Mrs. Neo Jane Masisi Honored for Women’s Empowerment Leadership at Clevenard 2025 Seminar

Palma de Mallorca, Spain – Mrs. Neo Jane Masisi, Chartered Accountant, Former First Lady of the Republic of Botswana, and former International Civil Servant with the United Nations (2004–2018), was celebrated for her leadership in women’s empowerment and social development at the Clevenard 2025 Seminar and Panel Discussion Forum held on 21 November 2025 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. She received the Women’s Empowerment & Global Social Development Leadership Award in recognition of her tireless advocacy and achievements in promoting gender equality both in Botswana and across Africa.

Speaking to an audience of global leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives, Mrs. Masisi delivered a compelling keynote address titled “Women’s Empowerment as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Transformation in Botswana and Throughout Africa.” In her speech, she highlighted the crucial role women play in driving sustainable development, noting that women make up half of the population in Botswana and around the world.

“Women carry the nation on their backs,” Mrs. Masisi said, quoting a familiar Botswana proverb, “Mosadi ke setshaba.” She emphasized that while women are central to national and global progress, structural inequalities and social challenges often prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Drawing on Botswana’s journey from one of the poorest countries in the world at independence in 1966 to a stable and prosperous nation today, she described how prudent management of natural resources, particularly diamonds, combined with policies focused on social development, have empowered women and improved livelihoods across the country.

Mrs. Masisi shared deeply human narratives to illustrate the ongoing challenges women face. She spoke of Kidiboni, a grandmother who dropped out of school at 13, now trapped in a cycle of poverty that also affected her daughter. She described Unosi, a survivor of gender-based violence struggling to maintain her family despite economic and emotional hardship, and Solofelo, a 14-year-old girl living with HIV, highlighting how social and economic vulnerabilities intersect with gender inequality. “These stories are not unique to Botswana—they are mirrored across Africa and beyond,” she noted.

While Botswana has made significant strides toward gender equality—such as granting women equal land ownership rights, establishing the National Gender Commission, and creating the Gender and Child Protection Unit—Mrs. Masisi cautioned that global progress remains slow. She cited the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Report, which estimates it could take over 123 years to achieve full gender parity at the current pace.

Mrs. Masisi called for coordinated action across governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, traditional leadership, and communities. “Empowering women is not a competition; it is a shared responsibility,” she said, urging men to join women as partners in social and economic transformation. She also emphasized the importance of designing programs from the perspective of women themselves to ensure meaningful and sustainable impact.

Her keynote inspired the audience with a message that transcended borders: women’s empowerment is not a peripheral agenda—it is a catalyst for social stability, economic growth, and sustainable development. She concluded by challenging stakeholders to act decisively and collaboratively to close gender gaps and ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.

The Clevenard 2025 Seminar and Panel Discussion Forum brought together distinguished leaders from around the world to address pressing global development challenges, with a focus on gender equality, inclusion, and sustainable transformation. Mrs. Masisi’s address and recognition at the event underscore her enduring influence and leadership in promoting social development and women’s empowerment on a global scale.

About Mrs. Neo Jane Masisi:

Mrs. Masisi is a Chartered Accountant and former First Lady of Botswana. She served as an International Civil Servant with the United Nations from 2004 to 2018 and has championed women’s empowerment, social development, and inclusive economic policies throughout her career.

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Press release 

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Clevenard

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Tolu Osindero

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