Want to help Africa? Start with women, Melinda Gates says

Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates.

Paris: Women are key to boosting economic growth in Africa and the developing world, Melinda Gates said Tuesday as she stopped off in Paris to press crisis-hit France to keep funding projects for women and girls.

Speaking to AFP, the philanthropist said empowering women is a key focus of the powerful Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in its struggle to help people in developing countries be more autonomous in health, family planning and -- crucially -- economic decisions.