Championing women’s rights: The Women’s Solutions Reporting Award showcases the women and girls who are changing our world and paving the way for others

We’re so proud to partner again with the European Investment Bank for the Women’s Solutions Reporting Award. In this piece, Margaret Carroll, Acting Head of the European Investment Bank Social Policy Unit, explains how investments in women and their stories can tackle social issues to drive meaningful change.

For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside remarkable individuals, women and men alike, who are dedicated to advancing women’s rights and addressing social inequalities worldwide. I continue to encounter these individuals in my work as Senior Social Development Specialist at the Social Policy Unit of the European Investment Bank – inspiring people who craft original solutions and strategies to navigate immense challenges.

Picture from Maggie in Rwanda (women and girls marching for International Women’s Day in Gisenyi, Rwanda in 2012).

For example, in Rwanda I worked with female entrepreneurs developing innovative business models in horticulture value chains, notably to process, dry and export fruit and vegetables, while in Gaza I collaborated with female water engineers pioneering new approaches to enhance wastewater treatment for agricultural use. As a government adviser co-developing policies promoting LGBTIQ rights, I was able to learn from individuals and local associations that were fighting for equal rights in employment and access to services.

The central theme in this work is breaking down barriers so that all people can contribute their talents and ideas, as well as their unique perspectives on problems and possible solutions. This benefits not only people who are locked out of opportunities, but all of us, as we build on the full strength of our communities.

At the European Investment Bank, we strive to maximise the Bank’s positive social impact while addressing gender and social risks, like gender-based violence and harassment. We are privileged to work in the European Union, which is committed to equality and inclusion under the EU Pillar of Social Rights. The Bank plays a key role in realising this shared vision.

One of my most interesting roles at the European Investment Bank has been to coordinate the development of a social impact framework that links EIB investments to the EU social policy objectives. Some of the most transformational investments that I have been involved in are, for example, developing the infrastructure needed for care and health services, closing gender gaps and reducing inequalities that persist even in the European Union.

In these challenging times for women’s rights, equality, and inclusion, I take even greater pride in the EIB’s commitment to tackling social issues through our investments. The Bank has already invested over €16 billion since 2021 in public and private sector projects that advance women’s economic power and support equality. These projects create an environment that enables women and others to fully participate in their economies and societies as leaders, entrepreneurs and agents of change.

Women struggle to get visibility and recognition, and that is why I am so pleased that the European Investment Bank is sponsoring the Women’s Solutions Reporting award with One World Media. It reflects our deep commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Each year, this award brings to light compelling stories of innovation and resilience that drive meaningful change – stories that are especially needed in the current environment.