Africa hosts the globe's youngest and fastest-growing population, burgeoning urban centres, and pioneering innovations in everything from fintech to clean energy. With its population expected to nearly double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, an irreplicable trove of natural capital, and a strategic location in global trade networks, the continent has a unique opportunity to reimagine its economic future, which is, now more than ever before, crucial for the welfare of the world.

There remains a significant oversight regarding the indispensable role of women in Africa’s growth story, however. Despite considerable strides in female labour force participation over successive decades, women remain disproportionately vulnerable to a myriad of disruptions that threaten economic stability and supply chain resilience for companies operating across the continent – from climate change and health crises to market volatility and trade disputes.

In partnership with the FCDO's Work and Opportunities for Women Programme, Invest Africa hosted a working session to inform UK Government policy around the economic empowerment of women workers in global supply chains. Following a brief presentation on the FCDO’s upcoming toolkit for multinational businesses on how investment in women's empowerment can bolster supply chain resilience, attendees were invited to contribute their perspectives – helping to inform UK Government policies in this area.