The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have honoured former Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, with the 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award, in recognition of her unwavering leadership to drive progress for gender equality on a global scale through trailblazing initiatives such as the Generation Equality Forum. “She exemplifies the leadership we need in the fight for gender equality around the world”, said Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
During her eight-year tenure at UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka led work to strengthen and expand partnerships with diverse actors including government, civil society, male allies, and the media. Her commitment to fostering cross-sector solidarity and to ensure the inclusion of the voice and leadership of youth, culminated in the monumental success of the Generation Equality Forum, mobilizing US$ 40 billion in financial commitments for the advancement of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This achievement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic “demonstrates that progress is possible, even in the most difficult of times”, said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read More.