UN, ECO officials cite funding, digital skills as key to women’s empowerment Lachin forum / photo

Financing remains the primary challenge in advancing women’s empowerment, said the UN Under-Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana during a video address at the Women’s Forum of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Azerbaijan's Lachin City.

Alisjahbana, who is also Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), stressed the need for women to have access to a global funding mechanism, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“A global financing mechanism must be accessible to women,” Alisjahbana stressed. “In recent years, the UN, through UN Women, has allocated $90 million to support women in expanding their access to markets. I hope the forum will help identify new sources of funding. We must create opportunities for women’s leadership. This year we will hold our second session, and Azerbaijan is one of the main organisers.”

Echoing this call, Silapberdi Nurberdiyev, Deputy Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), emphasised the need to improve women’s digital skills and advance gender equality within the region.

“The organization aims to support women because they play a crucial role in making key decisions. Therefore, women must be active participants in the economic sphere,” Nurberdiyev said.

He added that the forum would further highlight the vital role of women in building a strong economic society: “We must create opportunities for women to address climate challenges and provide them with chances in the ‘green’ economy. We also need to develop science and technology sectors.”

Nurberdiyev further stressed the importance of supporting women beyond traditional fields: “We should strengthen women’s positions in technology, as well as in cultural and sports sectors. Proper funding must be ensured, and real actions taken. Digital skills need to be more widely disseminated among women.”

The ECO Women’s Forum in Lachin aims to foster collaboration and resource mobilization to empower women economically and socially across member states, with Azerbaijan playing a central organizational role this year.

Notably, a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week takes place on July 1–4 in Lachin, across multiple cities in Azerbaijan. ECO Week includes thematic forums promoting youth engagement, gender inclusion, and economic connectivity. 

On July 3,4, Azerbaijan will host the 17th ECO Summit, in Khankendi, underscoring its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable development. The Summit will bring together ECO Heads of State and Government, ministers, observers, special guests from non-ECO countries, and leaders of international organisations, all united in their efforts to foster development and prosperity through fragile economic integration.

By Khagan Isayev