Gender Dimensions of Investment Climate Reform: A Guide for Policy Makers and Practitioners

Introduction and Economic Rationale Purpose and Structure of the Guide Promoting women’s economic empowerment is increasingly seen as an important driving force behind economic growth and the fight against poverty. Women’s economic participation as entrepreneurs, employees, and leaders is recognized as a measure of a country’s economic viability and dynamism.

Although women’s entrepreneurship is on the rise globally and female labor force participation has increased substantially in recent years, significant disparities still exist. In the developing world, women are more likely to work in the informal economy, where they are subject to inefficiencies and limitations more often than men. In many regions women are less likely to have land and often are disadvantaged by prevailing laws and regulations that prevent them from being able to hold title. In addition to problems faced by all entrepreneurs, women frequently face gender bias in the socioeconomic environment when it comes to establishing and developing their own enterprises and accessing economic resources. These not only disadvantage women but also reduce the growth potential, productivity, and performance of the economy as a whole. Gender-based inequalities impose significant development costs on societies.

This guide aims to provide fresh thinking to solve common issues women entrepreneurs face in the investment climate area. It presents actionable, practical, replicable, and scalable tools. Specifically, the guide seeks to enable development practitioners and policy makers who are not gender specialists to (i) diagnose gender issues in an investment climate reform area, (ii) design practical solutions and recommendations to address gender constraints, and (iii) include effective monitoring and evaluation tools to oversee the implementation of those recommendations.

While the guide is primarily directed to project leaders in IFC and World Bank Group managing investment climate reform projects, it will also be of use to a wider audience, including policy makers, the donor community, women’s business associations, academics, think tanks, and development practitioners who have an interest in gender and private