On 10 March 2025, a side event on the “Baku Climate Coalition for SMEs’ Green Transition: Women Empowerment” brought together international leaders to address critical challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the green economy. The event was jointly organized by SESRIC, the OIC Permanent Observer Mission to the UN, and Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency.
UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib, in her remarks, highlighted the critical challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the global green economy. She exposed the stark economic landscape facing women, revealing a staggering $1.7 trillion financing gap in micro, small, and medium enterprises. Her message highlighted that women own only 22% of micro-enterprises and 32% of small and medium enterprises worldwide.
The climate crisis, as Al-Khatib explained, disproportionately impacts women, with projections suggesting that by 2050, up to 158 million more women could be pushed into poverty, and 232 million could face food insecurity. She presented South-South and triangular cooperation as a transformative solution, advocating for peer learning opportunities that create contextually relevant strategies for women’s economic empowerment.
Her remarks showcased concrete success stories of international cooperation. She also proposed key recommendations for the Baku Climate Coalition, calling for gender-responsive climate finance mechanisms, tailored incubation programs, supportive policy frameworks, and improved data collection on women’s participation in the green economy.
SESRIC Director General Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK highlighted the critical role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in global economic landscapes. She emphasized that SMEs represent over 90% of businesses and 70% of employment worldwide while simultaneously contributing to 50% of global carbon emissions. SELÇUK underscored the imperative of green transition, innovation, and social integration for long-term economic resilience.
Dr. Rufat ATAKISHIYEV, Deputy Chairman of KOBİA, provided insights into Azerbaijan’s national strategy, presenting the “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities towards Socio-Economic Development” framework. He highlighted the country’s commitment to a clean environment and green growth, with the Baku Climate Coalition Declaration serving as a cornerstone of their national approach.
Ms. Jeyran RAHMATULLOYEVA from Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Family, Women, and Children Affairs offered a national perspective on women’s empowerment, highlighting the country’s efforts to align women’s development policies with green transformation initiatives.
Ambassador Hameed Ajibaiye OPELOYERU, OIC Permanent Observer to the UN, provided a broader multilateral perspective. He acknowledged the importance of the Baku Declaration and presented recommendations for enhanced coordination of international efforts supporting women entrepreneurs and green SME development.
The event culminated with a call to action, positioning women entrepreneurs as critical partners in economic and environmental transformation. The Baku Climate Coalition emerged as a promising framework for supporting women-led SMEs in their green transition journey.
This side event brought together national, regional, and international institutions to explore innovative approaches to women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development.
For more information, visit the SESRIC website.