “The NDP calls for investments in gender equality, as these yield the highest returns of all development investments which are fundamental to strengthening women’s rights, thus enabling women to have control over their lives and exert influence in society,” Brand South Africa, set up to promote the country as a desirable investment destination, said as the country marked every August as Women’s Month.
This year Women’s Month is themed as “Women United in Moving South Africa Forward,” a notion centred on women achievers and their participation in the economy.
Brand South Africa said gender equality and empowered women were catalysts for multiplying development efforts and positively positioning the competiveness of South Africa as an attractive investment destination.
“Empowered, inspired and developed women are critical to South Africa’s global competitiveness. This is equally the legacy that will be bequeathed to future generations,” the agency said.
Studies show that countries that have embraced and expanded opportunities for women and girls in education and work in recent decades have largely achieved greater prosperity and social development.
In South Africa, women constitute a large proportion of the economically challenged, particularly in rural areas. The NDP acknowledges this by taking gender along with race and geographic location into account by proposing a range of measures to advance women’s equality.