Women and girls are a clear priority as 70% of the world’s estimated 1.3 billion people living in poverty, two thirds of the one billion illiterate adults, and two thirds of the 130 million children who are not in school.

The economy can never be sustained while massive numbers of women are underprivileged and undereducated.

The role of women in the preservation of the environment and in environmentally sustainable development is also critical, as the primary food producers in the developing world. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, women grow 80% of the food, yet earn only 10% of the income and own 1% of the assets.

Amidst such conditions, women farmers have little choice but to contribute to further environmental degradation by carving out an existence on marginal lands. Lack of access to credit also limits women’s ability to purchase less environmentally damaging technology.

“The economy can never be sustainable by keeping massive numbers of women underprivileged and undereducated.”
-- Eun Kyung Park, Vice President, World YWCA, 1999 - 2007