Toyin O.

The Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA) was formally launched in September 2023 to unite like-minded global partners in a collective effort to prime Asia as a force for good – driving nature-based solutions and climate action, advancing public and global health, and promoting holistic and inclusive education for marginalised groups.    The Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) is PAA’s flagship platform. PAS 2024 was our largest and most ambitious to date, with nearly 400 global attendees over four days. This year’s conference focused on the vital role of multi-sector partnerships and the importance of philanthropists in mobilising private sector investment and government action. Partner events by PAA’s members and partners focused on climate, health, and education, featuring robust discussions on catalysing positive impact across the capital spectrum. The week culminated in impact journeys by Dalio Philanthropies aboard the OceanXplorer and Sembcorp Industries Ltd to the Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm.     I am pleased to share the PAS 2024 Insights Report by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance and Temasek Trust. From powering climate action through blended finance to training tomorrow’s leaders, advancing dengue fever vaccines, and strengthening Asia’s health infrastructure, the insights and case studies demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving transformative impact to protect the planet and uplift communities.      You can access the report here - https://lnkd.in/dHxzhsij   #TemasekTrust #PhilanthropyAsiaAlliance #PAA #Philanthropy #SystemsThinking #Partnerships

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The Philanthropy Asia Summit recently released its 2024 Insights Report, which showed developing economies need US$2 trillion in climate investments every year by 2030 - a five-fold increase from 2023. Despite this, in 2022, only 1.6% of philanthropic aid was focused on climate change mitigation, partly due to a lack of understanding about what can be done. Earlier this year, The Nature Conservancy's CEO Jennifer Morris joined the Summit to talk about the benefits of nature-based solutions, including how we can work together to attract the right capital and carefully deploy it on scalable projects that deliver real and measurable outcomes. The full report from the Summit is now available for reading. As the report demonstrates, the evidence is clear: tackling emissions associated with the natural world is critical to achieving global emissions reductions targets. We now need to adopt collaborative approaches that balance conservation with production, provide economic incentives for landholders, and leverage the power of nature to meet our goals. We all have a role to play. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gKTvPCDv

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Rural women are at the edge of finance--literally--and vulnerable to climate realities. Our new report on the financial inclusion frontier in Indonesia reveals that: ✅ Women have access to personal technology devices and are using them for services such as health and communication, but still hesitate to use them for banking because of low digital financial capability--see page 28. ✅ As a result, women still have to travel a substantial distance from their homes to use financial services--see page 15 for a map of what this looks like. ✅ Villages with women heads are much more likely to have financial services outlets--see page 32 for the statistical relationship between the two. Congrats to Agnes Salyanty and the whole team at Women's World Banking on surfacing these important insights. https://lnkd.in/g5gtwy6f

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It's the second week of the #16DaysOfActivism against SGBV. While we consolidate our efforts to raise awareness and highlight areas that need readdressing, we must also remember to interrogate our communities, norms and how each enables violence against women. We must also take note of the conditions that exacerbate them and take deliberate steps to center the experiences of women. Prevention is paramount but we must also arm our communities to combat the prevalence. Are there infrastructure in place to respond to cases? Are they accessible? How survivor-friendly are they? What are we doing to resource these institutions? Lastly, there must be permanence in our resolutions if we are to stop SGBV.

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Let's talk about something that rarely gets discussed in boardrooms but impacts us all profoundly: the intersection of philanthropy and gender equity. Philanthropy, when directed thoughtfully, has the power to dismantle entrenched gender biases globally. However, too often, funding strategies overlook the unique challenges faced by women and girls. We need more initiatives focused specifically on this demographic—not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's essential for sustainable development. Imagine if more philanthropic funds went into educational programs for girls in developing countries. Or how about funding healthcare needs that predominantly affect women? The ripple effects would be enormous, uplifting entire communities out of poverty and creating more equitable societies. Are you seeing a shift in how philanthropic efforts are targeting gender issues? What successful examples have inspired you recently? Let’s share insights!

