FED Invest company in Albania commits to supporting women’s empowerment by signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles

FED Invest is amongst the latest private companies in Albania signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). FED Invest, a financial services company, joined the group of private sector partners that are now formally promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community.

One of FED Invest’s corporate priorities is to support the financial inclusion of women in the municipality of Lushnje as well as across the country. During the signing ceremony, company representatives highlighted the importance of private sector engagement in supporting gender equality and women’s empowerment. "We will continue to find and provide solutions to problems encountered by women farmers and entrepreneurs in their efforts to further develop their economic activities," said Mr. Perlat Sulaj, CEO of FED Invest.

Established in Albania in 1992, FED Invest is a financial cooperative that offers a wide range of financial products and services, which are primarily aimed at the population living in rural areas in Albania with a view to increasing financial inclusion and helping reduce overall poverty.

The event was attended by many women and girls who were supported by FED Invest over the years. They shared their stories on how financial inclusion has had a positive impact on their productivity and entrepreneurial potential. “Through the ABA Centre and Platform, Fed Invest has helped us with concrete non-financial services such as expertise, farm demonstrations, training, information on manufacturing technologies, etc., and all of this without any payment,” said Donika Stasa, a member of FED invest since 2003.

The Mayor of Lushnja, Ms Eriselda Sefa, promised that the municipality will increase its focus on supporting women farmers by paying more attention to their needs. "The WEPs are the main framework through which UN Women engages the private sector in Albania and around the world. There are over 7,000 companies that have now signed up to this framework globally and we see FED invest playing an important role across the Albanian territory to improve the lives of women and girls. We are thrilled to support you and to be able to count on your support," said Michele Ribotta, UN Women Country Representative.

FED Invest is amongst the many companies supporting this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign and is committed to continue its support for the gender equality agenda.

Established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs are a set of principles offering guidance to businesses on how to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. By signing the WEPs, FED Invest has become one of the 30 WEPs signatories in Albania and commits to working collaboratively to foster business practices that empower women. By signing the WEPs, the highest-level manager of the company, namely the CEO, pledges the company’s commitment to this agenda.