That in order to enable more women to benefit more from economic activity and participate in policy-making there is a need to look beyond primary edu… - Elizabeth Asiedu

Education is crucial. In order for Women to fully participate in policymaking, in government, we need to look beyond primary education.

This paper analyzes the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to developing countries and examines why Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been relatively unsuccessful in attracting FDI despite policy reform. The results indicate that the factors that drive FDI have a differential impact on FDI flows to SSA. Specifically, infrastructure development and a higher return on capital promote FDI to non-SSA countries. In contrast these factors have no effect on FDI to SSA. Openness to trade promotes FDI to both SSA and non-SSA countries, however, the marginal benefit from increased openness is less for SSA-suggesting that trade liberalization will generate more FDI to non-SSA countries than SSA countries. Another important finding is that there is an "adverse regional effect" for SSA: a country in SSA will receive less FDI by virtue of its geographical location. These results suggest that Africa is different!

Education is crucial. In order for Women to fully participate in policymaking, in government, we need to look beyond primary education.

I recounted a recent story of my first time meeting former mentee, Frances Nakakawa, at a conference in Finland after which she became mentee and Director of AAAWE Uganda. As a single mother of three in Uganda, she had to make the difficult decision of sending her children to a boarding school to balance her work, studies, and caring for her children. And even after placing her children in private school, the distance, worry, and longing to see them was often a distraction during her studies.