Women’s Empowerment Will Accelerate Kenya’s Economic Prosperity

Amb Amina Mohamed, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade flanked by Siddharth Chatterjee, the UNFPA Representative to Kenya and Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya in Moyale, Northern Kenya on 07 December 2015. Credit: @UNFPAKenBy Amina Mohamed and Siddharth ChatterjeeNairobi, Kenya, Feb 3 2016 (IPS)When President Barack Obama made his first visit to Kenya as US President in July 2015, one of the poignant messages he left was an exhortation for communities to shun cultures that degrade women and girls. “Imagine if you have a team and don’t let half of the team play. That makes no sense,” he said, referring to the denial of opportunities for women to fully participate in development.The president’s message could not have been more pertinent, coming as it did when the country, like most of Africa, is thinking how to reap a ‘demographic dividend’ – or boost in economic productivity – from its declining fertility rate and growing youthful population.This occurs if the number of people in the workforce increases relative to the number of dependents.Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong also called the “Asian Tigers” lifted millions out of poverty by lowering the dependency ratio. Individuals and families were able to make savings which translated into investment and boosted economic growth. Combined with robust policies in education, health, employment and empo...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - February 3, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ambassador Amina Mohamed and Siddharth Chatterjee Tags: Africa Economy & Trade Editors' Choice Environment Featured Gender Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Women & Economy Source Type: news