Global First Ladies Alliance brings in rising women leaders and new media platforms to its high-level policy dialogue for the first time this year.
They are women “traditionally engaged in or given access to these conversations”, the organizers said in a statement ahead of its dialogue “, The Future of Women: Leadership for a New Era” this September in New York.
The dialogue will be co-hosted by Facebook, in partnership with M·A·C AIDS Fund and OkayAfrica, bringing rising African women leaders in to share their visions for the future directly with the First Ladies.
“Together, First Ladies and these emerging leaders have the potential for exponential impact, reaching both policy-makers and leaders as well as youth and those shaping popular culture,” organizers said.
Some women are billed to receive #theFutureofWomen award, recognisin the work of rising African women leaders in the area of technology, social impact and creative entrepreneurship.
Global First Ladies Alliance founder Cora Neumann said, “Since 2008, we have worked with 45 first ladies on policy and programming in their countries and worldwide.
“This year, given the current political climate for women around the world, we feel it is imperative to reach an even wider audience, and to find ways to spur more creative solutions for promoting women and women’s leadership.
“By bringing in the voices of rising women leaders, and partnering with new media platforms, we hope to uncover new solutions and reach harder-to-access groups such as youth and culture-makers.”
Commenting on the partnership, Ebele Okobi, Public Policy Director, Africa said, “Our aim is to build, strengthen and empower a global community, and we know when women do better, economies do better.”
Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability for Estee Lauder and Global Executive Director of the M·A·C AIDS Fund, said, “M·A·C Cosmetics believes in supporting the fierce and the fearless, and that’s why the M·A·C AIDS Fund is proud to join forces with the Global First Ladies Alliance, Facebook, and OkayAfrica to elevate the voices of First Ladies and other women leaders who are not only critical to the HIV/AIDS response, but to all sectors of society.
“These women are champions and change-makers who will shape the future of Africa, and we’re honored to celebrate them, hear their perspectives, and work with them to identify solutions to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.”