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Let’s talk about true Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  Hold the date: Oct 16-17, 2024. The LeadWomen APAC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Summit 2024, themed Humanity Rebalanced, aims to provide the platform to raise important DEI conversations and what that will look like going forward for APAC.  While much of the good practices have been shaped by the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in North America and Europe, there is a significant growing interest in what DEI means in Asia Pacific. Asia, the largest and most populous continent in the APAC region, is made up of  diverse cultures, languages, and histories, surfaces its own unique DEI challenges for this region. Adopting global strategies and initiatives to solve these unique localised challenges may not be the answer for DEI in APAC. However, we all agree that the global DEI goal remains the same -  equal opportunities for all. In workplaces and boardrooms across the globe, there has been a struggle to achieve true Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), despite years of efforts, it appears that intentions fall short of reality. Why? Because the diversity efforts of especially the last 3-4 years have been largely cosmetic, performative, and perfunctory. The rush to comply with the requirements of ESG reporting indicators has over shadowed the fundamental issues to change the systems contributing to inequity. The focus has been on achieving diversity targets and not dealing with core issue – getting to EQUALITY. Today some organizations are disbanding their DEI teams, claiming that DEI is divisive, while others are strengthening their DEI initiatives with a focus on people centric cultures. Why the shifts in thinking? Are the fundamental goals of equality and inclusion no longer relevant? Have we allowed extreme views to turn DEI into a political agenda? Or have we drifted from the original intentions? Join us at the upcoming LW DEI Summit and let’s discuss what true DEI means.

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When I first meet with nonprofits, I like to understand where they are in their organisational development: start-up phase or growth phase? Here are the questions I leave Executive Directors/Board Chairs to reflect on: ✔️ Infrastructure: Is your infrastructure robust enough to support your goals? ✔️ Budget: How effectively are you managing your budget to ensure sustainability? ✔️ Fundraising Goals: Are your fundraising strategies aligned with your mission and growth targets? ✔️ 5-Year Plan: Do you have a clear and actionable 5-year plan in place? Reflecting on these areas helps pave the way for strategic growth and long-term success. What else would you add to the list? #NonprofitLeadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #StrategicPlanning #NonprofitGrowth #LeadershipQuestions

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The International Day of Care and Support is celebrated this year with the theme “Transforming Care Systems: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of Beijing+30,” it’s critical we spotlight the invisible, foundational role of care work across societies. According to UN Women, Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024 Care work, both paid and unpaid, overwhelmingly rests on the shoulders of women and girls, who spend more than 2.5 times as many hours per day on unpaid care than men (UN Women, 2024). The care sector also remains heavily gendered, with two-thirds of all care workers being women, from healthcare to childcare and domestic work. This imbalance limits women’s opportunities for education, paid employment, and personal growth. In the words of Hastings, “Care is the economy’s lifeline, yet it’s undervalued and overburdened on women.” Investing in care work holds transformative potential for economies and communities. It’s projected that by 2035, strategic investments in care could generate up to 300 million jobs, reducing poverty, especially for women, while fueling economic growth. Achieving gender equality, as envisioned in the Beijing Declaration, hinges on building care systems that value, support, and empower women. Here’s how we can make this shift: 1. Recognizing and Valuing Care Work: Care work, whether at home or in professional settings, requires acknowledgment. Valuing the time, skills, and commitment involved is foundational to equitable treatment. 2. Expanding Public Investment: Governments must commit to substantial resources for accessible, quality care services. Public care systems would ease the burden on women, enabling greater access to education and paid employment. 3. Redistributing Care Responsibilities: Equitable care requires shared responsibility. Policies for parental leave, flexible work, and affordable childcare are crucial to creating a more balanced approach. Transforming care systems is not only essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals but is also a vital step towards realizing the vision of Beijing+30. By dismantling the structural inequalities within care, we can create a future where women and men share these roles equally, unlocking a world where all individuals can thrive. #CareWork #GenderEquality #SDGs #Beijing30 #CareEconomy #WomensRights #InvestInCare #TransformingCare #InternationalDayOfCareAndSupport

