The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO)

Bonus: U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed & Her Power Summit Apr 23, 2024

We’re ending this season with a special bonus episode recorded live from Foreign Policy’s Her Power Summit, which took place during the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.

First, host Reena Ninan speaks to United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Then you’ll hear a panel discussion on the role of data in advancing gender equality.

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When Girl Power Breaks Through Apr 16, 2024

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we are closing out our special season on girls with inspiring stories about girl power. First, we go to Peru. Reporter Jimena Ledgard interviews Wendy Sulca, a former child pop star who is finding a new voice as an advocate.

Then, host Reena Ninan speaks with Bogolo Kenewendo about how her childhood shaped her into the political leader she has become. Kenewendo is just in her late 30s and she is a special Advisor and Africa Director to the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions.

Finally, we are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what you’d like to hear next season. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card. To participate, follow this survey link. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Pressing the Case for Girls' Education Apr 09, 2024

Education is one of the most important enablers of girl power all over the world. And in a lot of ways, girls’ education has improved. The percentage of girls in school is on the rise globally compared to two decades ago. But there are still significant gaps, particularly in areas with high levels of conflict.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, host Reena Ninan speaks with Julie Mwabe, the team lead at the global advocacy and public policy program at Global Partnership for Education. She leads efforts to mobilize political support at the highest levels for education, including from heads of state. They talk about the state of girls’ education and what the international community can do to close learning gaps, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

And a quick plug: Foreign Policy will host its annual Her Power summit on April 18th in Washington D.C. Host Reena Ninan will do two live interviews, including with the deputy secretary general of the UN, Amina J. Mohammed. If you would like to attend Her Power, you can email us at podcasts@foreignpolicy.com. Here's more information about the Her Power lineup: https://foreignpolicy.com/events/her-power-2024/

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Fighting for LGBTQ Rights in Kenya Apr 02, 2024

Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, as it is in more than half of African countries. But public attitudes have begun to shift. According to Pew Research Center data from 2002, only 1 percent of Kenyan respondents said society should accept homosexuality. As of 2020, 14 percent believed homosexuality should be accepted.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we follow the key people driving this change. Reporter Eunice Maina interviews women and nonbinary LGBTQ activists such as Marylize Biubwa, the co-founder of Queer Republic, and Ivy Werimba, a communications officer at Galck+, a coalition of 16 membership-based LGBTQ+ organizations from across Kenya. Then host Reena Ninan speaks with Eric Gitari, the co-founder of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in Kenya. His litigation has helped bring recent LGBTQ policy victories.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

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The Effort to Reduce Child Marriage in India Mar 26, 2024

The battle against child marriage around the world seems to be gaining some traction. According to the latest UNICEF data, about 1 in 5 young women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married as children. This represents a 5 percent decrease from a decade ago.

The negative impact of child marriage is widely documented. Child brides suffer domestic violence more often, drop out of school in greater numbers, and are more likely to experience poverty. Curbing child marriage is a United Nations sustainable development goal.

India accounts for some of the progress. While Indian girls still account for one-third of child brides in the world, the prevalence of child marriage there has declined about 7 percent in the past eight years.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we’ll hear how India has been able to reduce its child marriage rates. First, host Reena Ninan revisits a conversation she had in Season 2 with Mabel van Oranje, the founder of Girls Not Brides and the global movement VOW for Girls.

Then, journalist Ayushi Shah reports on a girls’ support group organized by the Indian nonprofit Child Rights and You (CRY) in the village of Tondar—and specifically how members of the group help girls resist pressure from their families to marry young.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

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How Access to Contraceptives and Safe Abortions Changes Lives and Economies Mar 19, 2024

Family planning is one of the most economically important strategies for women and girls. Access to contraceptives can help women and girls get an education and participate in the workforce. Furthermore, it could reduce maternal deaths by as much as three-quarters, according to the United Nations Population Fund. But nearly 10 percent of women of childbearing age around the world have unmet contraceptive needs and teenage girls report less access to contraceptives than other age groups.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we look at the most effective ways to increase family planning services. First, reporter Elodie Toto travels to the West African country of Benin, which recently expanded abortion access. Then host Reena Ninan speaks with Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of the global partnership FP2030. They work with governments, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector to mobilize investments in family planning.

Program Note: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports this podcast, is one of the funders of FP2030.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

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The Economics of Period Poverty Mar 12, 2024

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is back with an all-new season. This time, all our stories are about something that has been getting a lot of media attention lately: Girls. What do they really need to succeed right now? And how can we work with them to get there?

For this first episode, we focus on an often hidden aspect of girls’ economic lives that has a significant impact: period products. According to the World Bank, as many as 500 million people every month lack access to menstrual products or facilities. This cuts across all countries, including big pockets of the U.S. and the UK.

The inability to afford period products is often called “period poverty.” Not only does period poverty make many girls’ lives harder; it also affects their ability to stay in school. Many miss school days during their period and it can contribute to them leaving entirely. In India, for example, around 23 million girls drop out of school every year because they do not have a bathroom at school where they feel comfortable managing their period.

