On Thursday, May 16, the Africa Center hosted a public discussion on gendered barriers to raising capital in African markets, and the dearth of female leadership atop private equity and venture capital firms with funds on the African continent. Panelists discussed OPIC’s 2X Women’s Initiative, which has mobilized over $1 billion for women-led businesses, and called for better coordination amongst development finance institutions to empower female business leaders.

Private equity leaders also debated methods to improve gender balance in the field of investments and banking, and engaged the audience on how to mobilize US government agencies to advance women’s entrepreneurship in male-dominated sectors.