CAF and UN Women reaffirm their commitment to gender equality and protection of women and girls rights

CAF—development bank of Latin America—and the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve gender equality, diversity and social inclusion through public policies, investment projects and technical assistance in favor of women and girls in the region.

The agreement calls for a joint work agenda on four main issues: including the gender equality approach in the investments and loans that CAF provides to the public and private sectors; provide technical assistance to the public and private sectors to support loans and promote results in gender equality and women’s empowerment; annually recognizing public and private sector stakeholders who demonstrate real commitment and achieve concrete results by allocating funds and financing projects in favor of women; and the inclusion of good gender practices at CAF.

CAF executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados referred to the Memorandum of Understanding with UN Women and noted: “The empowerment of women in Latin America and the Caribbean is one of our priorities; we are therefore pleased to sign this memorandum with UN Women to work together for a better future for the region. For us, this agreement is the first step in a strategic alliance that I am sure will achieve concrete results in gender equality in the short term.”

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous noted: “Financing for gender equality is a central part of financing for development, and regional banks like CAF are leading innovative financing and investments in sustainable development. This partnership will help co-create new initiatives towards gender equality and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America.”

UN Women is a subsidiary body of the United Nations with a mandate to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, which recognizes the importance of collaborating and cooperating with partners to fulfill its mandate and strategic objectives.

CAF supports UN Women’s mandate and recognizes the need to support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5, i.e. achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, as well as in the gender targets set out in these goals.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed with UN Women is a further step in promoting the sustainable development model through loans, non-reimbursable funds and support in the technical and financial structuring of public and private projects in the region.