Skip to content

Dit project is alleen beschikbaar in het Engels.

The Power of Partnerships Event

Project

On 12 March 2018, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, FMO, Better Future and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an event on how we can make finance work for women entrepreneurs.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands offered the keynote speech at the event.

“Around 80 percent of formal, women-owned MSMEs do not have access to the financing they need. This represents a $1.7 trillion finance gap. But there are significant opportunities that could make a difference.”

Queen Maxima giving her presentation to the Power of Partnerships Conference

DSC06212-45

Presentation in the main hall of KIT

Queen Maxima attending a meeting

Queen Maxima talking to participants of the Power of Partnerships conference

SONY DSC

People having a meeting on the Power of Partnerships event

Queen Maxima giving her presentation

Queen Máxima – KIT’s patron – is also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.

More than 180 participants joined the event. These included representatives from banks and financial institutions that invest in emerging markets, women entrepreneurs from emerging markets, women business networks and organisations, NGO’s, policy makers and academics.

Supporting women entrepreneurs: improving livelihoods through financial inclusion

The event aimed to promote dialogue on how to transform financial organisations and build new partnerships to better serve women entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Within this context, a top priority is enhancing the quality, accessibility and affordability of services to these women. This will ensure the availability of financial services and products that match their needs and support them to improve their livelihoods and businesses.

The event also highlighted the importance of much-needed sex-disaggregated data to measure financial performance and the impact of serving the women’s market. It also showcased innovative and multi-stakeholder approaches that unlock the women’s market business case and truly forge a more gender inclusive way of financing.

Other keynote speakers included:

Moderator Ms. Victoria Foster: Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Better Future U.S.
Ms. Uthara Narayanan: Chief Changemaker & Manager Trustee, Buzz India
Ms. Saskia Vossenberg: Senior Advisor & Researcher Gender & Financial Inclusion and Women’s Entrepreneurship, KIT

“Financial services are essential for all self-employment, to grow small businesses, for asset accumulation, and household wealth creation. But in the case of women, financial inclusion can have an even broader impact. It can be a powerful tool to achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Queen Máxima, UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).

About KIT

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is an independent centre of expertise and education for sustainable development. We assist governments, NGOs and private corporations around the world to build inclusive and sustainable societies, while measuring their impact.

Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, our work focuses on health, gender, economic development and intercultural cooperation.

Facts & figures

Countries in which we are active
50+

Sustainable Economic Development, Gender and Health Projects
196

Health Professionals trained at KIT
3,024

Nationalities of Participants
95

People trained by Intercultural Professionals
1,895

Events by Conferences & Events
1,925

The SDG house at KIT Royal Tropical Institute hosts a diverse range of forward-thinking entrepreneurs, NGOs and organisations all working towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through partnerships, co-creation and the exchange of ideas, we aim to maximise our collective impact.

About SDG House