On today’s show, we look at solutions to period poverty and how truly transformational it would be for girls. First, reporter Elna Schutz talks to activists who have successfully advocated for affordable period products in South Africa, including students. Then host Reena Ninan speaks with Sia Towo, director of the nonprofit Femme International, about how to end period poverty. Her organization offers menstrual health education, conducts research, and distributes period products in East Africa.

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Coming Soon: The Girls Season Mar 04, 2024

Season 6 of "The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women" (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, March 12th. This time, we are focusing all our stories on girls. What are the real economics of girlhood? What are the hidden costs? And how could girls actually shake up the global economy? We visit girls preventing child marriages in India, advocates who helped legalize abortion in Benin, LGBTQ+ activists in Kenya, and education innovators, among others. "The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women" is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

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Can Kenya Keep Its Pledge to End Gender-Based Violence by 2026? Feb 13, 2024

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to end gender-based violence by 2026, soon before the end of his term in 2022. With two years left before 2026, is Kenya still on track to fulfill the promises made to Kenyan women?

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we talk to women’s rights activists who have pressed the Kenyan government to uphold its pledge to end gender-based violence. First, reporter Pauline Ongaji speaks with Audrey Mugeni, Co-Founder of Counting Dead Women Kenya, about the state of femicide in Kenya. Then we talk to Anne Ireri, Executive Director of the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, or FIDA Kenya. Founded more than 35 years ago, FIDA Kenya has provided legal aid to millions of women – and thousands since Kenyatta’s pledge to end gender-based violence. Ireri talked about that pledge and FIDA Kenya’s other work with our senior producer Laura Rosbrow-Telem.

While this is our last episode of the season, you will not need to wait long for HERO Season 6. Starting in March, we will focus our entire next season on girls – how they’re thriving, despite the odds. And what they need most from the rest of the world right now. So stay tuned.

Finally, we would love to hear your thoughts about this season, which was all about accountability. We are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

To participate, follow the link below. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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What It Will Take to End Yellow Fever Epidemics Feb 06, 2024

Uganda’s health ministry has launched a campaign to end yellow fever epidemics in the country by 2026. According to the CDC, about 30,000 people die from yellow fever each year, with approximately 90% in Africa. Infants and the elderly are most at risk. So the impact of this disease is more heavily felt by women, who are most often burdened with caregiving.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we visit Uganda, one of 27 high-risk countries in Africa working with the World Health Organization and other partners to try to end yellow fever epidemics by 2026.

First, reporter Leah Kahunde helps us better understand the state of yellow fever in Uganda. She speaks with health journalist Beatrice Nyangoma, whose investigative reporting forced officials to confront flaws in their vaccination procedures. Then, host Reena Ninan talks to two WHO experts about Uganda’s current yellow fever vaccination campaign: Dr. Pamela Bakkabulindi, an immunization consultant in Uganda with the World Health Organization, and Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, deputy director for Disease Control and program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization at the Ghana Health Service.

If you’d like to learn more about WHO’s vision to eliminate yellow fever epidemics, also known as their EYE strategy, you can check out their podcast, “EYE on Yellow Fever.” The EYE Strategy’s overarching goal is to eliminate all yellow fever epidemics by 2026 and protect almost 1 billion people against this deadly disease.

https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/eye-on-yellow-fever/id1578908498

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What Works in Defeating Workplace Sexual Harassment Jan 30, 2024

The level of press freedom in Kenya media outlets is among the highest in East Africa, according to the most recent World Press Freedom Index. And Reuters’ research claims that trust in the news grew by six percent last year in Kenya, right after an election.

However, there is still much work to be done when it comes to making newsrooms a safe place for Kenyan women. According to a survey from Women in News in early 2022, about 90% of women working in Kenyan media reported they were likely to be sexually harassed while on assignment. And for both women and gender nonconforming respondents, more than half said they expected to face sexual harassment in the workplace. Thankfully, leaders in Kenyan media have started to take meaningful steps to address this issue.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we will look at what actually works when it comes to ending sexual harassment at work. First, reporter Sharon Kiburitalks to Judie Kaberia. During her tenure as executive director of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Kaberia helped Kenyan media outlets develop policies and procedures to tackle sexual harassment.

Then, host Reena Ninan speaks with Prof. Alexandra Kalev, a Tel Aviv University associate professor of sociology and dean of the sociology and anthropology departments. Kalev and her colleague Harvard Prof. Frank Dobbin recently wrote a book together called Getting to Diversity. Among other workplace inclusivity topics, Kalev and Dobbin conducted groundbreaking research about how to decrease sexual harassment in the workplace. According to Kalev, most of the well-intentioned programs that they analyzed actually backfired.

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Pushing for Accountability in Nigeria's Tech Industry Jan 23, 2024

Despite a global downturn for tech, 2022 was a record year for African startup funding. According to data from Partech Partners, Africa tech financing in 2022 was 4.5 times larger than it was four years prior. And Nigeria is one of the continent’s main tech hubs.

