Smriti Irani Launches Equity Economics Forum in New York

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 18 March 2026

• The Equity Economics Forum (EEF) has been launched by Smriti Zubin Irani in New York
• The objective of the Equity Economics Forum is to advocate for economic policies that are equity-driven in the Global South
• The Forum focuses on putting equity at the heart of macroeconomic and fiscal policy-making

Smriti Zubin Irani, the founder and chairperson of Alliance for Global Good, Gender Equity and Equality, and a former Union Minister for Women and Child Development, launched the Equity Economics Forum (EEF) in New York on March 16, 2026.

The platform is dedicated to promoting equity-based economic policies in the Global South by mainstreaming equity into macroeconomic and fiscal policy-making.

The launch of the Equity Economics Forum happened on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The platform is a citizen-driven initiative that focuses on building partnerships among the Global South countries.

The initiative is dedicated to moving the concept of equity from the margins of social policy into the mainstream of economic policy. The launch of the Equity Economics Forum witnessed participation from India, Kenya, Indonesia, and other countries in the Global South.

Other participants included representatives from multilaterals, global organizations, the United Nations, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, international NGOs, academic bodies, and the private sector.

However, in her speech, Smriti discussed the large credit gap that women-owned businesses in the Global South are facing, which amounts to a trillion dollars. She also emphasized the business case for women in the Global South and highlighted the need to bridge the equity gap.

She also emphasized the need to tackle issues such as equity and economic challenges in this region because this region will comprise 80 percent of the world’s population by 2050. The EEF aims to move beyond fragmented approaches to equity-oriented budgeting and provide a collective voice for the Global South in shaping global fiscal policies.

The event included keynote speeches from Harriette Chiggai, Women’s Rights Advisor to the President of Kenya, and Arifah Choiri Fauzi, Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Government of Indonesia. Sonal Jaitly, Global Lead for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion at MicroSave Consulting (MSC), presented the framework for the EEF.

The Forum will be established under the auspices of the Alliance for Global Good, Gender Equity and Equality, in association with the Women’s Collective Forum, with MicroSave Consulting (MSC) as the Knowledge Partner and Secretariat.

The EEF will be structured around four main pillars: Skills, Technology, Economy, and Health, and will seek to bring together governments, development agencies, civil society organizations, and business leaders from around the world in order to advance a more equitable economic development agenda in the Global South.