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To achieve equitable and lasting change, we must pay attention to the on-the-ground realities of how society works—realities that are shaped profoundly by gender. 👩‍🎓 Women account for two-thirds of adults globally who are unable to read 👩‍💼 Of the 20 million people displaced by climate change every year, an estimated 80 percent are women 👩‍⚕️ Women spend 25 percent more time in poor health relative to men 👩‍🌾 More than half of all women who work are in the informal economy - with the number rising to 90 percent in developing countries As my dear colleague Debby Bielak said, “The fact is, many funders don’t consider #genderequity when they think about impact, and even when they do, they approach gender only as its own discrete program area. But gender matters in every issue area, so the opportunity here goes far beyond ‘gender funders.’ It is an opportunity for every funder.”  My colleagues recently published a report that explores five practices that can help any funder in any field increasingly consider gender in their grantmaking. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyMWnS87 If you and your team are centering gender in your work, I would love to chat to understand how you're doing so!

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Excited to share this recently-released HBR piece by Joy Chen (陈愉) and Angela Cheng-Cimini 鄭婷婷, which I find to be one of the most powerful articles I've read on advancing Asian American leadership. Using compelling evidence from recent studies, the authors emphasize the need for organizational leadership to address the so-called bamboo ceiling rather than placing the burden solely on Asian American employees. Since most barriers often stem from leadership's cultural bias, it is empowering to find the myths and stereotypes that they debunk: Myth 1: Asian Americans are excellent workers but poor leaders. Truth: One-third of U.S. startups that achieved unicorn status over the past decade had Asian founders. Myth 2: Asian Americans lack leadership capabilities. Truth: Asian CEOs, often appointed during corporate crises, excel in turning companies around, outperforming their sectors by up to 50%. Myth 3: Asian communication styles are deficient. Truth: Asian communication styles are different, and their unique strengths should be recognized and harnessed. As Asians become the fastest-growing demographic in America’s largest companies, it’s imperative for businesses to prioritize elevating Asian employees to key leadership positions. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dnM4453v #AsianAmerican #Leadership #DEI

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Are We Doing Enough to Advocate for Change, or Are We Just Talking? Today, I want to challenge the notion that simply raising awareness is enough. Advocacy goes beyond words; it requires action and commitment to creating lasting impact in our communities, institutions and industries. Whether it’s championing for equal rights, environmental sustainability, or mental health awareness, we must ask ourselves: are we truly stepping up? Why Advocacy Matters: Empowerment: Advocacy empowers individuals to share their stories and experiences, fostering a culture of understanding and support. Community Building: By uniting people around common causes, we strengthen our networks and create collaborative solutions. Policy Change: Effective advocacy can influence legislation and drive meaningful reforms that benefit everyone. I had the pleasure of connecting with Press Secretary & Senior Adviser, Karine Jean-Pierre and other White House Administration to discuss how we can become stronger advocates in our communities, institutions, and organizations. Some Key Highlights: Educate Yourself: Dive deep into the issues that resonate with you and your community. Read articles, attend workshops, and seek diverse perspectives to truly understand the challenges and opportunities we face. Engage: Leverage your platform—be it social media, community events, or professional networks—to amplify the conversation. Share insights, spark discussions, and inspire others to take action alongside you. Support: Invest your time or resources in organizations that reflect your values. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word, every effort counts in driving meaningful change. Together, we can create a stronger, more supportive network! Let’s harness the power of advocacy to encourage positive change and elevate those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference! #Advocacy #ChangeMakers #CommunityImpact #Empowerment #TogetherWeCan