However, underneath this success story are less convenient truths – including widespread gender discrimination and financial impropriety.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we will look at Nigerian tech leaders’ accountability efforts. We begin with a story from reporter Nelly Kalu about tech entrepreneur Chioma Agwuegbo’s efforts to increase the number of women in Nigerian tech through her organization TechHerNG – and the backlash she has faced because of it. Then, host Reena Ninan talks to Nigerian entrepreneur and angel investor Ada Osakwe, who shares what she thinks is needed to have real accountability in Nigerian tech.

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Nigeria's Bid for More Gender Diversity in Politics Jan 16, 2024

Nigeria is increasingly important on the global stage. It is the sixth most populous country and has the biggest economy in Africa. It is also home to one of the world’s largest film industries and is a major oil exporter.

Despite these achievements, gender parity in its political leadership has declined. As of last year’s elections, women make up less than 4 percent of Nigeria’s parliament. Now, Nigeria ranks among the bottom 10 countries for female representation in national government.

On today’s episode of the "Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women", host Reena Ninan speaks with Nichole Grossman from American University about her ongoing research on female political candidates in Nigeria. Grossman shares what she learned from dozens of interviews about what would be needed to increase the number of women in office. Then, reporter Yecenu Sasetu talks to a Nigerian female politician, HonourableKate Raymond Mamuno, about how she got elected. Her successful campaign was largely due to assistance from a nonprofit called Connected Development.

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Can Reality TV Get More Women into Political Office? Jan 09, 2024

This season, host Reena Ninan and reporters across Africa will meet courageous women holding leaders accountable in various sectors, including healthcare, startups, and government. Specifically, we are looking at promises made about gender equality – and seeing if they have been delivered. For example, the government of Kenya pledged to end gender-based violence by 2026. And the ministry of health in Uganda is trying to eradicate yellow fever.It is ambitious to make these kinds of pledges. But are these leaders really delivering on these promises for women and girls?

For this first episode, we decided to cover a surprising program: a reality TV show. On Ms President, women compete to become the next “president” of Kenya, where they get training to become politicians – leaders we can hold accountable. This wasn’t a typical reality TV production. In fact, a nonprofit called Media Focus in Africa launched the show with the support of the EU and the Canadian government. Reporter Eunice Maina interviews contestant Nereah Amondi Oketch to find out how she fared on the show and whether Ms President was successful at getting more women into elected office.

Finally, we are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card. To participate, follow this survey link. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Coming Soon: Season 5 Jan 04, 2024

Season 5 of "The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women" (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, January 9th. This time, we are looking at promises made about gender equality – and seeing if they have been delivered. For example, the government of Kenya pledged to end gender-based violence by 2026. And the ministry of health in Uganda is trying to eradicate yellow fever.It is ambitious to make these kinds of pledges. But it is much harder to achieve these lofty goals. Are these leaders really delivering on these promises for women and girls?

Join us as host Reena Ninan and reporters across Africa meet courageous women holding leaders accountable in various sectors, including healthcare, startups, and government.

"The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women" is a Foreign Policy podcast funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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How Strengthening Women Strengthens Economies Jul 25, 2023

Throughout this season, we’ve looked at how women are pushing back against legal, political, and cultural barriers to better themselves and their communities. And we’ve centered our conversations on the male allies who have made it their mission to fight gender inequities.

For this final episode of our season, we’re looking forward and talking to women in power. And not just any women in power – leaders who are advancing gender equality in their sectors.

First host Reena Ninan's talks to Ratna Sahay, Senior Advisor on Gender at the International Monetary Fund. Sahay shares data that shows how empowering women strengthens economies.

Then Reena speaks with Rachel Vogelstein who advises President Biden on Gender Policy. They discusses U.S. efforts to expand gender equality across the globe.

Show note:

Reena's conversation with Ratna Sahay first took place at Foreign Policy’s annual Her Power Summit. The next summit will be on October 25th. Feel free to contact podcasts@foreignpolicy.com if you’d like more details.

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Ending "Sex for Fish" in Kenya Jul 18, 2023

Kenya passed a number of gender reforms after a new constitution passed in 2010. It’s one thing to get the laws passed. But it’s another to get them implemented, especially in male-dominated sectors like fishing.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we’re looking at how Kenya’s legal reforms have created new opportunities for women in the fishing industry, such as the Fisheries Management and Development Act of 2016. However, women still face significant barriers in the fishing sector, including many reports of gender-based violence.

Reporter Thurea Mwadzaya visits a fishing community to see how policy developments are starting to take hold there, including talking to female leaders and male allies from Coastal Women in Fisheries. Then host Reena Ninan speaks with Margaret Gatonye, former CEO of the Aquaculture Association of Kenya. She helped advise the Kenyan government about the Fisheries Management and Development Act. Gatonye is currently pursuing a PhD in Global Governance at the University of Massachusetts, focusing in part on women in fishing in Kenya.

