CAF and UN Women reaffirm their commitment to gender equality and the protection of women's and girls' rights

CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, and the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen gender equality, diversity and social inclusion through public policies, investment projects and technical assistance for women and girls in the region.

The agreement contemplates a joint work agenda in four main points: including a gender equality approach in the investments and loans that CAF provides to the public and private sector; providing technical assistance to the public and private sector to accompany loans and promote results in gender equality and women's empowerment; annually recognising public and private sector actors that demonstrate a real commitment and concrete results by allocating resources and financing projects related to women; and the inclusion of good gender practices within CAF.

CAF's Executive President, Sergio Díaz-Granados, referred to the Memorandum of Understanding with UN Women and said: "The empowerment of women in Latin America and the Caribbean is one of our priorities; therefore, we are pleased to sign this memorandum with UN Women to work together for a better future for the region. For us, this agreement is the first step in a strategic alliance that I am sure will achieve concrete results in gender equality in the short term".

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, commented: "Financing for gender equality is a central part of financing for development, and regional banks like CAF are leading innovative financing and investments in sustainable development. This partnership will help co-create new initiatives towards gender equality and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America".

UN Women is a subsidiary body of the United Nations with a mandate to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment, which recognizes the importance of collaborating and cooperating with partners to achieve its mandate and strategic objectives. 

CAF supports UN Women's mandate and recognises that it is necessary to accompany countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5, which refers to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, as well as the gender targets included in these goals.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed with UN Women is a further step in the promotion of the sustainable development model through loans, non-refundable resources and support in the technical and financial structuring of public and private projects in the region.