2021 ADB Asia and the Pacific Virtual Gender Forum l The Power to Transform: Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific 22 to 25 November 2021 The first ever Asian Development Bank (ADB) Gender Forum entitled, The Power to Transform: Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific, was held on 22-25 November 2021 to inform, influence, and inspire action on gender equality. The Gender Forum welcomed more than 1,900 participants composed of ADB staff, developing member countries, government executing and implementing agencies, development partners, the private sector, academia, civil society and women’s organizations. The virtual event was a platform to share and promote best practice on gender mainstreaming and inspire innovation for gender equality. Keynote gender experts and high-level speakers facilitated the dialogue and information sharing between national, regional, and global partners and stakeholders, and discussed and explored how concrete policies and projects can better support the achievement of gender equality and more resilient communities. Thematic Tracks The Forum agenda will be built around four daily thematic tracks: Making economies work for women: skills, jobs, and care Quality infrastructure for gender equality Empowering women through climate action New Frontiers for gender equality: social contract and good governance Day 1, 22 November Making economies work for women: skills, jobs, and care Women face many challenges which prevent their full integration in the global economy: limited access to education and skills training, gender wage gaps, and unequal distribution of domestic care work. Even when they participate in the labor force, this does not automatically lead to a reduction in gender-based inequalities. Yet, women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality, in addition to other positive development outcomes. Sessions under this track will highlight the importance of investing in STEM education for girls, women’s entrepreneurship, actions to reduce women’s care work, and maximizing women’s participation in the future of work. Day 2, 23 November Quality infrastructure for gender equality There is a tendency to focus on the physical and visible aspects of infrastructure, yet, there are many invisible elements of infrastructure that are often overlooked and have implications for gender inclusion. Infrastructure which neglects to consider the needs of women and girls impedes their equal access to critical resources such as clean water, health and sanitation services, and digital communications technology. Further constraints on women and girls are placed by their unequal access to intra-urban mobility, threats to their personal safety and security, and lack of representation in formal structures of urban governance. Key aspects under this theme will focus on redesigning cities to include women, improving women’s access and use of transport, and digital technology for women. Speakers will share insights on how urban development initiatives can ensure gender equal access to infrastructure services, and approaches that include women in the decision making for urban issues affecting their livelihoods and environment. Day 3, 24 November Empowering women through climate action Climate action and a just transition can be a force for gender transformative change. Evidence shows that in countries with high levels of gender inequality, there is also higher vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change. Climate extremes degrade ecosystems and place heavy burdens on women and girls, limiting their opportunities for education and income generation, and increasing their exposure to gender-based violence. Effective climate change adaptation takes place when social drivers of vulnerability are addressed. Discussions under this theme will include innovative approaches to gender responsive climate finance, developing gender responsive nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and supporting women’s participation in the renewable energy transition. With growing levels of investment in renewable energy there is great potential to bring women and female entrepreneurs into the sector, but this can only happen with dedicated attention to building women’s skills, addressing gender norms, providing women with finance, and changing policies that present barriers to women to fully participate in the energy sector. Day 4, 25 November New frontiers for gender equality What is required to redesign a social contract that addresses existing gender inequalities and supports a future of shared prosperity? Globally, women have longer life expectancy than men, yet they receive 30-40 percent less in pensions compared to men. This is the result of a lifetime of economic and social inequality, the gender wage gap, taking more time off than men from the workforce to raise children and support their families, and their concentration in the informal economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on gender-based violence and made evident that the paid and unpaid work women do is key to keeping our societies and economies functioning. The pervasiveness of gender-based violence and widespread reliance on women’s unpaid care work is unjust and unsustainable. Sessions under this theme will delve into how redesigning a new social contract can addresses existing gender inequalities and support women in the labor market, encourage men to take on care responsibilities, and how tax and pension systems can better support women not to grow old in poverty. Key aspects under this topic may include public policy to transform gender norms which discriminate against women