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The Challenging Economics of Women in Mining Jul 11, 2023

Lynn Gitu is a program manager at the nonprofit IMPACT. They help decrease conflicts around natural resources in Africa and enable communities to benefit more from their local resources – rather than them getting stolen, for example, by armed militias. According to IMPACT research, Gitu says artisanal mining – or small-scale mining – accounts for about 90% of the minerals produced on the continent. And approximately 30% of artisanal miners in Africa are women.

Gitu asserts that mining is much more profitable than other fields for women on the continent. She explains, “Our research with women directly has shown us that when they are supported, they often earn 300 times more from the mining sector than from any other sector.” However, if women are not supported well, they reap much less of the rewards.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, reporter Leah Kahundevisits women artisanal stone miners in Uganda, as well as male allies helping these women advance in the industry. Then, host Reena Ninan picks up her conversation with Lynn Gitu, an IMPACT program leader in Uganda.

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How Men Are Trying to End Gender-Based Violence in South Africa Jul 04, 2023

South Africa has the ignominious reputation of being the rape capital of the world and continues to battle an epidemic of gender-based violence. It is devastating for women and girls both physically and psychologically—but also economically. South Africa’s Mail & Guardian reports that the country lost about $2 billion in 2019 from the estimated costs of gender-based violence, including hospital bills, loss of productivity, and judicial costs.

On today’s episode of The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we talk to two groups of male allies in South Africa influencing fellow men in unique ways. First, reporter Elna Schutz talks with men from Sonke Gender Justice, including a man whose life changed because of a Sonke program he participated in while in prison. Then, host Reena Ninan speaks with Christopher Isike, a professor of political science at the University of Pretoria. He has conducted 10 years’ worth of qualitative research with men about why they are violent toward women and how to change their thought patterns.

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Do Gender Quotas Work? Jun 27, 2023

Lesotho, a small, landlocked country located within South Africa, was ambitious about reaching gender parity at the turn of the century. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili in the 2000s and early 2010s, the country passed a number of gender equality reforms, addressing inequities in land ownership and marriage rights, among others.

Mosisili’s administration also imposed gender quotas in a rather unique way. In 2005, it implemented a randomized gender quota at the local level to allocate 30 percent of electoral seats to women candidates. And then in 2011, it tried to implement another gender quota for national parliamentary seats. However, both these measures had mixed results.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, reporter Pascalinah Kabi explores why Mosisili was so passionate about gender equality and what could have made his efforts more successful. Then, host Reena Ninan speaks with University of California, Berkeley, political science professor Amanda Clayton, who has studied the impact of gender quotas around the world—including in Lesotho.

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LISTENER SURVEY NOTE:

We are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card. This is the final week to participate, so follow this survey link if you’d like to enter the raffle. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Religious Leaders as Advocates for Female Success Jun 20, 2023

This season, host Reena Ninan explores the importance of male allies in advancing women’s rights and economic freedoms. The topic came up at FP’s 2022 Her Power Summit. There, Hana Brixi, the global director of gender at the World Bank, shared an anecdote from research the World Bank had conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. It found one group to be particularly effective in changing men’s and boys’ attitudes toward gender equality: local religious leaders.

In the first part of this episode, reporter Eunice Maina travels to central Kenya, where she meets with a pastor involved in a movement that advocates for gender equality and works to get more women into elected positions.

Then, in the second half of the episode, host Reena Ninan speaks with Prince Adeleke Adeleye of the Oka-Okoko Kingdom in Nigeria. He is on the executive steering committee of the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa. He talks about the hands-on work he leads with men to overcome gender stereotypes.

Finally, we are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card. To participate, follow this survey link. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Coming Soon: Season 4 on Male Allies Jun 13, 2023

Season 4 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, June 20th. This time around, host Reena Ninan and reporters across Africa are focusing on one theme: the role of male allies. When are they effective? Why are they doing this work? And how do they influence men and boys? We visit religious leaders in Kenya, interview a former politician in Lesotho, and talk to male allies changing men’s attitudes toward gender-based violence in South Africa, among others. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Bonus Episode: Women's Financial Inclusion Davos Panel Mar 08, 2023

One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is many more women have bank accounts than before. Around 250 million women in the global south opened a financial account for the first time to receive government assistance, according to analysis by the Women’s World Banking’s 2021 Global Findex Database. Also for the first time, the gender gap in account ownership across developing economies fell. But data is also showing that many of these women are not retaining these accounts. What can be done to ensure these newly banked women remain in the financial system?

On a special bonus episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we first hear from a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association, a union of millions of female informal workers in India. They have drastically increased women’s digital financial inclusion since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Then, we share a conversation that first took place at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Foreign Policy editor in chief Ravi Agrawal sat down with global leaders committed to keeping newly banked women in the financial system. Agrawal first chats with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, president and CEO of Women’s World Banking, and Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (which is also one of this podcast’s funders). Then, Agrawal has an insightful discussion with Diane Karusisi, CEO of the Bank of Kigali, and Abubakar Suleiman, managing director and CEO of Sterling Bank. They share how they are changing their approach to banking to reach more women in Africa.

