Economic Opportunity & Security
The Problem
The work of women and girls often goes unrecognized, uncompensated, and unrepresented, resulting in unequal economic outcomes and negative effects on their well-being. Structural and systemic barriers contribute to their economic exclusion, including unequal economic laws and rights, the gendered impact of macroeconomic policies, insecure and low-paying jobs without social protections, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work.
Furthermore, women and girls face unequal access to education, mentorship, financial and public services, land and assets, leadership positions, and employment opportunities, which can trap them in a cycle of poverty and power imbalances. Efforts to support women’s economic empowerment must address underlying gender norms and power dynamics in efforts to support women’s economic empowerment to avoid unintended consequences such as backlash, gender-based violence, time poverty, gender-segregated labor markets, and detrimental health impacts. Creating an enabling environment where women’s power and skills are recognized, utilized, and leveraged, is essential for women and girls to claim their rights and unlock their full potential to thrive.
Our Solution
We shed light on the social and environmental factors that limit the power and agency of women, girls, and sexual and gender minorities, preventing them from achieving well-being for themselves, their families, communities, and countries. ICRW conducts rigorous research to expand understanding of women’s economic contributions and the full range of structural (political, economic, cultural, and social) factors that prevent them from participating in their communities on an equal footing with men, reaching their full potential, and living their lives with ease.
We support programs, services, institutions, and policies to address barriers and become more gender equitable. We also leverage our networks, platforms, and coalitions to advocate for a holistic rights- and justice-based approach to the economic well-being of women and gender-marginalized people, and for models to to mitigate any unintended consequences of interventions to ensure successful, sustained change.
Examples of Our Work
REBUILD: COVID-19 & Women in the Informal Economy (Kenya, Uganda, and India)
WeProsper: a Global Coalition for Women's Economic Empowerment
Global Development Alliance on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (Colombia, Peru, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam)
Meet our Economic Empowerment Experts
Private: Aditi Vyas
Chryspin Afifu
Kirabo Suubi
