The global economy is negatively impacting women:

• Women remain less likely to participate in the labour market than men around the world.
• Women are more likely to be unemployed than men.
• Globally, women are paid less than men.
• Women are over-represented in informal and vulnerable employment.
• Women bear disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work.
• Women are less likely than men to have access to financial institutions or have a bank account.
• Women are still less likely to have access to social protection.
• The digital divide remains a gendered one.
• Women are less likely to be entrepreneurs and face more disadvantages starting business.
• Women are constrained from achieving the highest leadership positions.
• Violence and harassment in the world of work affects women regardless of age, location, income or social status.

Economic rights include the right to decent work, to equal pay and to land and adequate housing.  These are rights that women living in poverty are often denied.[1]

Research by UN Women demonstrates that investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. Women make enormous contributions to economies, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home.

Having an independent income gives women more control and autonomy over their lives, the freedom and power to make their own choices and financial security. They are able to educate themselves, access healthcare or own a plot of land which can have a myriad of uses.

Particularly in Africa, gender-responsive services, production resources, markets in agriculture, industry and trade would enhance economic empowerment of women and youth extensively. African countries need to adopt and implement regional and national plans, legislations, policies, strategies, budgets and justice mechanisms in order to strengthen women’s economic empowerment. (UN Women)

Born Equal promotes interventions that empower women to increase their income and earnings and access to assets. We advocate and lobby for policy and regulatory interventions that reverse negative gender norms, improve harmful workplace policies, provide social protections and promote women’s participation in a range of sectors and industries (agriculture, trade, manufacturing) and entrepreneurship.

[1] http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/ESCR/Pages/ESCRIndex.aspx

Educating, upskilling, re-skilling and keeping a pace with digitization and technological advancements contribute to women’s empowerment and more inclusive economic growth and supports women and girl’s income generation opportunities and their active participation in the formal labour market.

By identifying economic opportunities and completing needs assessments in communities, we work collaboratively to support and implement interventions that provide educational opportunities and relevant skills training to enable recipients access to paid employment, improved employment opportunities or self-employment.