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Developing Male Allies in the Democratic Republic of Congo Jan 24, 2023

On today’s episode of HERO, the last show of the season, we look at how a Women for Women Internationalprogram in the Democratic Republic of Congo worked with families to try to overcome longstanding cultural barriers to women owning land. We hear from a mother, father, and son who participated in this program. Also, Women for Women International’s country director in the DRC, Rachel Boketa, explains how this project attempted to change men’s and boy’s opinions about female property ownership. Special thanks to Francis Shok Mweze, who acted as our field producer for this segment.

Boketa's program was supported with a grant from the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID. The U.S. currently gives more money to international development than any other country in the world, largely through USAID.

In the second part of the episode, host Reena Ninan talks toIsobel Coleman, the deputy administrator of USAID. Coleman explains why the Biden administration is doubling funding towards gender programming and how USAID plans to invest that financing. This conversation first took place at Foreign Policy’s Her Power Summit, an annual gathering all about women’s leadership.

Finally, we are conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what else you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be placed in a raffle to win a $25 Amazon gift card. To participate, follow the survey link below.Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Striving for Affordable Child Care in Bangladesh Jan 17, 2023

One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its resulting child care crisis, is that an increasing number of countries have passed legislation supporting the child care sector. These include Vietnam, Peru, Argentina, and Bangladesh.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we will hear about Bangladesh’s efforts to increase access to child care, particularly for working parents. Bangladesh lawmakers passed the Daycare Center Act in 2021, and last year, they proposed implementation guidelines.

In the first part of the show, host Reena Ninan speaks with Marina Elefante, a lawyer with the World Bank’s Women Business and the Law Project. Ninan asks Elefante about the World Bank’s involvement with Bangladesh to increase child care there and what this law did to support daycares.

Then senior producer Laura Rosbrow-Telem profiles daycare managers in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital and largest city, to gauge their opinion of the law. Producer Alvah Amit Halder helped report and produce this segment from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

This week, we are also conducting a listener survey to better understand what you like about the podcast and what else you’d like to hear in future episodes. All participants in the survey who provide their email will be eligible to win a $25 Amazon gift card. To participate, follow this survey link. Thank you very much for your time and feedback.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/heropodcast

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Protecting Migrant Domestic Workers Jan 10, 2023

Close to 20%of all domestic workers are migrant workers, according to the International Labor Organization. Most of these domestic workers are women and they are particularly common in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia.

Kenya sends a lot of domestic workers to Gulf countries. More than half of the over 87,784 Kenyans employed in the Middle East since 2019 have been domestic workers.

But many women returning from this work describe horrific circumstances, particularly in Saudi Arabia. And in an alarming number of cases, death.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, reporter Pauline Ongaji talks with Kenyan women who have returned from domestic work in Saudi Arabia. Then host Reena Ninan speaks with Caroline Kasinafrom the Solidarity Center in Kenya and Ruth Khakame from the Kudheiha union about their efforts to organize Kenyan domestic workers in Gulf states.

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How Shea Nut Collectives Are Empowering African Women Jan 03, 2023

A lot of shea butter, which can be found in moisturizers and chocolate, originates from West and East Africa. According to the Global Shea Alliance, shea exports from African countries have increased about 600 percent in the last 23 years.

Most shea nut collectors are rural women. So, this should be great news for them. But because of the way the shea nut supply chain operates, most women are at the bottom of the power structure, oftentimes squeezed out by middle men.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, reporter Nelly Kalu visits a Nigerian nonprofit called Initiative for Gender Empowerment & Creativity. They have innovated the shea nut business to enable women shea nut producers to earn more.

Then, host Reena Ninan speaks with Sybil Chidiac, a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Chidiac focuses on women's economic empowerment initiatives in Africa and shares her thoughts on this program and others to Ninan. For transparency, it is worth mentioning that HERO is funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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How Nigerian women are changing social norms through the film industry Dec 20, 2022

On today’s episode, we look at how Nigerian women are changing social norms through the film industry. First, reporter Yecenu Sasetu profiles the Girls Voices Initiative’s Girl Nation Academy and how it is increasing access to women looking to break into film. For deeper analysis host Reena Ninan then speaks to Ojoma Ochai, the Managing Partner of The Creative Economy Practice at CC Hub, which helps support film and other creative projects in Africa.

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The Hidden Economics of Female Genital Mutilation Dec 13, 2022

According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have experienced FGM, or female genital mutilation. That’s about 5 percent of women and girls around the globe. How can the world finally end this?

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women – our first of Season 3 – reporter Eunice Maina explains how financial factors incentivize women to perpetuate this practice, and interviews a group of girls who are tackling this head on.

Later in the episode, host Reena Ninan speaks withCaroline Lagat, a program officer at Equality Now. Lagat works largely on legal ways to end FGM.

