Virtual side event at the Second World Summit for Social Development
From Care Workers to Entrepreneurs
Investing in Women-Led Solutions for Social Development
November 5, 2025 | 8:00 – 9:30AM EST
This side event is a joint initiative of Women in Global Health and Pathfinder International, united by a shared commitment to gender equity in the health and care sector. Women make up nearly 70% of the global health and care workforce, yet they remain concentrated in lower-paid, lower-status roles and are often unpaid or underpaid for essential work. Despite their critical contributions, this workforce remains undervalued and under-resourced.
Investing in the health and care economy is not only a public health imperative — it is a proven strategy for social and economic development. Quality jobs in the care sector can lift families out of poverty, empower women, and contribute significantly to GDP growth. These investments improve health outcomes, reduce inequality, and build more resilient societies.
This side event will explore how centering care and health work — especially women’s work — in economic development planning can unlock transformative change. Pathfinder International is advancing a bold shift toward women-led, locally grounded solutions that strengthen communities and promote equity. A key part of this strategy is Women&Co., a social innovation platform designed to scale women-led solutions that improve health, drive economic opportunity, and enhance community well-being. One such initiative is FemVive, a social enterprise that empowers women entrepreneurs to generate income while expanding access to health and wellness products.
Women in Global Health (WGH) complements this vision through its global movement to advance women’s leadership in health. With over 50 national chapters, WGH equips early- to mid-career women with tools for leadership through Gender Transformative Leadership (GTL) training, advocacy and media programs, and grassroots campaigns. WGH India, for example, works with women in second- and third-tier cities to develop localized leadership and advocacy tools. WGH Kenya partners with Community Health Promoters to elevate local voices, and WGH Nigeria runs fellowships that highlight women’s leadership through storytelling and research. The WGH Speakers Bureau and StoryBoard platform also give visibility to women leaders globally.
By fostering both individual empowerment and collective action, WGH is helping shift power structures in health systems and policy spaces. These women-led approaches are critical to building equitable, inclusive, and sustainable health and care systems.
Speakers
Opening remarks by Dr. Sultani Matendechero ‘ndc'(K) Deputy Director General – Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Closing Remarks by Dr. Magda Robalo, Executive Director, Women in Global Health.
Moderation by Madiha Latif, Vice President, Strategic Engagement & Innovation, Pathfinder International.
PANELISTS
- Amar Nijhawan, Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Centre
- Ms Sonia Phalatse, Researcher, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies
- Helen Njuguna-Mwathi, Enterprise Manager, FEMVIVE
- Tiffany Dove-Abbam, Founder and Executive Director, Dove Foundation for Global Change
