On January 26, 2024, the International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF) at Central University of Finance and Economics, in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), successfully organized a workshop with the theme “Navigating Gender-Inclusive Finance for a Sustainable Future.” The workshop provided a platform for understanding the purposes and products of gender finance, along with exploring how financial tools can be employed to tackle challenges encountered by women. Employing a multifaceted approach, the seminar provided valuable insights to guide the development of gender finance in China. The seminar extensively discussed the fundamental perspectives presented in the collaborative report by IIGF and UN Women, titled “Gender Finance Landscape in China.” Topics addressed during the conference included potential risks associated with gender inequality scenarios, gender-related aspects within climate financing, government budgeting with a gender perspective, investment activities taking gender factors into account, and the expansion of gender data collection and application. Experts in attendance represented diverse sectors, such as government departments, domestic financial institutions, multilateral development banks, corporations, and research institutions. Collectively, they examined the current challenges in the advancement of gender finance. This collaborative initiative offered a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the present state of gender finance development in both the global and Chinese markets.
During the workshop, Ms. Smriti Aryal, the Representative of the UN Women China Office, and Professor Wang Yao, the Director-General of the International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF), delivered welcoming speeches. Professor Wang stressed the importance of evaluating practices within China’s financial sector that promote gender equality and exploring innovative approaches in gender finance. She highlighted the significance of these initiatives in fostering long-term sustainable development in finance. Ms. Smriti Aryal, speaking on behalf of UN Women, emphasized the importance of creating a platform for learning and sharing, engaging in meaningful dialogues, and collaboratively working to increase essential investments in gender equality.
During the conference, specialists from the Weihai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) presented keynote speeches. They discussed practical instances of financial support for women’s products in Weihai City and shared global best practices in gender finance within the AIIB’s scope.
Experts from the Chinese Academy for Fiscal Sciences (CAFS), Institute of International Development Cooperation, Insurance Asset Management Association of China, the Center for Chinese and Foreign Women’s Studies at Peking University, Center of Gender and Global Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the Xiangmi Lake Women Directors Alliance provided insights during the first roundtable discussion on the topic of “Policy Support for Gender Finance Development.” The discussion underscored the importance of future considerations in the Chinese market, advocating for more detailed budget allocations based on comprehensive data analysis to achieve a more inclusive fiscal policy. Key topics addressed included gender mainstreaming, integrating a gender perspective in international development cooperation, gender considerations in insurance and asset management, the development of rural and urban women, gender finance and sustainable development, and promoting gender diversity on boards.
During the roundtable discussion on “Empowering Women through Finance,” representatives from China Life Insurance Company, Luxembourg Stock Exchange, 2X Global, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) explored topics such as integrating gender equality in financial insurance, gender finance initiatives, commitments to gender equality in infrastructure investments, the global impact of investments under the guidance of the UN Women’s Global Sustainable Finance Team, and shared their experiences in mobilizing private sector investments with a gender perspective. The discussion highlighted the positive role of the financial sector in advancing gender equality and sustainable development.
The roundtable discussion, titled “Financing Women in Climate Action,” brought together representatives from Zhong Lun Law Firm, the Asian Development Bank, the China Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC), and Mobility for Africa. The focus of the discussion was on initiatives that promote women’s innovation and entrepreneurship, underscoring the inspiring role of women leaders in climate action. The forum stressed the exploration of challenges faced by women in the realm of climate change, highlighting how fostering women’s involvement in projects like healthcare and transportation can contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.
UN Women and IIGF have established a close partnership, currently collaborating on a comprehensive landscape research regarding financial support for gender equality and women’s empowerment in China. The research’s objectives include summarizing both international and domestic measures supporting gender equality in the financial sector, exploring innovative concepts and pathways in gender finance, increasing awareness of gender finance principles and best practices within the Chinese financial market, and fostering the development of gender finance in China. Looking ahead, IIGF and UN Women will jointly organize additional events focused on women’s topics, creating platforms to facilitate the exchange and sharing of ideas. The collaboration aims to involve experts from diverse fields in discussions about utilizing financial means for women’s development, ultimately creating opportunities to further the achievement of sustainable development goals.