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Coming Soon: Season 3 Dec 06, 2022

Season 3 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, December 13th. This time around, host Reena Ninan partners with journalists around the world to cover underreported ways women are challenging the status quo. Topics this season include justice for domestic migrant workers in Gulf states, how to break down gender barriers in the film industry, and the financial factors behind female genital mutilation, among others. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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How Better Data Helped End Child Marriage in Indonesia Apr 12, 2022

Indonesia has the eighth highest number of child marriages in the world. Beyond being a human rights issue, child marriage significantly increases the chance of domestic violence, dropping out of school, and poverty. Misiyah Misiyah, founder and director of feminist organization Institut KAPAL Perempuan, wanted to convince Indonesian President Joko Widodo to increase the legal marriage age from 16 to 19, which could dramatically decrease the rate of child marriage. To do that, she and her colleagues came equipped with reams of data.

On the season finale of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we hear how Misiyah collected grassroots data and used it to build a powerful case to ban child marriage in Indonesia. Later in the episode, host Reena Ninan speaks with Mabel van Oranje, founder of Girls Not Brides and VOW for Girls, about the most effective ways to decrease child marriage globally.

Special thanks this week to Alison Holder from Equal Measures 2030, who recommended we talk to Misiyah. You should check out their latest report on countries’ progress toward gender equality and sustainable development goals; it’s pretty sobering. Also, thank you to In-Depth Creative, a lovely podcast company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. They helped produce our interview with Misiyah. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast made possible through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Why Small Business Owners Have Such a Hard Time Getting Loans Apr 05, 2022

According to the World Bank, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comprise about 90% of the global economy. But these kinds of businesses – too big for microfinance and too small for commercial bank loans with favorable rates – face many hurdles to borrow money. On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we delve deeper into the “missing middle” credit gap and what can be done to improve SMEs’ access to financing. Also, we look at specific barriers to women business owners, such as how low property ownership rates hinder their ability to qualify for small business loans.

Host Reena Ninan talks to Ada Osakwe, founder of the Nuli Juice Company, about the various obstacles she overcame to expand her business – including her first store almost getting destroyed in Lagos, Nigeria. Then, World Bank Financial Inclusion Expert Mahesh Uttamchandanishares the financial solutions he is most excited about for SMEs.

Special thanks this week to IFC’s Jessica Schnabel, who recommended we talk to Ada Osakwe, and to Mary Ellen Iskenderian from Women’s World Banking. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast made possible through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

*Correction note 3:30 p.m. EST, Apr. 7: An earlier version of this episode called Mahesh Uttamchandani an economist. That has been corrected to reflect his title as a financial inclusion expert. We apologize for the error.

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What Works in Microfinance Mar 29, 2022

In its simplest definition, microfinance refers to small loans usually worth less than $1,000 for people with low incomes. Microfinance is a widely discussed idea in development circles, particularly surrounding women’s empowerment. But how effective is it?

On this episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we look at why microfinance has had mixed results and learn about the best ways to distribute these kinds of loans. First, we talk to a Turkish Grameen Foundation/Kiva microcredit recipient named Kudret about the impact microfinance has had on her personally. Then, Roshaneh Zafar speaks with host Reena Ninan about her experiences launching the Kashf Foundation, the first microfinance institution in Pakistan and the largest loan provider to women in the country.

Special thanks this week to Stephen Rasmussen from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, who recommended FP talk to Zafar. Also, thanks to Aslıhan Köksal and Brit Heiring from Kiva, Andrée Simon from FINCA, and a number of others who spoke to us for this episode. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast made possible through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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The Battle for Women’s Property Rights in Kenya Mar 22, 2022

Access to property is arguably one of the most important paths for women’s income security. But for many, there are not only economic barriers to owning property but also legal obstacles. For example, there are approximately 75 countries where women still do not have the same rights as men to inherit property.

On today’s episode of The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we follow the story of Rachel Korir. Her legal battle to get her fair share of her father’s property in Kenya revealed gaps in the country’s recent constitutional reforms, which aimed to make property rights equal among men and women. We also speak to Cardiff University professor Ambreena Manji, who specializes in East African land, law, and development. Two years ago, Manji also wrote a book titled The Struggle for Land and Justice in Kenya.

Special thanks this week to Dominic Kirui, who first reported about Korir and helped us produce our interview; Olivia Bitanihirwe, who provided Korir’s voice-over; and Mary Ellen Iskenderian, the president and CEO of Women’s World Banking. An early conversation with Iskenderian got us thinking more about property rights.

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How a South African Woman’s Fight for Marital Rights Changed Her Country Mar 15, 2022

On this week’s show, we look at how reforming marital rights could be the biggest first step toward gender equality. We found the idea for this show from the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) project, which ranks 190 economies every year for how well their policies are for gender equality. According to the WBL, South Africa has made the third-most progress regarding gender equality of any country in the world over the last 50 years, largely due to the women’s movement being interconnected with the fight to end apartheid. During the late 1980s and early ’90s, many reforms passed in South Africa propelled women’s rights, particularly in expanding married women’s ability to sign legally binding contracts, register businesses, and open bank accounts without their husband’s consent.

But decades after apartheid ended, one law remained on the books that continued to plague Black women, particularly ones seeking a divorce. We talk to Agnes Sithole, whose divorce case shook her country’s legal system. We also speak to Sharita Samuel, the lawyer who brought Sithole’s case before the Constitutional Court, South Africa’s highest court.

