Gender Equity is at the Heart of the European Investment Bank Group

 IWD 2023

Barbara Balke, Secretary General, European Investment Bank

(Pictured above left)

Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive, European Investment Fund

(Pictured above right)

At the EIB Group, we are proud to embrace gender equity as a critical business driver. We invest in projects and initiatives that promote women's empowerment and professional development.

In the workplace, we are strongly committed to embracing equity throughout the entire life and career cycle of our talented women. This guides our ambition to reach full gender equality within our institutions.

To achieve this vision, we acknowledge there is still quite a way to go to reach full gender parity. We recognise the systemic barriers that may prevent women from reaching their full potential in the workplace and in society. We are addressing this by tackling gender parity at our highest levels of management and maintaining equal pay across the organisation. We tailor our support to meet the unique needs of each stage of our talented staff’s career. This includes providing flexible work arrangements, access to (reverse) mentoring and leadership development opportunities, and implementing strategic initiatives to tackle gender-related micro-incivilities and roadblocks in the workplace.

At the EIB Group, gender equity is an ongoing commitment, as recognised by our EDGE Move/EDGEplus certification, and we strive to continuously review and improve our practices and policies framework to ensure that we provide women with the tools and resources they need to successfully navigate through key life events. Last year, we aligned our breastfeeding policy with global best practices and launched a menopause exchange and support community in the workplace.

In our operations, the EIB Group is committed to delivering value and providing innovative solutions for all members of the communities in which we invest. This includes collaborating with global stakeholders to promote gender-responsive investments and support projects that empower women and girls all around the world.

On International Women's Day 2023, let us reaffirm that without equity, true gender equality cannot be achieved. At the EIB Group, we remain committed to progress and #EmbraceEquity.