Gender at The World Bank Group

• Gender at the World Bank
• IFC's Gender Program
• Doing Business Gender Project
• The Gender Action Plan

Launched in 2007 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the World Bank Group Gender Action Plan focuses on:

Objective

To advance women's economic empowerment in order to promote shared growth and MDG3—gender equality and women's empowerment.

Duration and Budget

US$63 million over 4 years with half the funds coming from the World Bank and half from donors including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, UK, US and the Nike Foundation.

Rationale

Expanding women's economic opportunities is smart economics. Women's economic opportunities lag behind women's capabilities achieved in education and health. This condition is inefficient, since increased women's labor force participation and earnings are associated with reduced poverty and faster growth. Women will benefit from their economic empowerment, but so too will men, children and society as a whole.

Focus Areas

The Gender Action Plan targets women's empowerment in the economic sectors, most importantly, infrastructure—energy, transport, and water and sanitation; agriculture; private sector development; and finance.