“Sustainability Insight #8: Post-COVID Pathways for Real Gender Empowerment

The 8th session of the Sustainability Insight Series in 30 minutes was organized on the 27th of August 2020, with issues revolving on gender empowerment and gender equality. Featuring Dr. Farida Faisal, Associate Professor University Institute of Management Sciences PMAS – Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, the discussion critically revolved around the various issues on all genders, which goes beyond the domain of social sciences and into crosscuttings disciplines.

Moderated by Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Office in Jakarta and Regional Bureau for Science, in this session, Dr. Farida highlighted the various challenges in achieving gender equality as well as recommendations to the way forward. She highlighted the cooperation made between PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan, the Malaysia Funds-in-Trust and the Japanese Funds-in-Trust and UNESO Jakarta,  in which the Asia Pacific Policy Dialogue on Water, Energy and Food Security for Poverty Alleviation in Dryland Regions was organized in November 2016, helps broaden the scope of South-South Cooperation to be inclusive of genders, as well as taking into account the scientific innovation and research to poverty alleviation.

Dr. Farida continued by stressing the significance on inclusiveness to approach these issues, incorporating the aspects of social, economic, and environmental concerns. The session also discussed on the significance of gender disaggregated data, as well developing an inclusive, multidisciplinary and transformational policy that caters to all genders.