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[Trigger Warning] As a woman in South Asia, I often say I rarely get through a day without being reminded of my gender. These reminders come in overt and subtle ways—inflicted by the external world or internalized through our conditioning. For instance, when stepping out of the house, you subconsciously correct what to wear based on the mode of transport you’ll take or the part of town you’re visiting. Growing up in India, I frequently heard my parents say, “Don’t go out alone after dark, or don’t stay out late—we worry for your safety. We trust you, but we don’t trust the world out there.” It enrages me to think that in a society where no mainstream Bollywood movie seems complete without an “item number” (a song-and-dance sequence featuring hypersexualized women), we also perpetuate narratives like “she dressed to ask for it.” Ironically, I can be fully clad from top to bottom and still be eve-teased as I walk past a new movie poster capitalizing on sexually objectifying women. This cultural normalization of sexualizing women, combined with power imbalances, systemic inequalities, and harmful social norms, manifests in all shades of gender-based violence— from catcalling on the streets and groping in public transport to domestic abuse within marriages and intimate partner rape. Beyond the physical and sexual forms of abuse, gender-based violence also includes psychological and economic abuse: threats & acts of acid attacks, verbally & emotionally abusive relationships, and denial of financial independence. Almost every female friend I know has at least one story to share—either her own or that of someone close to her. It’s no surprise then that India ranks 128th out of 177 in the Women, Peace, and Security Index. ⏰ 5 women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their family;  💔 26% of women aged 15 and older have been subjected to intimate partner violence; 🙋🏻‍♀️ Only less than 40% of women who have experienced violence seek help; and 🌈 For the LGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous women, ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees, and women and girls living with disabilities — these figures are much worse. From November 25 to December 10, we at Wedu stand in solidarity for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by raising awareness about it, challenging existing societal norms, and calling on our decision-makers to address such fundamental violations to human rights. Join us in empowering women leaders to reclaim the spaces they rightfully deserve. Support Wedu and organizations like ours by donating today: https://lnkd.in/gt_fNeHc #RiseTogether #OrangeTheWorld #16days Data source: UN Women (2022)

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The gender equity funding gap has been increasingly analysed, commented on and unpicked; we continue to monitor for changes and to implement all manner of initiatives to get more money into the hands of women. But, for all our efforts, the gap is refusing to close. From some angles, it actually looks like it’s growing. For Noga Edelstein, serial entrepreneur, tech ecosystem leader and thought leader (and former Tractor Head of Advisory), that’s because we’re taking a piecemeal approach to the solutions. What we really need, she says, is a system-wide shakeup. “We know there are many reasons why it’s harder for women to raise funding. They suffer both direct and unconscious bias; they have less access to networks; they rarely fit the VC founder archetype so are perceived as higher risk; not to mention the issues around discrimination and harassment. “But these don’t happen at one single point in time. If you overcome one challenge, all of the others still exist.” Read more here and lets keeping working together to change things! Thanks Noga Edelstein, Stephanie Palmer-Derrien and Dan Siepen for all of your amazing work bringing this series together.

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Read the Global Sisters blog on highlights from APEC Peru 2024 here

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Go on: Write a letter to your future self. About 4 months ago when our Harpswell Foundation Womens' Leadership Summit with Universiti Sains Malaysia concluded in Penang, I asked our participants to engage in a special writing exercise: to write a letter (yep a real paper letter with pen and paper and a stamp) to their future selves. Now I get to post this correspondence out to our young women leaders across 10 nations in SE Asia and Nepal and I am curious as to how they might respond to what they had written previously. The rationale for this exercise in the context of #leadership was simple: +++. The Power of the Pause and Reflection: In our busy, highly stimulated world it is easy to get swept away by the urgent rather than important and to forget insights and growth that can be gained from reflective and transformative experiences. Our Summit was precisely that: 10 days together in person to listen, learn, share and collaborate about issues that matter for women leaders of this time in #ASEAN. By creating this exercise (and time) to allow our participants to reflect on their week we created a powerful avenue for self awareness and connection +++ A commitment to the "I" to be better to be leaders for the "we" (community)" Every participant took around 20 mins to privately express in writing their key takeaways and aspirations and commitments to themselves. This (I hope) when their letters are opened in future weeks will serve as a reminder of the courage to be themselves and be open to whatever challenges that lay ahead; knowing they are now part of a wider network of support and solidarity. +++ Looking out and ahead As leaders, we must all continually make time for learning, growth and to hold ourselves accountable for personal and professional development. I hope that these letters to the future will be a small signal of the big opportunities that lay ahead for these remarkable young women as they continue to grow, lead and serve their communities. One little note- as a #GenXer with experience of the long (and short) handwritten love letter, the aerogram and the musty, dusty Poste Restantes during backpacking days it was good to see that whilst some of our participants were clearly better at texting and using digital means of communication they did take to this writing task with gusto and careful and considered penmanship!! #leadership #selfconnection #personalgrowth

