United States of America

<p>In the current global landscape, equipping youth with essential knowledge and skills in innovation and trade is critical. Mastery of intellectual property rights can dramatically enhance the prospects for young entrepreneurs and innovators, opening up new markets, facilitating access to financing, and providing a competitive edge globally. Such knowledge contributes significantly to sustainable economic, social, cultural, and environmental development.</p><p>In this spirit, WIPO and ITC are excited to present "Innovate and Lead: Skills for Youth to Drive a Sustainable Future" at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. This event is designed as a catalyst for young visionaries to engage directly with policy and decision-makers, including Youth Ministers and experts from the ITC and WIPO. It aims to dismantle the traditional barriers that have hindered dialogue and collaboration, providing a platform for young voices to be included in shaping the policies and decisions that will define our collective future.</p><p>We recognize the importance of engaging young people and providing them with opportunities to share ideas that drive impactful solutions. This initiative aims to empower young individuals with the skills to become key contributors to development efforts, working alongside government, the private sector, NGOs, and leaders in science, technology, and innovation to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues.</p><p>The session is crafted to inspire and challenge attendees, encouraging them to explore how intellectual property and trade can be leveraged as tools for positive change. It presents a unique opportunity for participants to take an active stance in advancing the agenda for sustainable development. Join us in this vital dialogue, and let's collaborate to mold the future.</p>

<p>Micro-enterprises contribute significantly to economies and societies, and are the dominant form of employment in <strong>low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)</strong>. It is estimated that in emerging markets, there are over 400 million micro-enterprises, including up to 345 million informal micro-enterprises.&nbsp;</p><p>In low-income countries, <strong>88% of working age women earn income through self-employment</strong>, yet they are more likely than men to be disadvantaged when it comes to accessing resources to start, run and grow a business. Mobile phones are a crucial tool for supporting female micro-entrepreneurs, providing them with access to markets, business services, resources and information that they would not be able to easily access otherwise.&nbsp;</p><p>However, <strong>in LMICs, women are 16% less likely than men to use mobile internet</strong>,18% less likely than men to own a smartphone and 28% less likely than men to own a mobile money account . Urgent action is needed to bridge the mobile gender gap to ensure that women micro-entrepreneurs are able to realize the significant benefits that mobile can provide and that they are not being left behind in an increasingly connected world.&nbsp;</p><p>This session brings together the public and private sector, the international development community and civil society to discuss the challenges and opportunities for <strong>empowering women micro-entrepreneurs through mobile</strong>. It aims to inform and inspire action for improving the digital and financial inclusion of women micro-entrepreneurs, delivering benefits not only for the women themselves but also for economies, communities and households.</p>

<p>Women represent half the population of the world but their share in the economy is very low. Inclusive development and gender equality are musts for sustainable development. Both in the public and private sectors, there is a need for more women to be among the suppliers in the procurement, and women remain strongly underrepresented in trade.&nbsp;Support of private sector and public authorities will be a big step forward to enable women's access to economy and markets. At the parallel event, good examples of partnership of private sector, NGO, municipalities and international organizations will be shared to inspire participants. These models can be easily applied in other countries. Both public procurement and gender friendly local environment are means of support of Municipalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The International Trade Centre contributes to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development with two side events dedicated to an inclusive and green recovery.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>5 July, 7:30-9:00 EST (New York) &nbsp;- &nbsp;Building Back Better through Gender-Responsive Public Procurement</li></ul><p>For online participation, please register <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fintra… by the Government of the Republic of South Africa, Women20, Women Entrepreneurs Act Initiative, and ITC, this side event focuses on leveraging the untapped potential of women’s participation in government contracts for development through sharing of country experiences, lessons learned, and practical recommendations for those interested in creating or upscaling gender-responsive public procurement initiatives.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>6 July, 7:30-9:00 EST (New York) &nbsp;- &nbsp; Climate Competitiveness: How Small businesses in developing countries can contribute to a climate smart recovery and Agenda 2030 through international trade</li></ul><p>For online participation, please register <a href="https://intracen.zoom.us/j/94113283552">here</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>This side event will highlight how partnerships contribute to an economic transformation that enhances international competitiveness of small businesses and puts them at the centre of a low-carbon transition. It will bring together MSMEs and government representatives to discuss initiatives that highlight the importance of partnerships (SDG 17) to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for and with MSMEs.</p><p>Contact: chardjakusumah@intracen.org</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This side event of the 9th Summit of the Americas is hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Organization of American States (OAS).&nbsp;</p><p>Countries in Central America continue to experience high levels of poverty, compounded by growing violence and social and economic instability, exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;</p><p>Border regions and non-urban areas have borne the brunt of these challenges. Addressing the root cause of irregular migration and displacement is necessary for long-lasting solutions to meet the dreams and aspirations of communities.&nbsp;</p><p>Now is the time to spur partnerships that help create opportunities at home.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Please register to participate in this timely event </strong><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fee.hu…;

First day of 2-weeks of meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women

<p>Regional Realities - Challenges, priorities and actions for the post COVID-19 recovery and realizing the SDGs Decade of Action&nbsp;</p><p>Asia and the Pacific session</p><p>The International Trade Centre and the United Nations Development Programme lead this regional session that is part of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. &nbsp;The Forum provides a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other actors on concrete actions to rebuild from COVID-19 and to advance towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Decade of Action.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;For more information, please visit: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/node/46710419</p&gt;