9WAMM OVERVIEW Esther Eghobamien Commonwealth Secretariat 9WAMM Partner’s Forum, Bridgetown, Barbados

Gender Issues in Economic Crisis, Recovery and Beyond: Women as Agents of Transformation 9WAMM will also have the following sub-themes:  Promoting Economic Recovery and the Attainment of MDGs: Women as Agents of Transformation  Gender Responsive Investment: Women as Agents of Transformation 9WAMM Theme

9WAMM is of special significance, the midpoint in the time covered by our Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality The Mid Term Review (MTR), presented at this meeting, will guide our priorities and directions over the next five years. 9WAMM & MTR

Objectives  To help Commonwealth countries develop strategies and tools, and to use their public sector professionals more effectively, for human development, 9WAMM will have three objectives as follows:  To explore innovative alternatives to existing policy frameworks and highlight the significant role of women as agents of change for economic recovery, governance and sustainable development.  To review and assess progress in the implementation of the PoA and identify innovative strategies to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Commonwealth.  To identify new and emerging issues that are critical to the achievement of the aspirations of the PoA.

Outcomes  Generally, 9WAMM outcomes will enhance knowledge of Ministers and senior officials on the modalities for utilising gender as a catalyst for economic recovery efforts.  Specifically, the expected outputs and outcomes of 9WAMM are:  Enhanced skills and knowledge on new approaches, innovations and strategies for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.  Enhanced advocacy to support implementation of the PoA and other relevant frameworks (e.g. MDGs, CEDAW, BPFA).  Conference report and Communiqué providing a critical analysis to feed into CHOGM, the MDGs Review Summit and other critical decision-making processes.

Sessions  Session I: Opening Plenary  Session II: Promoting Economic Recovery and the Attainment of MDGs: Women as Agents of Transformation  Session III: Gender Responsive Investment: Women as Agents of Transformation  Session IV: Parallel Ministerial Roundtables  Gender Responsive Investment  Economic Crisis and Social Protection: Ensuring Gender-responsive and Sustainable Outcomes  Peace, Security and Prosperity: Women’s Leadership Roles  Session V: Feedback and Outcomes of Ministerial Roundtables  Session VI: Strengthening Partnerships for Synergy and Accountability  Session VII: The Way Forward: Priorities to 2015  Session VIII: Closing Plenary

Session I: Opening Plenary The Opening Plenary will set out the background and key issues that relate to promoting gender equality, particularly in the context of crisis and recovery.

This session examines how fiscal discipline can be achieved without adverse development impacts. It advances the need for a new macroeconomic framework, based on social inclusivity and justice, to underpin gender-equitable strategies for growth. Session II: Promoting Economic Recovery and the Attainment of MDGs: Women as Agents of Transformation

This session will present innovations in investment finance that promise strategic opportunities to create blended value that benefits commercial investors and development stakeholders alike in Commonwealth countries. These examples speak to an evolving capital convergence in which mainstream capital markets and investing are increasingly becoming drivers of new solutions to poverty, social investment and international development. Session III: Gender Responsive Investment: Women as Agents of Transformation

This session will further explore innovations in investment finance that can create social value that benefits women. It will include two case studies: Acumen Fund and Cyprus Women’s Cooperative Bank. It will also provide practical experiences of specialist banking services for women and how these contribute to female empowerment and the closure of gender gaps. In addition, examples will be provided of how such investment can be scaled and replicated. Session IV – Ministerial Roundtables Gender Responsive Investment

This roundtable will examine social protection measures in the formal and informal sectors to assess how countries have responded to the effects of the crisis. It will highlight strategies, good practices and models of social protection for the most vulnerable. Session IV – Ministerial Roundtables Economic Crisis and Social Protection: Ensuring Gender-responsive and Sustainable Outcomes

This roundtable will explore issues such as: women’s role in peace building and negotiations; women’s representation in decision-making; and governance issues affecting women’s empowerment and participation. Session IV – Ministerial Roundtables Peace, Security and Prosperity: Women’s Leadership Roles

Feedback will be provided on each of the three roundtables to the plenary allowing for wider discussions. Session V: Feedback and outcomes of Ministerial Roundtables

This session provides a forum for dialogue between Ministers, development partners and civil society. It will serve to promote mutual understanding and appreciation of the constraints and opportunities faced in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women. This session also provides an opportunity to explore modalities for co-operation, information-sharing and collective actions on gender between governments, development partners and civil society. Session VI: Strengthening Partnerships for Synergy and Accountability

This session will consider the findings of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the implementation of the Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action. Senior Officials will report the consensus of their pre-9WAMM meeting and the Plenary will agree and affirm the priorities for the Commonwealth Gender PoA, in the context of crisis and recovery. Session VII: The Way Forward: Priorities to 2015