Expanding VfW's Online Gender-Smart Nexus Platform

The workshop project on “Developing a Business Case for Nexus Labs”, a collaboration between the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Value for Women (VfW), supported gender inclusion strategies in emerging markets, especially India and South Africa. The project aimed to transform VfW’s “Gender Smart Nexus” platform into a more data-driven platform attuned to the regional challenges and opportunities for gender-lens investors and investee enterprises.

Through competitive analysis and market research with investors, SMEs, and financial institutions, the SIPA team collected vital insights to shape a dynamic platform that could significantly boost gender-inclusive business and investment practices.

The SIPA team’s initial recommendations emphasized a user-focused, flexible strategy that aligns with local needs in emerging markets, ensuring the platform adapts to market shifts and challenges in gender inclusion. This foundational phase sets the stage for future expansion, aiming to create a scalable model that can enhance global gender-inclusion practices and reinforce VfW’s role in weaving gender perspectives into worldwide economic frameworks.