India has announced a significant milestone by establishing the ‘Coalition for Global Well-Being – Gender Equality and Equality’ – an initiative unveiled during the country’s welcome to the ongoing World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.

The initiative received strong support from Klaus Schwab, Founder and President of the World Economic Forum (WEF), who expressed full support for the partnership with the alliance. The manifesto positions India as a global leader in the discussion on women’s empowerment, especially in the context of third world countries.

Schwab underlined the prominence of India at Davos along with key topics such as climate, conflict and artificial intelligence. He pledged strong support for the alliance, expressing his gratitude to India’s strong delegation, especially during an election year.

“We will not only support this alliance but will become a strong partner,” he said.

The global partnership to promote women’s leadership is not just about improving nutrition or promoting digital inclusion, but also about fundamentally transforming society. India’s commitment to building this partnership is a recognition that leadership is not limited to political offices but extends to local governance, self-help groups and communities.

India’s success story in women-led development is evident in its flagship programs – Mission Shakti, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra, Start-up India, Skill India. These have empowered women at various levels including the grassroots level. Furthermore, they also created a blueprint for other countries to follow.

The genesis of this alliance can be traced back to the G20 leaders’ announcement in New Delhi last year. Under India’s leadership, its focus on women-led development shifted from solely focusing on women’s development to placing women at the forefront of shaping economies and societies.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani praised WEF for supporting India and highlighted the governance agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stressed the important role of women in promoting good governance. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also stressed India’s enduring relationship with the WEF and noted the country’s transition from women-centric development to women-led development.

By making this announcement at WEF, India demonstrates its leadership not only within its own borders but also on the global stage. Institutional support to the alliance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, partnership with WEF and collaboration with Invest India adds an international dimension to this initiative. It symbolizes India’s call to unite to tackle gender-related challenges globally.

The alliance has received support from industry leaders around the world. The CII Center for Women’s Leadership will serve as the anchor for this transformative initiative, which strategically aligns with the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring India’s commitment to a comprehensive approach – good From promoting health and quality education to empowering women and fostering global partnerships. For development.

To truly empower women, it is important to enable their role in leadership and decision making at all levels of society. Studies have found that exposure to public and political representation increases women’s overall labor force participation, share of public employment opportunities, and access to public facilities. Women’s participation in decision-making processes is associated with lower levels of violence, which contributes to a culture of nonviolence and conflict prevention.