2009 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development

Women's control over economic resources and access to financial resources, including microfinance

Women’s equal access to and control over economic and financial resources is critical for the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and for equitable and sustainable economic growth and development.  Gender equality in the distribution of economic and financial resources has positive multiplier effects for a range of key development goals, including poverty reduction and the welfare of children.  Both microlevel efficiency results through increased household productivity and macroefficiency results through positive synergies between indicators of gender equality and economic growth have been recorded.  Development rationales for enhancing women’s access to economic and financial resources include women’s role as “safety net of last resort” in economic downturns.

Long-standing inequalities in the gender distribution of economic and financial resources have placed women at a disadvantage relative to men in their capability to participate in, contribute to and benefit from broader processes of development.  Despite considerable progress on many aspects of women’s economic empowerment through, inter alia, increases in educational attainment and share of paid work, deeply entrenched inequality persists as a result of discriminatory norms and practices, and the pace of change has been slow and uneven across regions. Women continue to be absent from key decision-making forums shaping the allocation of economic and financial resources and opportunities, which further perpetuates gender inequality.

The current financial and economic crisis is already threatening the progress made towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.  The manner in which countries respond to the recession can have disproportionate impacts on women and girls, possibly reversing gains made, particularly through cuts in public spending on health and education and through inequitably designed safety nets.  There is also increased risk of reductions in allocations to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The international community has made strong, comprehensive commitments to gender equality and women’s rights in access to and control over economic and financial resources in United Nations intergovernmental contexts. Human rights treaties, mechanisms and instruments have also addressed the issues of women’s access to and control over resources.  Governments have the primary responsibility for implementing these commitments.

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Women's development core component of economic growth

Women's access to economic and financial resources is critical not only for the achievement of gender equality, but also for sustainable economic development.

That is the focus of the 2009 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development. Lead author Naila Kabeer says when women do well, the economy does well, but the reverse is not always true.

"Cross-country studies, studies over time all show that gender equality contributes to economic growth - equality in education and equality in labour force participation.  But there are reasons for concern, and that is economic growth does not seem to have quite the same positive impacts on gender equality."

Ms. Kabeer points to the slow pace in lowering maternal mortality as an indicator that countries are not investing enough of their wealth in women's health and well-being.  The study calls for expanding women's access to credit and other financial services. It also recommends that countries make gender equality in employment a core component of their national development strategies.

Bissera Kostova, UN Radio.