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Are you a woman leader facing the glass ceiling or an Asian leader trying to break through the bamboo ceiling? For many of us, the journey to success is filled with challenges that often seem insurmountable. But what if… ✅ It is okay to be imperfect? ✅ You stop doubting yourself? ✅ Failing forward is acceptable? ✅ You speak up and ask for what you want? Start… 💡 Reframing failures as learning opportunities. 💡 Embracing your authentic self. 💡 Nurturing your curiosity. 💡 Trusting your abilities. Remember, change begins with a single step. Give yourself permission to try. How would life look like for you if there’s nothing holding you back? ♻ Share with others you think may benefit from this. 💛 I’m on a mission to help leaders succeed, find fulfillment, and rediscover joy. Hope you find this helpful. Feel free to DM me if I can support you in your personal growth journey. #personalgrowth #emotionalintelligence #coaching #success #fulfillment #joy #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #BreakTheGlassCeiling #Empowerment

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Many of us hear about Davos but do we really grasp what it’s all about? Here is a nice clear definition and description https://lnkd.in/egeAuzVc

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   YOU Life Skills and Leadership Educational Foundation and the Nguzo Women and Youth Foundation are teaming up for a transformative mission in Moshi, Tanzania. Our 2024 initiative, Health | Hope | Higher Aspirations, aims to address critical challenges Tanzanian girls face.  When Angelina Leon Mvungi was 15 years old, she failed the government exams to continue to secondary school. Without the funds to go to a private school, this was effectively the end of her education because the government exam could not be retaken. "I was just sitting at home, doing nothing," said Mvungi. For students who are unable to continue their studies due to a lack of money for school fees or failing the exam, sitting at home is the most certain path toward teen pregnancy and early marriage. Early forced marriage or pregnancy, often as a result of sexual violence, can also cause girls to drop out of school, even if they had planned on continuing. Almost four out of every 10 girls in Tanzania are married before age 18, according to UNICEF statistics. One-quarter of the babies born in Tanzania are born to mothers under the age of 18, according to U.N. Women.                                               Our Objectives: Empowerment: Educate girls and boys on sexual reproductive health, life skills, and anti-bullying tools. Hygiene Kits: Provide hygiene kits for girls. Education: Help girls and women find their voices and become active participants within their communities. Join our team by donating today: https://lnkd.in/gxpRiiEX

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🌍 Spotlight on Sudan: Embrace APAC presents #WorldRefugeeDay 🌍 At LinkedIn, we believe in fostering spaces of belonging for underrepresented and historically excluded employees and allies. Embrace is an employee resource group aimed at amplifying the experiences of marginalized groups, including displaced immigrants, refugees, and first-generation employees. Recently, we highlighted the crisis in Sudan through an insightful session led by Abdalla Abakar, a Sudanese Microsoft employee based in Munich. Abdalla provided a comprehensive overview of the conflict in Sudan, tracing its origins to General Bashir's rule and the use of militia in Darfur. He explained the ongoing power struggle between the national army and rapid support forces, resulting in widespread displacement, violence, and a severe humanitarian crisis. With over 10 million people displaced, a collapsed healthcare system, and a looming food crisis, the situation is dire. How big is 10 million? It’s nearly double of Singapore’s entire population that is seeking refuge. Abdalla's association in Germany, Hilat Al Bir, has been instrumental in building schools and healthcare facilities in Sudan and is now focusing on providing food and basic necessities to the displaced population. I encourage everyone to research the situation in Sudan, share information within your networks, and consider donating to Hilat al Bir. #EmbraceInitiative #SudanCrisis #DiversityAndInclusion #SupportSudan #LinkedInForGood #LinkedInGives Sanjot Singh Serena Jweinat Vaishnavi Singh Reema Railkar Catherine Flynn

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