WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT
Creating space for parity True equality requires a change in mindset and for institutions to adapt to new realities. At the OPEC Fund, the goal is not only to fund projects but to ensure space is created – space in schools, workplaces and societies where girls and women are present and have a voice. In so doing, we ensure women are fully engaged and heard by our teams as projects are designed, implemented and becoming operational. From beneficiaries to agents of change The journey toward equality is about including and uplifting. It is about recognizing that inclusion benefits all – that when women rise, societies prosper. The OPEC Fund firmly believes that women are not merely beneficiaries of development; rather they are its co-architects. From the borrowers of Bangladesh to economists like Duflo and Kabeer, the message is clear: equality is not a given. It is built and rebuilt – through deliberate policies, social innovations and the courage to rethink social and workplace structures.
Yuting Huang Portfolio Management Analyst, Public Sector Operations, OPEC Fund
I’m from Liaoyang, a small yet historically rich city in northeast China with a population of “only” 1.6 million and “only” over 2,300 years of history. My parents lost their jobs in the 1990s and struggled to make ends meet. My mother’s words on my first day of school, “For everything you want, you must earn it by yourself,” I’ve taken with me ever since. During one summer holiday, I worked three jobs for 21 hours per day to earn my tuition fees for my Bachelor’s in Accounting. After graduation, I moved to Beijing and spent two years living in a 10 square meter basement with no windows, working a low-paying full- time job while studying at night for my Certified Public Accountant exams. These experiences shaped my resilience and deepened my empathy for those in poverty. Most importantly, I carry a strong desire to help others rise above the struggles I once faced. One of my work experiences involved volunteering at a remote hospital in Gulu, Uganda – around seven hours by car from the capital, Kampala. There I met Mary Ann, a 70-year-old American doctor. She worked hard from morning to evening. Sometimes she cried and hid in a room when she lost a patient. She told me she would work until the day she died because there was so much that she wanted to give. That gave me a vision of who I want to become, tirelessly helping people who need it the most. My work at the OPEC Fund involves collecting and
Shaping new realities The OPEC Fund’s commitment to
gender equality has been steadfast over the past five decades, underscoring that progress is neither linear nor irreversible. Through its development activities, the OPEC Fund has consistently reinforced the principle of equality – recognizing that true development is only possible when everyone gains opportunity. Real change requires more than universal access to education, health, credit and employment – it calls for a transformation of mindsets, cultures
analyzing data at the department level, drafting the public sector portfolio report and supporting management in decision-making, among many other things. I also oversee development projects across five African countries in the agriculture, education and transportation sectors, ensuring they are effectively implemented and delivering the intended results. What I am doing is meaningful and makes a real difference for people in need.
and systems. While multilateral organizations may have limited
influence over social norms, they can still drive meaningful progress through the priorities they set. By embedding equity and inclusion into every investment, we can become catalysts for lasting and transformative change.
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