Ivanka Trump unveils effort to aid women

WASHINGTON — Ivanka Trump started a White House effort aimed at helping 50 million women in the developing world get ahead economically over the next six years.

The White House on Thursday unveiled the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, a governmentwide project led by the senior adviser and daughter to President Donald Trump. The initiative will involve the State Department, the National Security Council and other agencies. It aims to coordinate current programs and develop new ones to assist women in areas such as job training, financial support, and legal or regulatory changes.

Calling it a “historic step,” the president signed a national security memorandum to officially begin the effort, framing it as a way to promote stability around the world. He was joined in the Oval Office by Ivanka Trump, elected officials, Cabinet members, business leaders and women who have benefited from such programs.

“Investing in women helps achieve greater peace and prosperity between nations, not only our nation, this is all nations, all over the world,” Trump said.

Ivanka Trump, who will attend the Munich Security Conference next week to promote the project, stressed that she sees this as a national security priority. “We think women are arguably the most undertapped resource in the developing world for accelerating economic growth and prosperity,” she said.

The effort will draw on public and private resources, with the U.S. Agency for International Development initially setting up a $50 million fund, using already-budgeted dollars. As part of the unveiling, USAID and Pepsi Co. announced a partnership aimed at women in India, and USAID and UPS an agreement designed to help female entrepreneurs export goods.

Trump has twice tried to slash USAID’s budget by a third, and his “America first” foreign policy has sought to limit the United States’ role as an international leader. But his daughter said this effort is in keeping with administration goals, arguing that it is a strategic investment that promotes security.

“We’re proud of our legacy of being a generous nation, looking to uplift others around the world. But we want to do so in a fiscally responsible way,” she said, promising “rigorous” efforts to track progress. Among those she has consulted for the project is former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Before the Oval Office ceremony Thursday, Ivanka Trump gathered stakeholders for a discussion, where she said the initiative lays out “an ambitious goal, but we’re going to get there.”

The initiative builds on previous White House efforts to help women internationally.