The Gender Lens Investment (GLI) initiative is part of the SAWI Project (Support and Accelerate Women’s Inclusion) launched in 2020 at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business and funded by MEPI at the U.S. Department of State.
The main aim of SAWI is to partner with a transnational network of MENA employers, in order to develop, improve, and implement inclusive Human Resource (HR) policies and practices for the better recruitment, retention, and promotion of women. The targeted sectors include Banking, Higher Education, STEM, and Healthcare. The targeted countries comprise of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Bahrain.
Aim of the GLI initiative. Gender Lens Investing (GLI) is a new investment scheme that has recently emerged at the global level to advance inclusion in the workplace. Under GLI, impact investors who diligently work on reducing the gender gap in employment, can also achieve high returns on their investments, since research has shown that diversity in decision-making roles outperforms non-diversity. This initiative also seeks to enable companies with inclusive HR systems and responsible engagement in their supply chain to obtain ample access to capital, which helps finance their projects and accelerate their future growth. GLI is an opportunity to bring about real change and economic growth.
GLI channels investments to inclusive employers. It seeks to help impact investors reduce the gender gap in employment while achieving high returns and enable companies with inclusive HR systems to obtain ample access to capital in order to finance their projects and future growth. GLI drives progress by providing opportunities for investors and organizations.
What is in it for investors?
- Improved investment performance
- Higher shareholder value
- Top line growth
- Wider access to high quality products/services
What is in it for Employers?
- Improved business performance
- Increased profitability
- Improved team’s diversity
OUR PARTNERS ON GLI IN THE REGION
> Ahli Bank – Jordan
> Cairo Amman Bank- Jordan
> Holcim – Lebanon
GLI TEAM
Lama Moussawi Ph.D. - CIBL Director, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, Tenured Associate Professor of Management Science
Wassim Dbouk Ph.D. - CIBL Co-founder, Associate Professor of Finance, Director of the Investment Management Program at OSB.
Charlotte Karam Ph.D. - Director of International Partnerships, and Founding Director (2018-2021), CIBL for Women and Adjunct Professor | Endowed Professor in Inclusive Systems, Associate Professor, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
Axelle Meouchy MS - Research Associate/Curriculum Coordinator
Elissar Saad MA – Research Associate
Ghadi Al Ayache BA – Research Assistant
Line Reda MBA - Financial Officer and Project Manager
Mireille El Haber MS – Communications Manager
Samira Hazzouri BA – Graphic Designer
SAWI Phase II