STANDARD Chartered Bank Zambia says it will always aspire to empower women across the organization because gender balance is essential to the growth of the economy and families.
Bank chief executive officer, Herman Kasekende, stated that the company, through its Goal programme, was working in local communities, in partnership with Nowspar Zambia, to equip young girls with life skills.
He said the bank had invested over US$700,000 to empower adolescent girls with life skills through sport and that over 12,000 girls had benefitted from the programme since its inception in 2011.
He said the bank had also worked with other organisations like the Habitat for Humanity Zambia, on its annual Women’s Build programme, which aims at empowering disadvantaged women in under-privileged communities across the country with decent houses.
Mr Kasekende said to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, the bank had reiterated its continued commitment to improving gender equality and empowering of women.
Mr Kasekende stated, “We are committed to improve gender equality and empowering women across the organisation. The women who form 50% of our Executive Management Team continue to give invaluable input to the team – collectively executing the Bank’s strategy.”
“The bank is aligning to the UN global theme: #balanceforbetter, with a global commitment to have 30% female representation at senior levels across all its markets by 2020,” he said.
