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Healthy Women, Healthy Economies
Investing in health and education for girls and women does more than just change individual lives. It lifts whole economies.
Healthy Women, Healthy Economies is a powerful strategic partnership with GBCHealth, the U.S. State Department Office of Global Women’s Issues and leading member companies like Coca Cola and Chevron. The focus is on driving corporate action where it can make the greatest difference: direct investments in health systems, improving girls’ access to education, empowering women economically and engaging boys and men in constructive ways to reduce gender-based violence.
Each Healthy Women, Healthy Economies corporate partner works with GBCHealth to strengthen its own programs, contribute best practices to the global action plan and inform the creation of new tools, such as advocacy platforms and workplace programs.
Framework for Action
The initiative offers companies a framework for corporate action that helps determine the best way to deploy their particular assets to achieve the greatest fit with their company and the greatest potential for impact. The framework includes the following means of taking action:
- employee engagement
- workplace programs
- community investment
- philanthropy
- deploying business assets
- advocacy
These methods for taking action overlay with the initiative's five interrelated pillars for intervention:
- health
- education
- economic empowerment
- reducing gender based violence
- promoting constructive engagement of men and boys
High-Impact Opportunities for Corporate Action
Our first signature program is a cross-cutting intervention for companies with male workforces in developing countries.
moMENtum: A Workplace Initiative. We are offering companies a training program they can implement with their male employees, building on evidence that constructive involvement of men is a ‘pivotal lever for change’ for women’s and girls’ health, and opportunity to thrive.
Providing gender and health training for men at the workplace yields better health and productivity for the men who participate, but is a powerful ‘force multiplier’ that will enhance investments in maternal health, girls’ education, women’s economic empowerment, and certainly for reducing gender-based violence.
A more than two-fold increase in HIV testing services, 30 percent greater use of family planning services by women, and improved morale and productivity are just some of the benefits participating companies enjoy.
Download the moMENtum brochure
Access the moMENtum toolkit and case study (members only)
Special Cross-Sector Convenings
HWHE convened a powerful Partnership Forum and Executive Study Tour in South Africa on International Women’s Day, March 8 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Over 80 corporate, NGO and government executives came together and identified specific areas of collaboration where companies are now making investments.
GBCHealth members interested in: HIV/AIDS, maternal health, girls' education, women's economic empowerment, reducing gender-based violence and involving men and boys GBCHealth members are invited to take part in “deep dive” teleconferences featuring co-investment opportunities in:
- girls’ health and education
- maternal health
- constructive engagement of men and boys
- other topics based on priorities laid out by the Global Health Initiative and their recently released “Supplemental Guidance on Women, Girls, and Gender Equality Principle” http://www.ghi.gov/resources/guidance/161891.htm
By joining Healthy Women, Healthy Economies, companies, governments and NGOs alike can maximize their global health investments by pooling assets with proven partners. While those working with us will benefit from new partnership opportunities and recognition, the biggest beneficiaries will be girls, women and their communities around the world.
To take part or to find out how your company can be part of the Healthy Women, Healthy Economies initiative, contact Ilze Melngailis, Vice President, Partnerships and Impact Initiatives, at 1-212-584-1619 or imelngailis@gbchealth.org.
HWHE Resources
Statements of Support from Corporate Partners