Special thanks this week to Nisha Arekapudi and Natalia Mazoni Silva Martins from the WBL, who wrote the case study about South Africa’s gender equality gains and spotlighted Sithole’s legal fight. And big thanks to producer Elna Schutz, who flew out from Johannesburg to Durban just to record the interview with Sithole and Samuel.

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What Melinda French Gates and Esther Duflo Think Women Need Right Now Mar 08, 2022

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates and Nobel Prize economist Esther Duflo talk with host Reena Ninan about the best ways to empower women economically post-COVID-19 on the premiere episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women’s (HERO) second season. French Gates is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports this podcast. French Gates is also the founder of Pivotal Ventures and author of The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World about her work on gender equality. Duflo is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and won the Nobel Prize for economic sciences in 2019 for her experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Duflo is the author of Good Economics for Hard Times and Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty.

This season on HERO, we will delve deeper into all the obstacles blocking women from their full financial potential and interview women breaking these barriers down. Listeners will hear from people reforming marital laws in South Africa and property rights in Kenya—and what victories in both places would mean for unlocking women’s financial potential. We will also look at which micro-finance strategies work best and why better lending practices could be huge for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast made possible through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Special thanks this week to all the people who helped make this conversation with Melinda French Gates and Esther Duflo possible, including Amy Jerrett, Laura Dickinson, Bo Jungmayer, Sam Veatch, Lynne Thompson, Heather McCurdy, and Rimjhim Dey. And thank you to Ketki Gujjar and Miraiben Chatterjee, who helped connect us to Sheela from SEWA, and Manveena Suri and Shreya Adhikari for Sheela’s voiceover.

Here are links to research cited in today’s episode:

- The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law Project’s most recent 2022 report provided the data behind the numbers we cite at the beginning of the episode: specifically, that women have three-quarters of the rights men have and the fact that women still do not have the same rights as men to inherit property in 75 countries.

- The study Melinda French Gates cites toward the beginning of the interview is from the research group ORB International.

Finally, if you like HERO, check out Reena Ninan's other great show, Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting. It's on all the platforms!https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/614c9797ad0d6f00132e0faf

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Coming Soon: Season 2 Mar 01, 2022

Season 2 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀️) launches Tuesday, March 8th – also International Women’s Day. This time around, host Reena Ninan talks to women around the world changing their communities, and countries, through financial empowerment. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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A Special Announcement Feb 22, 2022

Season 2 of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is out soon! Host Reena Ninan shares more – including a potential gift for our listeners.

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The Women Setting the Gender Equality Agenda Aug 03, 2021

When we considered what to do for this last episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women’s first season, it was hard to think of the right people to interview. Who could really comment on what women are facing in the entire world? Thankfully, we were able to connect with two of the most influential women in the world fighting for global gender equality. They reflect on some of the themes we covered on the podcast and what they’re doing to move these issues forward.

Host Reena Ninan first talks to Melanne Verveer, currently the executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Verveer to serve as the first-ever ambassador for global women’s issues in 2009. Before that, Verveer was chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when Clinton was the first lady.

Then, Ninan hears from UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia. UN Women is a part of the United Nations that is dedicated to gender equality and female empowerment. It works with governments, the private sector, and civil society around the world to create better programs and laws for women and girls. Bhatia largely focuses on improving women’s financial reality, so she shares some of her ideas for the best ways to advance women economically.

If you would like to keep in touch with us in the meantime—including sharing ideas of remarkable women we should talk to—feel free to email podcasts@foreignpolicy.com. We hope to be back in your feeds some time soon. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is an FP podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

We want to hear from you! To fill out our 2021 listener survey, go to survey.fan/foreignpolicy.com

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Boosting Dairy Could Empower Women, Decrease Violence in Nigeria Jul 27, 2021

Violence between cow herders and farmers has killed more people in recent years in northeastern Nigeria than the Boko Haram insurgency, according to the International Crisis Group. One solution to this conflict is creating a better environment for dairy producers so cattle herders do not need to travel as far to get feed for their cows. This would impact not only the country’s security but also the livelihoods of many rural Nigerian women.

On this episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we look at the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) program. It is focused on smallholder female dairy producers, who make the majority of milk products in the country. ALDDN is primarily supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which also supports this podcast.

First, we hear from Rakiya Dalhatu, a dairy producer who participated in ALDDN. Then, we talk to Ndidi Nwuneli, the co-founder of Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Ltd., which leads the ALDDN program. And finally, we speak with Cornell University’s Ed Mabaya, who focuses on global development, agriculture, and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

To learn more about how the ALDDN program is trying to empower women, mitigate the effects of climate change, and decrease conflict in Nigeria, listen to our latest episode on this page, or subscribe on your favorite podcast app. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is an FP podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Finally, we are still offering a new policy brief on gender equality to our listeners! This is content that’s normally behind a paywall at Foreign Policy, but we’re offering special access right now. It’s a great resource for understanding the big picture on what’s happening globally to try to tackle gender inequality.

