Important Facts of the News
- The meetings took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 27 to 31 October 2025.
- The theme across sessions was Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.
- UNIDO was represented by Ms. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director.
- She participated in a high-level panel on Women’s Financial Inclusion.
- Panel participants included representatives from the World Bank, India, Brazil, and the African Union Commission.
- Discussions focused on expanding women’s access to finance, digital tools, and markets.
- Bilateral meetings were held with government leaders from South Africa, Canada, Brazil, and Spain.
- A new UNIDO policy brief was launched on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Industrial Development.
- The brief notes that women’s employment has risen overall but has declined in industrial sectors across G20 economies.
- The policy brief calls for gender-responsive industrial strategies to drive innovation and competitiveness.
Inclusive Industrialization at the Center of G20 Dialogue
Leaders from across G20 member states gathered in Johannesburg for a series of engagements focused on women’s empowerment and inclusive economic progress. The discussions ran alongside the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group Meeting, a Ministerial Seminar on Positive Masculinity, and the G20 Ministerial Meeting. All sessions reflected a shared emphasis on solidarity, equal opportunities, and sustainable development.
Highlight on Women’s Financial Inclusion
During a high-level panel addressing women’s financial inclusion, Ms. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada joined senior officials from the World Bank, India, Brazil, and the African Union Commission. She emphasized that access to financial services, technology, and market networks enables women to contribute more meaningfully to industrial transformation. She stated that strengthening women’s role in enterprise development is key to shaping inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Building Strong Partnerships for Gender Equality
Alongside the main G20 sessions, bilateral discussions focused on enhancing cooperation for women’s economic advancement. Meetings with representatives from South Africa reaffirmed continued collaboration on inclusive industrial strategies. Engagements with Canada highlighted efforts to improve the collection and application of sex-disaggregated data for gender-responsive policy design.
Cooperation for Future Policy Action
Further exchanges with Brazil, Spain, and other partners explored opportunities to promote women’s leadership and participation in industrial sectors. Upcoming initiatives include the UNIDO General Conference and Women’s Empowerment Day, which will continue to build momentum for gender-inclusive economic development.
New Policy Insights for Industrial Development
During the Women’s Empowerment Working Group Meeting, a new policy brief was introduced assessing gender equality in the future of industrial development. The analysis highlighted that while women’s overall employment has grown across G20 economies, their share in industrial employment has reduced. The publication stresses the importance of industrial strategies that actively promote gender equality to foster competitiveness and innovation.
UNIDO continues to support G20 partners through policy guidance, technical cooperation, and capacity-building to ensure that industrialization contributes to women’s empowerment and broader sustainable development.