WiSER outlines 10 actions to expand women’s economic participation and drive global growth

• WiSER’s new White Paper links women’s economic participation to competitiveness, resilience and institutional performance

• Framework highlights 10 practical pathways to enhance participation across finance, policy, innovation and human capital

• Insights shaped by global leaders convened at the 2026 WiSER Annual Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

WiSER, a global platform founded by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize to champion women as leaders of sustainable change, today launched Inclusive Pathways for Transformative Growth, a white paper that recommends practical actions to enhance women’s economic participation and drive global growth.

The report highlights how leadership structures, capital flows, governance models and innovation ecosystems shape access to opportunity, authority and resources. It offers ten practical actions across six priority areas — including investing in more female innovators, creating fairer leadership pathways, using more inclusive data, and updating policies to remove barriers to full participation.

The White Paper builds on insights from the 2026 WiSER Annual Forum, convened in January during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), where ministers, ambassadors, CEOs, investors and policymakers examined how inclusive leadership and institutional design can unlock more resilient growth models.

Under the forum theme, Inclusive Pathways for Transformative Growth, discussions focused on practical levers that strengthen decision-making, accelerate innovation and expand participation in ways that enhance long-term economic performance.

The report outlines six priority areas where leaders can act to strengthen inclusive performance:

• Finance: Expand women’s access to capital and investment governance structures

• Policy and governance: Embed inclusive decision-making frameworks that reform laws and institutions

• Innovation: Support inclusive research funding, commercialization pathways and scaling models

• Human capital: Invest in inclusive education and upskilling, particularly in STEM and AI

• Leadership: Strengthen transparent leadership selection, advancement and accountability systems

• Foresight and crisis response: Increase female representation in risk and foresight governance to reduce blind spots and strengthen resilience

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar and WiSER Program Director, said:

Since its launch in 2015, WiSER has grown into a globally recognized platform shaping the next generation of women sustainability leaders. Over the past decade, it has empowered more than 150 women through its flagship Pioneers program, delivered over 565 hours of structured one-to-one mentorship, and mobilized a global network of 35+ mentors and 85+ strategic partners.

Through its annual forums, summits, and policy dialogues across six continents, WiSER has convened over 4,500 influential voices from government, industry, academia, and civil society, building a powerful pipeline of inclusive leadership. Working with partners worldwide, WiSER channels insights from these collaborations into white papers, podcasts, and dialogues that shape policy, industry practice, and everyday decision-making.

WiSER remains committed to empowering women as sustainability leaders through its pioneering initiatives, including the WiSER Pioneers program and WiSER Cares. The insights and recommendations outlined in the White Paper will help inform future WiSER programming and partnerships, supporting leaders and institutions to move from commitment to measurable progress in embedding inclusive leadership and performance-driven approaches. The complete set of ten actionable recommendations is presented in full within the report.

To download the full White Paper and learn more, visit: https://wiser.ae/