Global Scans · Gender Equality · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.

• [New] Closing the gender digital divide alone could lift 30 million women out of poverty and add USD 1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Antara
• [New] Through targeted funding and technical assistance, UN Women seeks to expand opportunities for women to influence decision-making, enhance their representation in political institutions, and strengthen gender-responsive governance mechanisms. Global South Opportunities
• [New] The Government of Canada expects Canadian companies active abroad to align with Canada's priorities such as the respect for human rights, diversity and inclusion, gender equality, the rights of Indigenous peoples and commitment to climate change targets. GAC
• [New] The Australian Embassy in Colombo is funding local initiatives through its 2025 Direct Aid Program, backing seven projects that span disability equity, LGBTQIA + inclusion, climate resilience, and gender-based violence prevention. Impact Funding
• [New] The successful completion of training by the 17 female cadets signals a new phase in India's military training institutions, where gender no longer defines the scope of opportunity. Bureaucrats India
• Perhaps most disappointing of all is the continued existence of Women and Gender Equality Canada, which will be getting $500 million over the years 2026 to 2030. Multicultural Meanderings
• Industry body the GSMA said in its new report over 800 million women from low and middle-income countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, must adopt mobile internet to close the digital gender gap by 2030. Developing Telecoms
• Oregon, alongside 15 other states and the District of Columbia, sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, alleging that its threats to pull sexual education funding over curricula mentioning diverse gender identities were a violation of federal law. Opb
• The US wields considerable influence over many other UN member states, and fear of tariffs, a need for security guarantees and other economic and political pressures mean there are few attempts to directly counter the US anti-gender equality narrative. PassBlue
• The ongoing dialog surrounding gender representation and the effectiveness of larger political bodies will continue to shape the political landscape in Canada. County Local News
• The Scottish Government's Women and Girls Fund will deliver grants to women and girl-led organizations across Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia, aiming to contribute to the delivery of Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The Scottish Government
• In 2025, there are at least 50 fully funded and career-boosting opportunities available to individuals and organizations committed to women's empowerment and gender justice. Vacancy Bridge
• The UK will continue to advocate for investment as a driver of sustainable development, alongside gender equality and climate-smart trade policies. GOV.UK
• Female representation is steadily increasing, and experts predict that by 2030, the gender ratio could reach 1:1 as more diverse communities continue to join. The Social Shepherd
• (Deloitte) Reducing Gender Divide: Targeted inclusion of women through AI-enabled micro-entrepreneurship can expand female labour participation from 37% (2024) to over 45% by 2047. PMF IAS
• Funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada could drop by up to 80% by 2027. Defend Dignity
• Attacks on women's rights are multiplying, while negotiations on gender issues at the UN have become increasingly contentious, threatening hard-won progress. International Peace Institute
• In conclusion, India's aspirations of becoming a global superpower are at risk if gender disparities remain unaddressed. EDUREV.IN

Last updated: 23 November 2025