Safaricom has joined global brands such as Facebook, Alibaba Group, Johnsons & Johnsons, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Diageo among others as the first African and the fourth member organization to join the Leadership Council of the Unstereotype Alliance, a UN Women Initiative
The Unstereotype Alliance is an initiative by the UN Women that brings partners together and seeks to collectively use the advertising industry as a force for good to drive positive change all over the world. Its mission is to eliminate gender-based stereotypes in advertising and media content globally. The Alliance contributes to empowering women in all their diversity and addressing harmful masculinities to help create a gender equal world.
“We are delighted as a company to be part of a global organization that seeks to eradicate harmful gender-based stereotypes in all media and advertising content. We believe that through concerted efforts we will be able to address issues of gender bias through the promotion of equal opportunities for all,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom.
Sylvia Mulinge will join the Alliance Leadership Council Council whose immediate priorities include international expansion, measurement, and research as well as inspiring action from the general public.
Safaricom is expected to champion the elimination of harmful gender stereotypes and gender bias from advertising and marketing within the business and globally. The Telco was unanimously voted to join the Alliance by various representative organizations such as Unilever, IPG, UN Women and AT&T.
“We are extremely enthused to have Safaricom joining the Unstereotype Alliance. This will benefit the Alliance greatly by having a strong global south partner who can spearhead the advocacy to like-minded global and African players. Safaricom has demonstrable real-life results behind a financially inclusive business model that has lifted millions from poverty through its pioneering telecoms and mobile money innovations,” said Hon. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka , Executive Director UN Women and Under-Secretary-General United Nations and chair of the Initiative.
The Telco giant will have the opportunity to showcase its sustainable business profile on a global platform, access business networks to connect and collaborate with organizations from across the globe, showcase its inclusivity agenda at UN hosted events globally and also access curated research and published best practices.
