Giving Compass' Take:

· In a speech given in Johannesburg, South Africa, former President Obama explained how empowering women will not only promote equality, but will also benefit future government policies.  

· How can donors support gender equality and empower women? What challenges do women face in employment?

· Read more about empowering women to advance our world.

Former US President Barack Obama believes that increased numbers of female leadership will improve and enhance future government policy.

In a speech at a town hall meeting with young African leaders at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, Obama said that the solution to current issues in what he called “strongman politics.”

"Women in particular, by the way, I want you to get more involved," Obama said at the meeting. “Every day I read the newspaper and just think, like, ‘Brothers, what’s wrong with you guys? What’s wrong with us?’ We’re violent, we’re bullying. Just not handling our business. I think empowering more women on the continent, that … is going to lead to some better policies.”

Read the full article about empowering women by Joanna Prisco at Global Citizen.