and girls, gender-responsive taxation, and enhancing social protection for ageing women. Format The Forum will include these types of sessions: Spotlight Sessions will focus on new ideas, data, research, and innovation to advance gender equality. Good Practice Panels will highlight challenges, successes, and lessons learned when implementing gender mainstreaming initiatives. Knowledge Labs are interactive sessions with practical tools on how to turn policy into action on gender equality. Special Sessions: Day 1: High-level Opening Session to set the scene. Day 4: IDEVAW Side Event to commemorate the International Day to Eliminate All Forms of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), and a Closing Session to recap and feature key highlights of the Forum discussions. Program and Learning Materials 22 November 2021 23 November 2021 24 November 2021 25 November 2021 Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Opening Session [VIDEO] Opening Session Masatsugu Asakawa , Sima Bahous, Samantha Hung Opening Session Moderator Jamela Alindogan Opening Session [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] Opening Session Opening Session [SPEECH] Opening Remarks Masatsugu Asakawa Opening Session [VIDEO] Shaping an Equal, Greener, and More Resilient Future for Women and Girls Spotlight Session Day 1 [VIDEO] Time of Opportunity: Gender Equality in Future Economies This session will focus on how we can achieve a better balance and rethink an economic system that works for women, ensures that they get their fair… Anu Madgavkar Spotlight Session Day 1 Moderator Jamela Alindogan Spotlight Session Day 1 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] “Time of Opportunity: Gender Equality in Future Economies” Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 1 [VIDEO] Making Economies Work for Women: Skills, Jobs, and Care Women face many challenges which prevent their full integration in the global economy: limited access to education and skills training, gender wage… Jayati Ghosh, Faryal Khan , Bimbika Sijapati Basnett , Steven Beck Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 1 Moderator Jamela Alindogan Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Stories from the Frontline: Advancing Workplace Gender Equality in SouthEast Asia—Investing in Women Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, and Business Coalitions (BCs) in South East Asia have been working to advance gender… Kathy Mulville Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] How Do You Build Gender-Inclusive Digital Economies?—UNCDF An interactive discussion based on the UNCDF IDE & Gender Playbook, participants will learn and share their insights into the common barriers to… Nandini Harihareswara, Giulia Zaratti Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Promoting Women Leadership in Technology through Innovations in Higher Education and TVET—ADB EDU With the expanding impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), societies across the globe are experiencing an era of digital revolution… Brajesh Panth Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Building an Equal and Innovative STEM Girl Force for the 21st Century—UNICEF The session will share UNICEF’s programme portfolio for girl-centered, generational impact in skills, digital literacy, and innovation with… Sheeba Herma Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Spotlight Session Day 2 [VIDEO] Livable Cities in a Rapidly Changing World: Why Gender Equality Matters To make infrastructure work for everyone, we need to fundamentally change the way it is planned, delivered, and managed. Cities have inadvertently… Maria Vassilakou Spotlight Session Day 2 Moderator Kris Panday Spotlight Session Day 2 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] “Livable Cities in a Rapidly Changing World: Why Gender Equality Matters” Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 2 [VIDEO] Quality Infrastructure for Gender Equality Gender inequalities persists and limits the extent to which women can contribute to the social and economic life of cities. Gender-blind… Neeta Pokhrel, Atsuko Okuda, Tanu Priya Uteng, Elin Andersdotter Fabre, Isira Perera Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 2 Moderator Mitzi Borromeo Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 2 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] Quality Infrastructure for Gender Equality Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Public Participation and Citizen Engagement for Urban Development—Maptionnaire The possibilities of citizen participation in urban planning have increased tremendously through digitalization. While public participation and… Maarit Kahila, Anna Broberg Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Beyond the Statistics: Finding the ‘Real Story’ Behind Gender Data—Kontinentalist When we see the world through data, who does the counting and who matters? How do we present data in a compelling way to diverse audiences? Too often… Zafirah Zein, Bianchi Dy Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] A Safe Place to Go: Designing Female-Friendly Public and Community Toilets—WaterAid Poor access to sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls. But it's not just a question of lacking a household toilet – low availability… Thérèse Mahon Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Women on the Move: Transforming Transport in Asia—GIZ Transport is largely still seen as a field for men, with only ~20% of the workforce being women despite knowledge that women make up half of the… Patricia Mariano Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Spotlight Session Day 3 [VIDEO] How Can Just Transition be a Force for Gender Transformative Change? There are many challenges ahead as countries in the region move towards a just transition, yet there is one key opportunity-to empower women by… Sharan Burrow Spotlight Session Day 3 Moderator Ahmed Saeed Spotlight Session Day 3 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] “How Can Just Transition be a Force for Gender Transformative Change?” Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 3 [VIDEO] Empowering Women Through Climate Action Evidence shows that in countries with high levels of gender inequality, there is also a higher vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate… Lorena Aguilar, Suranjana Gupta , Arghya Sinha Roy, Cristelle Pratt Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 3 Moderator Bruce Dunn Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 3 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] Empowering Women Through Climate Action Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Sustainable and Scalable Women Entrepreneurship Programmes in Renewable Energy—EmPower When we see renewable energy and women's entrepreneurship projects, the question arises - what is the best way to design these? How to start? What… Fiza Farhan, Parimita Mohanty Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Gender-Based Violence & Environmental Action: Understanding Links, Taking Action—IUCN/TNC The climate crisis is not gender neutral. Climate change impacts—such as prolonged drought, sea level rise, natural resource degradation, and… Cate Owren Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Including Women and the Poor in Electrification—ENERGIA Electricity is not gender-neutral: gaps in access to electricity infrastructure and services disproportionately affect women. At the same time, women… Soma Dutta Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Advancing Gender-Responsive Climate Action—IISD/WEDO The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) represent key opportunities to address the gender… Julie Dekens, Tara Daniel Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Side Event [VIDEO] International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women: Addressing Gender-based Violence and Sexual Violence in Development Project The event aims to highlight and discuss key issues, challenges, and opportunities for multilateral development banks to mitigate the risks of sexual… Bruce Gosper, Imrana Jalal Side Event Discussant Woochong Um Bruno Carrasco Side Event Moderator Samantha Hung Side Event [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women Spotlight Session Day 4 [VIDEO] Empowering Women in Informal Economy What is required to redesign a social contract that addresses existing gender inequalities and supports a future of shared prosperity? Globally,… Padma Shri Reema Nanavaty Spotlight Session Day 4 Moderator Barkha Dutt Spotlight Session Day 4 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] “Empowering Women in Informal Economy” Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 4 [VIDEO] New Frontiers for Gender Equality: Good Governance and Gendered Social Norms Speakers in this good practice session will discuss issues related to the "unfinished gender agenda." They will touch upon social and gender norms… Caren Grown, Michelle Harding, Julia Newton-Howes, Kelera Kolivuso-Ravono , Sunita Pitamber Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 4 Discussant Bruno Carrasco Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 4 Moderator Barkha Dutt Good Practice Panel Discussion Day 4 [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] New Frontiers for Gender Equality: Good Governance and Gendered Social Norms Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Gendering Access to Justice—The Asia Foundation Formal justice systems are predicated on a wealth of assumptions about equality, voice and empowerment that rarely play out in the concrete interface… Nicola Nixon, Sophia Cason, Mark Koenig, Sofia Shakil, Evangeline de Silva Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] How to Break the Glass Ceiling: Promoting Women’s Leadership in Water Institutions—WorldBank WaterGP While evidence shows that companies stand to gain from increased diversity at leadership levels, women remain largely underrepresented in decision… Shona Fitzgerald, Melita Grant, Avni Kumar Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] The Business Case for Financing Women—ADB PSOD In this 60-minute session, ADB’s Private Sector Financial Institutions Division will showcase financial institutions which are banking women in… Christine Engstrom, Sucharita Mukherjee, Debbie Watkins, Vineet Sukumar, Rusudan Baratashvili, Amanda Satterly Knowledge Labs [VIDEO] Addressing Gender Norms to Increase Financial Inclusion: Designing for Impact—CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Join this knowledge lab to learn how you can address gender norms to increase women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Drawing on CGAP’s… Antonique Koning Closing Session [VIDEO] Closing Session Reema Alsalem, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala , Bambang Susantono Closing Session Moderator Jamela Alindogan Closing Session [RUSSIAN INTERPRETATION] Closing Session Closing Session [SPEECH] Closing Remarks Bambang Susantono Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Event Coordinator/s Zonibel Woods Ma. Celia Guzon ADB Organizer/s Gender Equality Division Read Also ADB.org I Gender and Development ADB.org I The Power to Transform: Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific Topics Gender Equality