Doha:Officials and experts have emphasized the importance of turning gender equality commitments into actionable measures that bolster partnerships in development projects. The aim is to ensure gender considerations are integrated into all stages of investment operations.

According to Qatar News Agency, this discussion took place during a panel session on the second day of the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), hosted by Qatar. The panel included distinguished speakers such as Tanzania's Minister of Finance, Khamis Mussa Omar, AIIB Board Member and Australian Treasury Minister-Counsellor Cosimo Thawley, Ethno Media founder Samar Khan, and EBRD's Associate Director for Gender and Economic Inclusion, Maud de Vautibault.

The speakers highlighted that the AIIB's Gender Action Plan is a testament to the bank's dedication to promoting gender-inclusive investments. This plan aims to enhance economic opportunities for women, empower their decision-making roles, develop their skills, and increase their participation in various sectors.

There was a consensus on the necessity for multilateral development banks, governments, private sectors, and civil society organizations to convert gender-related commitments into concrete outcomes. The panelists stressed the importance of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based approaches to extend the impact of these initiatives.

The session also underscored the significance of including gender considerations in infrastructure investments, emphasizing the need to measure outcomes and strengthen cooperation for sustainable development. Gender mainstreaming has progressed from being a project-level consideration to becoming a strategic driver for infrastructure quality and inclusive growth.

Additionally, the experts noted the importance of AIIB's annual panel discussions on gender issues since 2023, acknowledging that infrastructure affects men and women differently. These differences impact access to education, employment, safety, mobility, and public access to essential infrastructure.

The discussion concluded with a call for greater ambition in enhancing the positive impact of bank projects through financing mechanisms and measurement practices that improve gender-related outcomes. It was noted that there is a need to move beyond risk management towards identifying opportunities that deliver greater benefits.