Absa Bank Mozambique - signatory of the United Nations Global Compact - has demonstrated its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals by supporting the initiative of SPROWT Foundation - the Genderful Society Exhibition, between December 7 and 11, in the city of Maputo, simultaneously with the 17th edition of Mozambique Fashion Week.

The SPROWT - Leading and Growing Together foundation, officially launched on December 10, 2021, aims to promote gender equality, quality education, and development in Mozambique by valuing women, children, and organizations. The focus of the event was to raise awareness in Mozambique about the importance of women in society, promotion of humanitarian values, talents and skills, and child development centered learning.

The support for the women empowerment initiative is seen by Absa Bank Mozambique as a unique opportunity to bring to fruition the sustainable development goals already outlined.

"The SPROWT foundation has a mission aligned with our citizenship strategy, with a focus on equity, gender equality, diversity and inclusion," said Absa's Customer Service Director, Tânia Oliveira.

For her part, Rumina Fateally Noormahomed, president of the SPROWT Foundation, reinforced the organization's role, stressing that the first exhibition "had the purpose of sensitizing the Mozambican society about gender, diversity, and inclusion issues, through culture, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), precisely the fifth one, which elucidates gender equality issues.

SPROWT held four discussion sessions, with online streaming, on "Ethics in Leadership," "Women in Leadership," "Gender Neutrality in Fashion," and "Diversity and Inclusion in Corporations."

Considering the relevance of the topics listed, the President of the Board of Directors of Absa, Luísa Diogo, shared her vast experience in the debate on "Women in Leadership", highlighting, however, the need to create in corporations an authentic, inclusive and participative leadership.

For his part, the Executive Director of Corporate and Investment Banking, Bernardo Aparício, who participated in the debate on "Diversity and Inclusion in Corporations," pointed out the need for banking to extend its talent pool with graduate programs, in order to bring more innovation to the company that will allow the business to grow.

As one of the relevant themes is gender diversity and inclusion, the launch culminated with an inclusive fashion show at Mozambique Fashion Week, with a special focus on gender diversity.