Women's International Day 2022 - H.E. Nisreen Rubaian Holds UNHCR Position in Kuwait
In the spirit of International Women's Day, the speaker expressed support for women's advancement, highlighting the ongoing rise of women in leadership roles and Kuwait's historic empowerment of women in society. This support is evident in the current advancements and initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, education, and leadership in Kuwait.
Kuwait University’s Women’s Research & Studies Center has unveiled a new strategy aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035. This strategy focuses on three pillars: promoting women’s participation in the labor market and entrepreneurship, advancing social justice and gender equality, and investing in creative human development. Upcoming efforts include specialized workshops, community awareness campaigns, and an annual conference on women and sustainable development, starting September 2025.
Female-led entrepreneurship is gaining momentum in Kuwait, with 41% of startups now led by women. Initiatives like Visa and NBK’s “She’s Next” provide grants, digital readiness and leadership training, and networking support to overcome challenges in scaling women-led startups. The Kuwait Women’s Economic Empowerment Platform (KWEEP) offers mentorship and leadership bootcamps, while the Kuwait Digital Startup Campus Pre-Accelerator targets young nationals to boost entrepreneurial skills.
Corporate leadership and wellness programs, such as Gulf Bank’s Women of Wisdom (WOW) program, focus on leadership development, mental health, confidence-building tools, personal branding, and work-life balance. These initiatives reflect strong multi-sectoral collaboration—academic, corporate, and governmental—aimed at empowering Kuwaiti women through education, entrepreneurship, professional leadership, and holistic well-being.
The speaker acknowledged the fast-paced nature of the current world and emphasized the need for women to have all the tools to compete in all fields. The speaker's office primarily consists of women, reflecting the increasing participation of women in leadership roles, particularly in refugee communities.
Education is considered vital for women's development and their increased participation in leadership roles. Kuwaiti women are globally recognized as pioneers in many fields in the region, with examples like Dr. Faiza Al-Kharafi, the first Arab woman to be president of a university. The Kuwaiti government encourages women's engagement in senior leadership roles, aligning with the UN’s SDG 5 on gender equality and Vision 2035.
The speaker hopes for a future where men and women are equal in all walks of life. Gender-responsive approaches regarding climate change and displacement should focus on inclusion and leadership, economic empowerment, protection of rights, and well-being. The speaker's career at UNHCR has been inspired by the resilience and contributions of women, particularly displaced women who play a critical role in responding to climate change, central to their families and communities' stability, preparedness, and resilience to climate shocks.
- The Women's Research & Studies Center at Kuwait University's new strategy, aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035, emphasizes education and self-development, focusing on women's participation in the labor market, social justice, gender equality, and creative human development.
- In the spirit of holistic well-being, corporate leadership and wellness programs like Gulf Bank's Women of Wisdom (WOW) program offer resources for women to excel in leadership, mental health, confidence-building, personal branding, and work-life balance, fostering health-and-wellness and women's empowerment.
