Louise Holt

Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development

Global Affairs Canada

Louise Holt joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2002. She has served as Deputy Director, Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights; Director, Social Development Policy; and Director, Sector and Thematic Specialist Division at the Canadian International Development Agency. She was posted to Nairobi and Pretoria as Counsellor and Director of Development. From 2016 to 2018, Ms. Holt served as Director General, Canadian Partnerships for Health and Social Development and as Director General, Partnership for Gender Equality from 2018-2020. She is currently Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development Branch.

Event Schedule

DAY 1

18 July 2023

Start Time	End Time	Session	Description	Action
10:30 am EEST	12:00 pm EEST	Funding Feminist Movements: Building on Global Momentum Concurrent Room MH 3-2	The most effective way to advance women’s rights worldwide is to directly invest in feminist movements. This session will showcase actors including governments and women Read More The most effective way to advance women’s rights worldwide is to directly invest in feminist movements. This session will showcase actors including governments and women’s funds, who have recognized the transformative potential of funding feminist movements. These actors have changed, or are in the process of challenging, their funding practices to provide flexible, long-term, core funding to feminist organizations. Through curated, small group discussions, this event provides participants with the chance to personally engage with these actors, better understand the elements necessary to realize the potential of feminist movements, what is working, and how to help them grow. Session format: Whole System in a Room Organized by International Women’s Development Agency, Equality Fund Read Less Speakers Sachini Perera Executive Coordinator Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice (RESURJ) Debby Bielak Partner The Bridgespan Group Pontso Mafethe Director of Programmes African Women's Development Fund Louise Holt Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development Global Affairs Canada Delphine O Ambassador and Secretary General for the Generation Equality Forum French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cynthia Eyakuze Co-Vice President, Global Programs Equality Fund
04:30 pm EEST	06:00 pm EEST	Co-Designing Gender Equality: The Role of Accountability in the Gender Equality Agenda Plenary KCC Auditorium	Watch the recording here Addressing gender gaps requires addressing accountability gaps. Despite numerous commitments to gender equality and women’s rights, Read More Watch the recording here Addressing gender gaps requires addressing accountability gaps. Despite numerous commitments to gender equality and women’s rights, implementation and delivery remain challenging, especially for grassroots, women’s rights, youth-led, and feminist organizations. This plenary examines accountability mechanisms to ensure financial resources reach feminist movements, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It explores whether these mechanisms prioritize civil society, girls, youth, and women. This plenary will provide a space for frankly discussing accountability and a platform for civil society organizations, youth, and grassroots activists to hold leaders accountable, identify gaps, celebrate successes, and generate solutions for a future where gender equality commitments are co-designed and co-accountable. Opening: Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Co-Founder of the Malala Fund Moderator and MC: Shahira Amin, Award winning Journalist and Former Deputy Head of Egypt’s Channel Nile TV Video: Melinda French Gates, Co-chair and Board Member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Panel: Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues Julisa Tambunan, Equal Measures 2030 Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Global Advocacy Manager at Sightsavers Louise Holt, Director General of the Social Development Bureau at Global Affairs Canada Hon. Lynda Tabuya, Minister for Women, Child and Poverty Alleviation of Fiji Pauline Faith Gartor, Executive Director of the Girls Health Alliance Lightning Talks Wangechi Wachira, Executive Director, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (DfG Kenya) Shereen Bhan, Leadership Development & North America Director WomenLift Health Anika Dorothy Jenne, Amplify Girls Closing: Asenath Mwithigah, CEO of Orchid Project. Launch of the Africa Network to end FGM/C Nabeela Iqbal, Asia Network to End FGM/C, member from Sri Lanka Read Less Speakers Nabeela Iqbal Founder and Director Sisterhood Initiative Asenath Mwithigah Chief Executive Officer Orchid Project Wangechi Wachira Executive Director Centre for Rights Education and Awareness – CREAW Pauline Faith Gartor Youth Activist Youth Coalition for Sexual Reproductive Health Rights/ Girls Health Alliance Marci Ien Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth Government of Canada Julisa Tambunan Deputy Executive Director Equal Measures 2030 Louise Holt Director General, Social Development, Global Issues and Development Global Affairs Canada Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame Global Advocacy Manager Sightsavers Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Co-Founder Malala Fund

Speakers

contact@wd2023-conference.org