New Delhi hosts the launch of the US-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 2 April 2022

The United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), the United States Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and George Washington University launched the United States-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment (Alliance) in New Delhi, India, on April 1st. The Alliance is a public-private partnership between the State Department, USAID, USISPF, and George Washington University that aims to improve women's leadership, economic participation, and entrepreneurship in India by providing them with better access to finance, technical skills, networking opportunities, and other tools to help them grow their businesses and succeed in the workforce.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power first announced the Alliance in October 2021 in Washington, D.C. The Honourable Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of India, Smriti Irani, delivered the keynote address at the launch today in New Delhi. Patricia Lacina, Chargé d'affaires, US Embassy New Delhi, Katrina Fotovat, Senior Official of the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, US Department of State, and Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice-President, Google, Inc. also spoke at the event.

 “When women’s voices, expertise, and contributions are recognized in the boardroom, marketplace, household, and community, businesses grow, partnerships are formed, and innovative solutions are created, allowing economies [to] thrive and women to prosper.”said Senior Official Katrina Fotovat.

Smriti Irani, Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of India, re-iterated the Honourable Prime Minister’s commitment to lead “women centric initiatives that have supported the growth trajectory of many women in India”. On the occasion of this launch, she emphasized that, “women for long have been consumers of technology. It is time to move the needle to see women as owners and leaders of technology.”

The United States-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment

The United States-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment is a public-private partnership between the State Department, USAID, USISPF, and George Washington University that aims to catalyse transformational commitments to advance and include women in India's economic life. We prioritise three areas of action: accelerating women's entrepreneurship, fostering workforce leadership, and providing access to career-enhancing education and skill-building opportunities. To achieve its goals, the Alliance collaborates with members from the private sector, civil society, and academia in both countries.

The Strategic Partnership Forum between the United States and India

The United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is dedicated to establishing the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent non-profit institution in Washington, D.C. and New Delhi dedicated to strengthening the US-India partnership. USISPF is a reliable partner for corporations, non-profit organisations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.