We want to hear from you! To fill out our 2021 listener survey, go to survey.fan/foreignpolicy.com

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How Better Gender Data Is Uncovering Hidden Truths in Ethiopia Jul 20, 2021

When we use the phrase “remarkable women” for this podcast, Letty Chiwara definitely fits the bill. She is the current U.N. Women Representative to Ethiopia, the Africa Union Commission, and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa. Although these are broad titles, one major part of her work is helping others get better data on the lives of Ethiopian women, including their full financial contributions to society.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we explore how getting better data on gender disparities is uncovering hidden truths in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Host Reena Ninan first speaks with Chiwara, who spearheaded a major gender data effort in Ethiopia. Then, Ninan talks to Emily Courey Pryor, executive director of the nonprofit Data2X. Her organization partners with entities like U.N. Women, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and individual countries to improve their collection and analysis of gender data.

To hear more about the movement to improve gender data, listen to our latest episode on this page or subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, for the real nerds out there, you can sign up to get a policy brief on gender equality. This is content that’s normally behind a paywall at Foreign Policy, but we’re offering special access to our podcast listeners. It’s a great resource for understanding the big picture on what’s happening globally to try and tackle gender inequality.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is an FP podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

We want to hear from you! To fill out our 2021 listener survey, go to survey.fan/foreignpolicy.com

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Why Are There so Many Women Informal Workers in India? Jul 13, 2021

According to the ILO, 81.6 percent of women’s employment in India is concentrated in the informal economy — this is work that’s not taxed, or under the table. On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we examine why India has one of the highest rates of women in the informal sector and what can be done to get them more rights, income, and support. Host Reena Ninan first speaks with Deepa, a domestic worker and union member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), which has more than 1.5 million women informal worker members. Then Ninan speaks with SEWA Punjab State coordinator Harsharan Kaur, who describes how SEWA advances the rights and economic empowerment of women informal workers. After that, Nina talks to Institute of Social Studies Trust Research Fellow Monika Banerjee, who specializes in women informal workers in India, and finally, the Chief Economist for South Asia at the World Bank, Hans Timmer.

To hear more about women informal workers in India, listen to our latest episode on this page or subscribe on your favorite podcast app -- and thank you to Apple Podcasts, which just listed HERO as a New & Noteworthy Podcast! The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

We want to hear from you! To fill out our 2021 listener survey, go to survey.fan/foreignpolicy.com

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Saving More by Changing Gender Roles in Uganda Jul 06, 2021

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we’re headed to Uganda, where a group of women are saving money—and participating in a pilot program called “Household Dialogues” from the nonprofit CARE, where they’re attending a form of couples counseling. Host Reena Ninan speaks with Namara Eve, who participated in the Household Dialogues, and Julia Arnold, senior research director at Accion’s Center for Financial Inclusion.

But before we get into the Household Dialogues project, let us first explain a bit about women’s savings groups. Informal savings groups operating outside of a bank, where around a dozen individuals from a local community band together to save their money collectively, are a common practice in Uganda. One estimate showed that around two-thirds of all adults in Uganda save money that way, including a large number of women’s only groups. And during the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa, FP Analytics notes that households with a member in an informal savings group have been more likely to have savings and less likely to experience food insecurity.

Women’s informal savings groups, however, can only do so much. To access larger sums of capital, the women need to join a bank, and oftentimes own a smartphone. And for many of these women, their husbands have the only smartphone in the household—which can be a barrier to the women’s economic advancement. So, in the Household Dialogues project, CARE financial counselors met seven times with women and their spouses to help the husbands be more actively supportive.

To hear more about the Household Dialogues project, listen to our latest episode on this page or subscribe on your favorite podcast app. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

We want to hear from you! To fill out our 2021 listener survey, go to survey.fan/foreignpolicy.com

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Creating Affordable, High-Quality Child Care -- Lessons from Kenya Jun 29, 2021

As FP Analytics highlights in its new report, “Elevating Gender Equality in COVID-19 Economic Recovery, there’s a dire global child care shortage, which the pandemic only worsened. But increasing COVID-19 recovery plan investments in care work -- especially the child care sector -- would deliver greater and more sustainable stimulus than other measures, such as construction-oriented funding. Still, even if more governments better support the care sector, how does one launch high-quality, affordable child care centers in the near future?

On the premiere episode of theHidden Economics of Remarkable Women (or HER♀ for short), host Reena Ninan speaks with Kidogo Founder Sabrina Habib about how she created a new approach to franchising affordable childcare centers that has changed the lives of low-income mothers and female daycare owners in Kenya. In it, Habib describes how almost stepping on a baby in a day care center was a “moment of obligation” for her to make a difference. Then, Ninan hears about the state of early childhood development in Kenya from African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Associate Research Scientist Patricia Wekulo.

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Coming Soon: The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO) Jun 15, 2021

Could empowering women in the workplace be the simplest way to boost the global economy moving forward? Host Reena Ninan talks to women around the world changing the status quo in surprising ways to improve their lives, their families, and ultimately, the world. The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HER♀) is a Foreign Policy podcast supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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