NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Persistent invites you to our upcoming webinar: “Women Building Africa”. This Webinar will spotlight women-led businesses on the African Continent. You will hear directly from dynamic women entrepreneurs as they share practical insights on: – Fundraising – Identifying the right investors for your business – Effectively pitching both your business and yourself – Negotiating strategies to secure capital for growth Join female entrepreneurs and leaders: Persistent Partner, Wairimu Karanja; Future Africa Partner, Mia von Koschitzky-Kimani; Tolulope Falola, Founder of Digiscape; and Nicole Poindexter, Founder and CEO of Energicity, as they hold practical conversations and share their individual journeys to building businesses.

Time: 8:00 AM EDT

In an era where AI dominates the discourse, what role do humans still play in impact measurement? A critical one.

Join us on June 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET for a powerful conversation on the limits of artificial intelligence and the irreplaceable value of human insight, gamification, and lived experience in generating meaningful, measurable data.

This panel will explore how tech and humanity intersect — and why funders, educators, and practitioners alike must rethink how they gather and act on data. You’ll hear real examples, like how Play Verto influenced national education policy in the UAE.

Perfect for funders, strategists, and changemakers, this conversation will help reimagine data not as a spreadsheet but as a story of community voices and systemic influence.

You’ll hear from:

• Laura Maher, Chief of Staff and Director of External Engagement, Siegel Family Endowment (moderator)
• Michael Sani, Chief Exploration Officer, Play Verto
• Unmesh Sheth, CEO, Sopact
• Carla Grados Villamar, Latin America Co-Head, 60 Decibels

Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada)

Join global leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders for a high-level panel marking MSME Day, established by UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/279, and discover the crucial impact of micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises in shaping today’s world.

Amid shifts in the global trading landscape, this discussion will spotlight the vital role of MSMEs in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development, and focus on catalyzing finance, policy support, and enabling conditions for their success. The panel will surface actionable ideas and place MSME priorities at the forefront of global development agendas.

Location: ILO Office for the United Nations

Time: Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Organized by: Permanent Mission of the Republic of Rwanda to the UN, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN, ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UN DESA, UNDRR, UN Global Compact, UNIDO

Organizers will email confirmation of registration before the event.