Driving Inclusive Industrialisation: UNIDO Champions Women’s Empowerment at the G20 in South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) joined global leaders in Johannesburg for a week of high-level engagements focused on advancing women’s empowerment under South Africa’s G20 Presidency. From 27 to 31 October, discussions during the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group Meeting, the Ministerial Seminar on Positive Masculinity, and the G20 Ministerial Meeting reflected this year’s compelling theme, “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

Representing UNIDO, Ms. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, participated in several strategic discussions, including a ministerial panel on women’s financial inclusion. Speaking alongside global leaders such as Ms. Wendy Teleki of the World Bank’s We-Fi Secretariat, Mr. Anil Malik from India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, Brazil’s Minister of Women H.E. Ms. Márcia Lopes, and Ms. Prudence Ngwenya from the African Union Commission, Ms. Ugaz Estrada highlighted the urgent need to expand women’s access to finance, digital tools, and markets.

She emphasised that women’s economic inclusion is vital for driving industrial transformation and achieving equitable growth. “Empowering women is not just about equality; it is a catalyst for sustainable industrialisation,” she remarked, reaffirming UNIDO’s commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and promoting inclusive economic development.

Forging Partnerships for Gender Equality

Beyond the formal sessions, UNIDO’s participation extended to a series of bilateral meetings aimed at deepening partnerships that foster gender-responsive industrial development. In a meeting with H.E. Ms. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, South Africa’s Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. South Africa reiterated its support for UNIDO’s initiatives that embed gender equality within industrial policy frameworks.

Ms. Ugaz Estrada also met with Ms. Gail Mitchell, Assistant Deputy Minister of Canada, to explore ways of enhancing collaboration on the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data to shape evidence-based gender policies. Discussions with Brazil’s Minister of Women, H.E. Ms. Márcia Helena Carvalho Lopes, focused on preparations for the forthcoming UNIDO General Conference and the Women’s Empowerment Day, with particular attention to gender-inclusive industrial strategies.

Further talks with Spain’s Minister for Equality, H.E. Ms. Ana Redondo García, and State Secretary for Equality and the Eradication of Violence against Women, H.E. Ms. María Guijarro Ceballos, opened the door for potential joint initiatives to promote women’s participation and leadership in industrial sectors.

These dialogues reinforced a shared determination among G20 partners to move beyond rhetoric and translate commitments into practical action for inclusive industrial growth.

A New Knowledge Product for Gender-Responsive Industry

During the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group Meeting, UNIDO launched a new policy brief titled Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in the Future of Industrial Development. Developed in collaboration with Professor Elissa Braunstein from Colorado State University, the publication presents fresh insights into the state of women’s participation across G20 economies. While overall female employment has grown, the report reveals a significant decline in women’s engagement in industrial sectors.

The findings call for gender-responsive industrial strategies that position equality as a driver of innovation and competitiveness. Building on this research, UNIDO continues to work closely with G20 partners to translate policy recommendations into concrete measures. These include developing gender-inclusive frameworks, supporting women-led enterprises, and enhancing leadership opportunities for women in industrial sectors.

Through its technical cooperation, policy guidance, and capacity-building initiatives, UNIDO is helping ensure that industrialisation becomes a force for equality as well as growth. By placing women at the centre of industrial transformation, the organisation and its partners are paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.