Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Gender in leadership matters equality
MULTILATERAL organisations such as the UN Security Council, IMF and the World Bank have been criticised for their inability to adapt to the changing global system and balance of power. These organisations are often described as the rich men’s club or the men’s club.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as director-general can be seen as the organisation being more responsive to the changes that have and continue to take place in the global environment. The inclusion of emerging countries such as Brazil, India and China further illustrates this point.
Her approintment serves as a stepping stone not only to normalise the appointment of women as “captains”, but also serves as a call for multilateral organisations to be more specific and responsive to discussions on inclusiveness.
It has always been the time for women to take on high leadership positions, but the current push and rally for women to assume these positions is an indication of the need to be more reflective in order to have a bottom-up approach and impact. If the call by these multilateral organisations is to bridge the gender gap, then these very same organisations also need to reflect this call.
The introduction
of the
Declaration
on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment, signed in December 2017, was a stepping stone in advancing gender equality and the economic empowerment of women. But this means little to nothing if there is no change in leadership at the top so that it reflects the population, and in turn, a change in the culture of decision-making and policy thinking.
Although this is a historic appointment by the WTO, it will be in vain if Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment is reduced to tokenism. In addition, she should be seen as more than just diversity and inclusion.
Historically, the WTO does not have an impressive record of women’s representation in leadership, decision-making and other positions of authority. In 2016, out of the 20 directors, only three were women. Between 1995 and 2016, out of the 22 General Councils, only two were women; out of the 25 chairs on the Council for Trade and Service, only four women served in this position; and in the same period, two out of the 10 chairs on the Ministerial Conferences have been filled by women.
Women have historically influenced the trading system. Look no further than the former deputy minister of international trade, Sylvia Ostry, who played an instrumental role in launching the Uruguay Round and the Canadian Minister of International Trade, Patricia Carney, who played a key role in negotiating the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.
Okonjo-Iweala’s vision for the WTO is to rejuvenate and strengthen the WTO by renewing and strengthening its governance structure. This includes updating the new issues (such as e-commerce, the digital economy and the green and circular economies) faced by the WTO. This also includes making greater efforts in increasing female participation in global trade – more specifically, including more women-owned enterprises in the formal sector.
Who better to accomplish this mandate than Okonjo-Iweala who can provide a primary and unique perspective? The execution of this vision is, however, dependent on the leadership structure within the WTO.
A lack of leadership diversity within the WTO poses a threat to this vision. It is, therefore, important for Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment to be used as a stepping stone to achieving gender equality in the WTO. That is to say, it is a disillusion to try to actualise and prioritise an objective that is not a priority within the organisation.
Gender equality from the top (at global level) can provide a roadmap for how to achieve gender equality at the bottom (regional and national level).
Okonjo-Iweala ahead of her.
Globalisation and international trade is argued to have left women behind. Even though there are more employment opportunities for women, the quality, wages and prospects for skilled development contradict the fight. Too many women are still subject to cheap labour, and because of their skill level, they are restricted to low skill and low wage work.
The marginalisation of women in international trade can be directly linked to trade policies. Arguably, a shift in decision-making and trade reform can play a key role in addressing these shortfalls.
These are not new challenges, but challenges that are exacerbated at national and international level.
However, what is new is
has
a tough
road
the
appointment of Okonjo-Iweala. Her career and appointment symbolise more than what meets the eye. It symbolises the world of possibilities to the women and girl child in Africa. Her seat at the table serves as a form of validation of (African) women’s capability and leadership skills.
Opposition to inclusiveness being regarded as a threat to the balance of power, it should be seen as an instrument to strengthen and solidify the durability and efficiency of multilateral organisations.
Although it is too soon to make an assessment of her performance, her previous performances have certainly raised the bar. Moreover, her appointment has advanced the discussion on gender equality in leadership.
Mongae is a PhD candidate in the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand.