Archive for category: Gender Equality

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Gender Equality in Brazil

gender equality in Brazil The World Bank reported that poverty in Brazil has decreased from 21.7% in 2023 to 20.9% in 2024 due to growth in the labor market. However, gender equality in Brazil remains a prominent issue, with Rio having higher levels of social and economic inequality. Women in Brazil are 47% less likely than men to receive equal wages for similar work. 

Poverty and Gender Equality in Brazil

Oxfam reported that in Brazil, inequality is decreasing and to reach the United Kingdom’s (U.K.) current level of income equality, it could take 75 years. Furthermore, the lack of fiscal space to increase social spending and the reduced growth in the service sectors mean poverty reduction is likely to be much slower over the next few years. 

In Rio, around 23% to 24% of the population lives in favelas and there are more residents in favelas in the city than all others in Brazil. The term favela often refers to slums, where people living in favelas are more at risk of poverty and health problems due to gangs that control these territories. Women are often most at risk in the favelas, which face high levels of violence and offer limited access to resources for women. However, there are women leaders in the favelas who are activists, symbolizing the daily struggles of the people who face limitations to their access to rights. 

G20 Rio declaration

Officially known as the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration is the summit held at the end of 2024, detailing what promises and key priorities the leaders are committing to in the new year. It is often praised for its duty to sustainability, climate action and gender equality. 

Women in poverty in Rio may see the positive impacts of some of the decisions made at this summit, as the Rio Declaration confirmed the G20’s commitment to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. One of these key commitments is the condemnation of gender-based violence, which may improve the lives of women living in favelas that are most at risk of violence.

Other notable commitments are the support of gender equality in Brazil with the promotion of equal pay, leadership opportunities and career development for women. A significant change and move forward is the summit’s pledge to reduce the gender wage gap from 2025 and bridge the gender digital divide by 2030. Indeed, this pledge will help move women out of poverty by providing them with better and equal pay. 

Lucia Xavier

Lucia Xavier is an activist who founded the anti-racist nongovernmental organization (NGO), Criola, in Rio de Janeiro and is a Brazilian social worker. Furthermore, Xavier founded NGO Criola in 1992, which acts in the defense and promotion of Black women, young women and girls. Xavier’s work across Brazil as an activist focuses on advocating for black women and girls from poor backgrounds who face violence, which she identifies as the biggest threat to women’s rights in Brazil.

For Xavier, Black women’s representation is a key issue and she believes their leadership is vital for an equal future. Xavier has said that “Black women [are] powerful political actors, capable of transforming society and reshaping the norms.”  

Women Ministers in BRICS

BRICS is a group of five countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — that serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for nations in the Global South. BRICS Brazil April 2025, held a meeting of women ministers that reinforced the essential role of female participation in shaping a new global governance.   

Gender equality policies took center stage at this BRICS meeting, which focused on women’s development and entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, climate action, sustainable development and digital governance – misogyny and misinformation. Each of these areas looked at where women need help in Brazil and possible solutions. When discussing women’s development, the focus was on promoting initiatives and investments aimed at ensuring women’s equal participation in economic and social development. Recognizing technology-based violence against women and ensuring countries commit to promoting women’s equal participation in climate action are key concerns. This is critical because women and girls account for 80% of those displaced by natural disasters and the changing climate.

– Alice Haston

Alice is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Examining the Gender Wage Gap in Yemen

Gender Wage Gap in YemenYemen, a country located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, is known as the poorest country in the region. In 2021, a study that The UN Development Program and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative conducted indicated that 82.7% of Yemen were residing in multidimensional poverty. Over the last decade of violence infiltrating Yemen, war has shattered Yemen’s current economic status and further exacerbated gender inequality. In 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranked Yemen 155 out of 156 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap index, roughly a rate of 49% signifying major disparities among men and women. Here is what to know about the gender wage gap in Yemen.

Yemen’s 2014 Civil War

Yemen’s civil war, a conflict that began in 2014, occurred when the Houthi rebels, a Shiite group, seized the capital of Yemen, demanding economic reforms and political change. This invasion escalated into a civil war, in which regional powers such as a Saudi-led coalition became involved, leading into a decade-long civil war that is currently ongoing. This continuous turmoil has left Yemen unstable and has led the international community to declare Yemen as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” as more than 21 million Yemenis face dire need for assistance due to famine and disease.

This conflict has devastated poverty levels and caused a health decline due to inaccessible health services, affecting the citizens in Yemen, particularly women. With limited access to education and employment, women often face exclusion from formal income opportunities, widening Yemen’s gender wage gap.

The Outcome of Yemen’s Civil War

A sociological survey released in 2024 by UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung in Indonesia revealed that 47% of Yemeni women experience gender discrimination at work. This discrimination further hinders job prospects for women and decreases workforce participation, therefore increasing the rate of the gender wage gap in Yemen and exposing the disproportionate hardships women face.

Due to widespread poverty from lack of resources, women face fewer job opportunities when compared to their male counterparts. Consequently, only 55% of women are unemployed, while men have a rate of only 25%, as stated by a labor force survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2015.

However, despite the damage the conflict has inflicted on women’s position in society and in the workforce, U.N. Women indicated significant increases in women’s presence in the public sphere, as they have become more active in public life and have sought employment, improving the overall status of women.

The Government’s Efforts To Diminish Inequality

While the current state of Yemen has caused a large economic disparity for women, efforts remain in place to improve such disparities. The Government of Yemen has approved initiatives to develop women’s health and strategies to diminish Yemen’s wage gap, such as ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1984 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991.

CEDAW is an international treaty that defines what is deemed as discriminatory against women and sets an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. Since its establishment, CEDAW has encouraged a reconsideration of Yemeni’s laws, such as early marriage, child labor and women’s political participation, allowing for the engagement of women not only in the workforce, but to uphold a greater position in society.

The CRC is an international human rights treaty, providing rights for children and guaranteeing education and health care that support the well being of children. It has encouraged education among the youth, especially girls, which increases the likelihood of their involvement in the workforce, decreasing the unemployment rate for women. The CRC aims to decrease gender inequality, which in return supports women’s involvement in the workforce.

The UNDP Strategic Plan

Alongside governmental intervention, UNDP has initiated forward-looking efforts, such as the UNDP Strategic Plan effective through 2023-2025, aiming to assist a variety of countries, including Yemen. UNDP has outlined several strategic approaches including:

  • Providing three signature solutions to support gender equality and strengthen the economic and structural framework for women in society such as signature solution 6, which promotes equal rights for women and girls.
  • Tackling the disparities between women and men through gender equality initiatives, such as implementing policies and programs focusing on women’s leadership, humans rights and access to justice.
  • Developing a wide range of communication materials to effectively promote and integrate gender equality into mainstream aid efforts.
  • Supporting the Women, Peace and Security agenda, ensuring that all conflict prevention is directly affiliated with addressing gender inequality.

Looking Ahead

Although war has undeniably damaged the nation and its citizens, continued support from organizations and international efforts remains imperative to begin building a more equitable society, shrinking the gender wage gap in Yemen, presenting expanded resources and providing essential opportunities without excluding women.

– Lojine Goumaa

Lojine is based in Fayetteville, NC, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About the Gender Wage Gap in Botswana

Gender Wage Gap in BotswanaBotswana is an upper-middle-income country in Southern Africa, known for its diverse wildlife. However, for women, the gender wage gap in Botswana persists in employment. Although some policies for women’s rights have made improvements over the years, the country still has further to go in achieving equal pay. 

Wage Differences  

The World Statistics Congress has reported that women in Botswana earn 82.3% of the male average earnings each month. Male citizens earn 17.7% more than their female coworkers, which creates a gender inequality.

According to the World Bank, the Botswana government has commented that it wants to work towards gender equality. In 1996, Botswana supported the UN convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Botswana has also implemented the Economic Inclusion Act of 2021, which aims to help women and targeted citizens contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Legal Acts 

Botswana has implemented some Acts to try and combat the challenges that women face. One of these is the Domestic Violence Act of 2008, which makes domestic violence a criminal offence and helps victims to receive protection. Another piece of legislation in favor of women’s rights is the Abolition of the Martial Power Act of 2004, which abolished the legal right that a husband had over his wife in marriage. 

Botswana has not taken any legal action to protect women from the gender wage gap in Botswana. It still needs to legally address issues such as maternity leave and protecting women from harassment in their jobs. 

The government has shown their support for women in the workplace by supporting programs such as the Women’s Economic Empowerment programme. Oxfam’s program promoted gender equality and aimed to make sure that people valued women’s work.

Disparities for Women in Employment 

Since 1991, vulnerable employment for women has increased in Botswana, as the World Bank reported. Vulnerable employment for women can lead to a lack of social protection and leaves them more at risk of falling into poverty. Among women, vulnerable employment is 29.4%. 

The labor force participation rate for women in 2024 compared to men is less, which could be due to gender-based discrimination. The labor force participation is 73.4% for men and 63.8% for women. However, these statistics are an increase from 1990 statistics.

EntreprenHER Programme 

The EntreprenHER programme is an initiative that is in partnership with De Beers Group and UN Women South African Multi-Country Office. The EntreprenHER programme wants to boost women-owned micro-enterprises across three years until 2026. The program will be across three southern African countries, which are Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. EntreprenHER wants to coach 1,500 women entrepreneurs by 2026. 

This is a move in the right direction for the closing of the gender wage gap in Botswana since it gives women more training to become their own entrepreneurs. Botswana currently has overtaken targets and now has 159 women with capacity building in Improve Your Business training. 

A participant of the program from Botswana, Lemogang Bathobasele, who owns a business called Car Diagnosis Solutions & Repairs and is a mechanic, has said, “I look forward to implementing what I learned this week and growing my business to hire more women electricians.” 

Women’s participation in male-dominated fields helps Botswana become closer to achieving gender equality since this program gives them opportunities in the field that they may not have had otherwise.

Education and Opportunities  

Human Development reports have noted the inequality between men and women in Botswana. Parliament comprises 8.5% women and 91.5% men. This demonstrates the lack of opportunities women receive compared to men which widens this issue of the gender wage gap in Botswana. 

Girls in Botswana have a higher rate of completing lower secondary education, with 90.3% of girls as of 2022 completing lower secondary education compared to boys, which is 86%. This could be considered a move forward with girls receiving their education, which can help them to obtain better-paying jobs. 

The World Bank has stated that many poorer and less educated women work in the private sector but also unpaid family work. This illustrates how women in poverty are more susceptible to the gender wage gap in Botswana.

Bridging the Gap 

While Botswana is actively making changes to their country and creating legal acts to improve women’s rights, it is evident that there is still further to go to close the gender wage gap in Botswana. With the help of programs like EntreprenHER, Botswana will be able to work towards a closer bridge in the gender wage gap.

– Alice Haston

Alice is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Nepal for Dalit Women

Gender Wage Gap in NepalThe gender wage gap is a continuing problem for women in the workforce of Nepal, particularly Dalit women. Like many South Asian countries, the caste system has a significant influence on the socioeconomic makeup of Nepal. This is despite the fact that the Nepali government outlawed caste-based discrimination in 1963. This hierarchical system, originating within Hinduism, divides society into different hereditary castes. At the bottom of this system are the Dalits, who face substantial economic and social barriers in accessing fair employment. Dalit women particularly face dual discrimination based on both caste and gender, compounding their economic and societal exclusion.

Barriers to Wage Equality

The Nepal Labor Force Survey in 2022 found that women earned on average 23% less than men. Specific up-to-date statistics on the gender wage gap in Nepal by caste are chronically lacking; however, an overrepresentation of Dalit women in low-paying, informal positions will likely compound the already existing gender wage gap. This means employers often neglect to give them the same wage protections and labor rights as those in more formal employment.

Furthermore, the Haliya system forces a specific community of Dalits into bonded labor from birth, making them work off ever-increasing debt. Although the government banned this system in 2008, it still traps thousands from lower castes, often women, in agricultural slavery. This has contributed to a poverty rate of almost 42% amongst the Dalit population, almost double the national average of 21.6%. This pattern of poverty and wage discrimination can trap Dalit women in a generational cycle of systematic oppression.

Legislative Victories

In spite of these persistent challenges, a growing body of legislation is helping to lay the groundwork for greater gender and caste wage equality. The 2015 constitution itself marked a huge stride in eliminating the gender wage gap in Nepal. Article 18 sets out the right to equality from gender and caste based discrimination, with Article 38 also specifically outlining the rights of women, which include rights to special opportunities for employment based on the principle of positive discrimination. This move by the Nepali government represents meaningful legislative progress and demonstrates at least in principle, support for wage equality.

The 2017 Labor Act reinforced this by outlining a “prohibition on discrimination in remuneration for equal work.” However, it is also true that while ground-breaking, lawmakers and government institutions have not been able to comprehensively enforce this legislation. Nepali society still has not fully accepted these legislative changes, and in many rural communities, authorities have struggled to enforce equality, leaving a regional divide in the gender wage gap. Despite this, these laws provide a critical foundation, giving advocates, communities, and Dalit women themselves the legal tools to push for lasting change.

ADWAN: Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal

For those fighting against wage inequality in Nepal, there is no greater tool than education. If marginalized groups can access education, then they are substantially more likely to escape the generational gender and caste-based cycles of poverty. Bisjnu Maya Pariyar and other advocates for Dalit Women set up the Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) in 1998 as a vehicle to fight against this discrimination. At the core of its work is the principle that “equality is unfeasible without education.” This is the idea that economic emancipation begins with education. This is why ADWAN funds a variety of adult literacy and scholarship programs aimed at women and Dalit women specifically.

There are signs that programs like this are having an impact. In 2001, the literacy rate for Dalit women stood at just 7.2%. By 2015, this had increased to 34.8% reflecting the work that organizations like ADWAN are doing to further women’s education and thus increase the economic opportunity available to Dalit women. 

Looking Ahead

Despite the persistence of the gender wage gap in Nepal, there is substantial evidence suggesting its effect is weakening. The government has made significant legislative progress in outlawing wage discrimination. In fact, the 2024 Women, Business and the Law index, which measures the laws that affect women’s economic opportunity, scored Nepal 80.6/100, higher than all its neighboring countries. While these legislative victories may not yet have trickled down to affect Nepali society fully, the direction of travel is undoubtedly positive. The tireless efforts of Dalit women organizing, educating and advocating for their rights has made much of this progress possible. From grassroots initiatives like ADWAN to national legislative change, a growing movement is demanding a more equitable future. If this momentum continues, the next generation of Dalit women may enter a workforce where equal pay is not an aspiration, but a reality.

– Adam Walsh

Adam is based in Nelson, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Tackling the Digital Divide in Ghana

Digital Divide in GhanaGhana is a digital leader in West Africa, yet many women remain excluded from its benefits due to a range of cultural, social and economic barriers. World Bank data reveals that in 2021, 65% of Ghanaian women used the internet compared to 72% of men, a 7% gap. Furthermore, the disparity is even greater in digital finance, where 59% of women accessed mobile money versus 65% of men. This digital divide in Ghana limits women’s economic opportunities and their ability to participate fully in today’s digital economy.

Digital exclusion reinforces existing poverty and inequality, as equal access to advanced technologies is crucial for supporting women’s economic independence and fostering a more inclusive society. However, closing the digital divide in Ghana will give women the agency and empowerment to shape their futures and thrive in the digital economy.

Reasons Behind the Digital Divide

  • Existing Gender Inequality. Women in Ghana often have lower literacy levels, higher unemployment rates and lower incomes than men. Therefore, this existing divide makes it harder for women to understand how to use a mobile phone, successfully access the internet and learn new digital skills.
  • Affordability Barriers. In Ghana, women earn less than a third of what their male counterparts make. High data costs and the expense of owning a mobile phone limit women’s ability to access digital technologies and incorporate them into daily life easily.
  • Social Norms. Cultural norms in Ghana often place women in caregiving roles, discouraging them from STEM careers and making many reluctant to use digital technologies. This hesitation widens the digital divide, limiting women’s access to education, jobs and economic opportunities.

Current Initiatives

The GSM Association is a nonprofit that represents the interests of global mobile operators. It supports efforts to empower Ghanaian women with digital skills and access through complementary programs. Its ICT Skills for Entrepreneurial Women Empowerment initiative has trained 15,000 artisans and 720 female entrepreneurs in key digital skills. These include internet use, mobile money and social media marketing, helping them grow businesses and improve entrepreneurial growth.

To further enhance digital competence, the organization’s Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit offers free, multilingual video courses for micro-entrepreneurs. This initiative improves digital literacy, fosters economic independence and challenges traditional gender roles, opening new pathways for women in the workforce. Building on this digital foundation, the National Health Care Insurance Scheme’s mobile renewal option has boosted active membership by more than 50%, with 83% of women using this convenient service via mobile devices.

While these initiatives have seen success, the GSM Association surveys indicate that other e-government services are utilized at a lower rate. To tackle the digital divide in Ghana, external factors that hinder women from accessing such technologies must be taken into consideration. These include raising awareness, boosting digital literacy and addressing affordability barriers through targeted campaigns, training programs and expanded access to low-cost internet and devices.

Looking Ahead

“The Access to Agency: Empowering Women Through Digital Inclusion Conference,” held in July 2025, brought these challenges to the forefront. Indeed, sessions focused on expanding women’s access to smartphones, using WhatsApp networks for digital financial services and entrepreneurship and developing tailored safeguards to protect women’s privacy and safety online. By highlighting these priorities, the conference reinforced the need for targeted strategies that help women benefit equally from digital progress.

By putting women’s digital inclusion at the center of future strategies, Ghana can unlock new opportunities, reduce poverty and build a fairer, more prosperous society for all.

– Beatrice Punt

Beatrice is based in Manchester, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Understanding the Gender Wage Gap in Mozambique 

Gender Wage Gap in MozambiqueMozambique is among the poorest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of just $647 and ranking 182nd on the Human Development Index. Among the myriad challenges Mozambique faces as a result of this multidimensional poverty is its gender wage gap, which represents the average income of women compared to men. Addressing the gender wage gap in Mozambique is an important issue of social justice. 

Mozambique’s situation is typical of its regional context. In East and Southern Africa, women earn on average 21% less than men. This unjust state of affairs reflects broader regional gender inequalities relating to education access, as well as deep-rooted attitudes regarding social roles. Here are three key factors affecting the gender wage gap in Mozambique:

1. Women Work Fewer Hours Than Men

The gender wage gap in Mozambique is only 1.6% at the hourly level, but 14.9% at the monthly level. This means that women earn significantly less than men throughout the course of the month, embedding long-term income disparities. One explanation for this is the substantial role of unpaid domestic labor such as child-rearing, which women usually perform, often rendering them unable to work for as many hours as men. Discriminatory working practices are also a concern in this regard.

2. Social Attitudes to Gender Are Highly Restrictive

Gender roles in Mozambique are traditional and deep-rooted. The largest employment sectors for men are “masculine” in nature — manufacture, construction and transport — while for women, the largest sectors are household work and education. Unpaid domestic labor reflects a social contribution that is ‘unseen’ in terms of income. Estimates have indicated that 37% of women and men would need to switch occupations in order to reverse the gender wage gap that these imbalances cause.

Restrictions upon women’s autonomy in Mozambique begin in childhood. About 53% of Mozambican women marry before the age of 18, while 153 of every 1,000 adolescent females (15-19 years old) gave birth in 2023. These alarming figures demonstrate how many young women end up in domestication before they have any notions of formal employment.

3. Educational Attainment Is Highly Imbalanced

The gender wage gap in Mozambique is more pronounced (23.4%) for those who only have a primary level of education than for those who have a post-secondary level of education (13.8%). This is in the context of more girls completing secondary education than boys. Therefore, women who fail to complete secondary education end up with greater wage imbalances and worse socioeconomic prospects.

Moreover, the female literacy rate in Mozambique is substantially lower than the male literacy rate (49% to 72%). This prevents vast numbers of women accessing higher education and the higher-skilled, higher-paid employment opportunities that it beckons.

How the Gender Wage Gap in Mozambique Affects Women

One impact of the gender wage gap in Mozambique is the financial disempowerment of women, including through a lack of financial independence and long-term economic security. Significantly fewer women than men have a banking account (38.7% to 61%), and fewer women than men receive support for the future through pensions or life insurance. Low literacy rates and education levels compound this impact, making many women dependent upon their husbands. The gender wage gap can therefore be understood both as a symptom of and as a cause of restrictive societal expectations of women: it reinforces the deep-rooted inequalities within Mozambican society that give rise to it in the first place.

Reasons To Be Hopeful

Foreign governments and NGOs are offering development aid to target the root causes of the gender wage gap in Mozambique as a matter of priority. For example, Canadian development aid funds the Empowering Adolescent Girls to Learn and Earn (EAGLE) scheme, which aims to help 4,200 adolescent girls in Mozambique improve their educational attainment. Working with community leaders in the highly impoverished Monica and Sofala provinces, the scheme focuses on girls who have previously been forced out of school through marriage or pregnancy. The program provides accelerated literacy, numeracy, business and vocational classes, equipping the girls with important life skills required to enter formal employment and become more economically empowered. So far, EAGLE has helped enroll almost 1,000 girls in primary school, and 99% of participants have passed their National Literacy and Numeracy exams.

Furthermore, the World Bank is aiming to increase the number of girls completing primary and secondary education on a large scale through its Improving Learning and Empowering Girls in Mozambique program. Through a $299 million funding commitment from the U.S., the initiative has significantly increased the primary level grade retention of girls living in highly impoverished areas by providing resources such as textbooks and equipment and leading teacher training programs. At least 55,000 students have benefitted so far.

Looking Ahead

Although the gender wage gap in Mozambique appears to be an insurmountable challenge, development aid programs such as these indicate that where there is the political and economic will to address deep-rooted gender inequalities, issues of female economic empowerment can slowly be overcome. 

– Joseph Webb

Joseph is based in Norwich, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Recognizing Women’s Unpaid Labor: A Growing Global Priority

Women’s Unpaid LaborEvery day, women and girls worldwide perform 12.5 billion hours of unpaid labor, accounting for more than three-quarters of all unpaid care work globally. Women’s unpaid labor is vital in supporting and strengthening families, communities and society. However, a commitment to care responsibilities prevents female economic participation.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), these duties keep 708 million women out of the labor market. Recognizing, valuing and supporting women’s unpaid labor by integrating care duties into policy and infrastructure creates greater access to women’s education, employment and leisure.

The Impact of Women’s Unpaid Labor

The effects of unpaid care work are especially pronounced for women in impoverished areas. In low-income countries, women in rural areas spend up to 14 hours daily on unpaid domestic duties. Among women aged 25 to 54, 379 million cite care responsibilities as why they are not part of the workforce. Those with lower levels of education and those living in rural areas face some of the highest barriers to economic participation.

This makes including care and investment in support systems critical to reducing poverty and advancing gender equality. However, countries worldwide are beginning to acknowledge the value of unpaid care work and taking steps to redistribute domestic responsibilities across public and private sectors.

Making Care Visible: Mexico

Increasing the visibility of women’s unpaid labor through empirical evidence is essential to recognizing its importance. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), unpaid domestic work accounts for 26.3% of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP). To help bring this issue to the forefront, U.N. Women has played a key role in generating and promoting access to data on care work. The economic value of women’s unpaid labor is now visible through tools like Supported Time Surveys and Satellite Account.

In partnership with institutions like El Colegio de Mexico and the National Institute for Women, U.N. Women launched the Care Map, a tool more than 21,000 people used to access information on care services. Its support for local governments also led to evidence-based strategies for establishing care districts, which can now be adopted in other states. Building on these national efforts, U.N. Women Mexico joined the Government of Mexico to create the Global Alliance for Care. The platform has more than 300 members, placing care at the center of public policy.

Creating a quality care system in Mexico is important in recognizing the value of unpaid domestic duties. Barriers preventing women’s economic participation can be overcome by reducing the burden of unpaid labor and treating care as essential infrastructure.

Addressing Time Poverty: Peru

Women in Peru average nearly 40 hours a week on commitments to unpaid labor, which accounts for 52% of their total work time. The physical and emotional burden of care work leaves many women in Peru time-poor, limiting their educational opportunities, political participation and professional advancement. Findings from the 2023-2024 Young Lives Surveys reveal that women and girls are less likely to be employed than their male counterparts, spending more daily hours on unpaid care work.

However, Peru has taken significant measures to lessen the demanding domestic duties placed on women. The Transforming Care Economies project, led by U.N. Women and funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development, has advanced opportunities for caregivers. Since its launch in 2023, more than 350 caregivers have enhanced their basic and personal care skills, improving the quality of support given to those in need.

Alongside this, 70 public officials have received training in care policies and 16 civil society organizations are actively supporting local care facilities. These achievements lay the groundwork for securing the right to quality care and improving caregivers’ lives locally, paving the way for broader institutional recognition and support. By addressing time poverty through improved care systems, Peru actively supports women’s empowerment and greater access to education, employment and participation in public life.

Transforming Women’s Work: Kenya

Oxfam’s 2019 Household Care Survey shows that women in Kenya spend an estimated five hours daily on care work, while men spend just one. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened this disparity, pushing many women out of paid employment as they took on increased caregiving responsibilities due to school closures, the shift to remote learning and the shutdown of child care services.

Access to quality child care reduces the burden of unpaid care work on women. Yet, services remain expensive for low-income families and are often limited to urban areas. This lack of access forces many mothers out of the workforce, especially in rural communities.

Kidogo, a Kenyan nonprofit founded in 2014, works to expand affordable, high-quality child care in low-income areas. Supporting working mothers in informal settlements improves their chances of securing better employment. Kenya’s largest child care provider, Kidogo, serves more than 9,500 children aged less than 5, consistently exceeding development milestones and performing well in primary school. The organization has also influenced key policy reforms, including the Nairobi City County Child Care Facilities Act (2017) and the County Early Childhood Education Bill (2018).

By recognizing and addressing the unequal distribution of care, Kenya can promote professional and personal growth for women.

Looking Ahead

Valuing and supporting unpaid care work is key to reducing poverty and advancing gender equality. Creating access to quality care systems allows women to gain time and opportunities for education, work and leadership. Investing in care as essential infrastructure empowers women, strengthens communities and builds a more just and inclusive economy.

– Beatrice Punt

Beatrice is based in Manchester, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Tackling the Gender Wage Gap in Kazakhstan 

Gender Wage Gap in KazakhstanKazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, has achieved notable advancements in enhancing women’s access to education and formal employment. However, the gender wage gap in Kazakhstan endures, with women consistently earning less than men in the majority of industries. This imbalance constrains economic progress and perpetuates obstacles in attaining fair labor conditions.

Overview of the Gender Wage Gap in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has achieved near-parity in education, yet there is still a large wage gap between men and women. In the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, the nation had an overall score of 0.710, placing it 76th out of 146 nations. With a score of 0.751 for Economic Participation and Opportunity, it shows modest advancements in workforce participation but persistent differences in leadership positions and pay.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which cites Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, men continuously earn more in almost every industry, with the average gender pay gap narrowing to 21.7% in 2021 before widening again to 25.2% in 2022.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports that, on average, women in Kazakhstan only make 67% of what men do, with the disparity being particularly noticeable in high-paying industries like banking, construction and transportation. The research also emphasizes how under-representation in leadership positions and vocational segregation exacerbate this disparity.

Contributing Factors

A closer look at the factors influencing Kazakhstan’s gender pay wage identifies a number of recurring problems:

  1. Industrial and Occupational Segregation: Women’s over-representation in lower-paying sectors and under-representation in high-paying industries contributed to the wage gap’s consistent 30% level, according to a 2024 research that looked at Kazakhstan from 2011 to 2019. Additionally, the investigation identified “industrial segregation” as one of the primary reasons for the wage gap.
  2. Sticky Floors and Glass Ceilings: Experts point to structural trends such as the “sticky floor,” which traps women in low-paying jobs and the “glass ceiling,” and restricts their access to senior positions. Corporate and social conventions play a major role in creating these obstacles.
  3. The Cost of Motherhood and Unpaid Care Work: Due to workplace prejudice, shortened workdays and career disruptions, mothers in Kazakhstan have financial disadvantages. According to other research, women devote a disproportionate amount of their time to unpaid domestic labor, which exacerbates economic inequality.
  4. Stereotypes Based on Culture and Gender: Traditional gender norms remain widespread in Kazakhstan. According to a UNDP poll, 96% of participants had at least one prejudice against women, such as the idea that men are more qualified for positions of leadership and business. Gender stereotypes restrict women to jobs associated with maternity, childcare and unpaid domestic work, which hinders their ability to progress professionally, according to research on female civil service executives.

Despite Kazakhstan’s high levels of female education and employment access, the pay disparity is maintained by a combination of overlapping structural factors, including caregiving duties, leadership restrictions, industry segregation and deeply rooted prejudices.

Innovation & Solutions

Across Kazakhstan, government bodies, international organizations and civil society are taking concrete action to narrow the gender wage gap in Kazakhstan:

  1. The UNDP-Led Equal Pay Campaign: The UNDP in Kazakhstan started the “Closing the Gender Pay Gap” campaign in May 2023 with the goal of encouraging more openness and communication between businesses in order to narrow the pay gap, which was 25% in 2021 and 21.7% in 2022. The campaign emphasizes the need for gender-responsive workplace regulations and highlights factors, such as career disruptions brought on by parenthood.
  2. National Policy & Legal Reform: Kazakhstan’s government action plan for 2024–27 incorporates gender equality into national budgeting and labor laws while promoting equal rights and opportunities for men and women. In order to monitor pay trends and assess labor policy, the plan calls for the collecting of gender-disaggregated data.
  3. Strengthened Family Policy and Legal Framework: According to an OECD analysis, Kazakhstan’s National Gender Equality Strategy (2006–16) and Equal Rights and Opportunities statute (2009) established important foundations. The government is now putting its “Family and Gender Policy Concept 2030” into practice, with an emphasis on supporting working parents, enhancing women’s economic involvement and incorporating gender equality into legislation.
  4. Regulation of Equal Pay in the Workplace: Kazakhstan scored 75.6 out of 100 in the World Bank’s 2023 “Women, Business and the Law” assessment, which indicates that the country has acceptable legislation pertaining to marriage and mobility but falls short in terms of pay equality and labor rights. Ongoing initiatives to create fair remuneration guidelines and enhance workplace transparency are filling up these regulatory gaps.

Looking Ahead

Despite Kazakhstan’s advancements in education and labor market participation, the gender wage gap continues to be a significant obstacle to complete economic equality. However, momentum is building. Through international cooperation, government-led changes, and growing public awareness, Kazakhstan is creating the framework for more equitable economic development. Addressing the gender wage gap in Kazakhstan will need sustained investment in legal enforcement, transparency and assistance for women in under-represented fields. Kazakhstan has the potential to not only lessen pay gaps domestically but also serve as a strong model for the larger Central Asian area if these initiatives gather momentum.

– Ray Bechara

Ray is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Addressing the Gender Wage Gap in Sudan

Gender Wage Gap in SudanThe pursuit of gender equality is an international imperative, and understanding the complexities of inequalities, such as the gender wage gap, proves critical to fostering economic empowerment. In Sudan, gender discrimination in pay significantly reverses overall development and poverty reduction. Although continued war undoubtedly widens such inequalities, comprehending the causes behind the gender wage gap is vital for implementing effective solutions. 

The Depth of Economic Disparity

Sudan faces one of the largest gender pay gaps on the continent. Recent reports indicate that, on average, Sudanese women earn an astonishing 82% less than men for performing the same work. The gender wage gap in Sudan significantly surpasses the global average and underscores the need for immediate, specific interventions.

Directly contributing to this gap, the female labor force participation rate in Sudan stood at a low 14.5% in 2022, down from earlier figures and significantly below the global average. This low participation actively inhibits women’s economic independence and their right to earn a fair wage. Furthermore, occupational segregation frequently confines women to specific areas, such as agriculture or unstructured trade, which typically offer lesser wages and limited opportunities for advancement. Such labor segregation directly limits their earning potential and maintains the wage disparity. A lack of transparency in compensation schemes and discriminatory recruitment practices also increase the wage gap. Without clear guidelines and supervision, inequalities easily perpetuate unimpeded.

Societal and Structural Barriers

Institutionalized cultural practices and traditional gender roles largely explain the gender wage gap in Sudan. In most instances, these roles push women to the outskirts of the formal economy, concentrating them in lower-paying jobs or the informal sector where their work often faces devaluation. Educational disparities also account for a significant share of the gender gap in pay. Though some improvements exist, fewer than half of girls finish primary school, and many do not complete their education. Less literacy among women, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, limits their access to better-paying, more skilled jobs. While entrepreneurial activities among many Sudanese women are rampant, often necessitated by circumstances, they face serious constraints. These include restricted access to finance, a lack of knowledge and skills in business and socio-cultural values that restrain their mobility and prospects.

The intersection of gender and poverty is particularly stark in Sudan. While the overall national poverty rate stood at 46.5% in 2009 for North Sudan, recent data from 2021 indicates that 52.3% of the population is considered multidimensionally poor, with an additional 17.7% vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. Women, especially those without assets, private businesses, or education, are disproportionately affected, with studies showing that 90% of women with high economic dependency live below the poverty line. This direct correlation between the gender wage gap and women’s poverty rates highlights how limited economic opportunities and lower earnings trap women in a cycle of destitution, further exacerbated by their vulnerable employment status. For instance, in 2022, 55.5% of women in Sudan were in vulnerable employment, compared to 36.1% of men, meaning they are less likely to have formal work arrangements, social protection or safety nets.

Conflict’s Devastating Impact

Ongoing socio-political instability and conflict severely impede women’s access to employment and education, thus worsening the gender wage gap in Sudan. Displacement, destruction of infrastructure and breakdown of services disproportionately fall on women and girls, leaving them in increasingly marginalized economic positions. The conflict has also generated an enormous increase in demand for gender-based violence services, placing women and girls at higher risks of sexual exploitation and violence. This violence not only leads to physical and psychological trauma but also undermines their ability to integrate into the economy and gain livelihood, as safety concerns and trauma disrupt their economic engagement.

Paving the Path Forward: Empowering Women for Change

Despite daunting difficulties, several organizations and local women-owned businesses actively contribute to combat gender inequality and empower women economically in Sudan. One such organization is the Gender Centre for Research and Training (GCRT), a Sudanese civil society organization established in Khartoum in 1997. GCRT actively raises awareness on gender concepts to ensure gender mainstreaming in development and government policies. The GCRT focuses on research, training, alliance building, networking, advocacy and creating solidarity as means to achieve its objectives. It promotes women’s equality and their right to be active participants in social, cultural, economic and political life in Sudan, particularly during this transitional period toward democracy and peace.

Since 2011, UN Women has also instituted programs which have helped more than 60 women-owned organizations in Sudan. These programs provide vital skills training, humanitarian relief, and support women’s participation in peacebuilding. This assistance directly empowers women to become game-changers in their communities, demonstrating resilience and possibilities of a more equitable future in Sudan.

Towards a More Equitable Future

The long-lasting gender wage gap in Sudan is a complex issue of entrenched economic disparities, gendered social norms and the devastating impacts of war. The resolution of this issue requires an integrated approach of addressing low women’s labor market participation, occupational segregation, education inequalities and the heightened vulnerabilities of poor and war-affected women. By educating women, empowering them economically, and giving them freedom from violence, agencies like GCRT and UN Women are paving new ways for an improved and equitable Sudan, demonstrating that through concerted efforts, even the biggest roadblocks to gender equality can be overcome.

– Anoushka Rai

Anoushka is based in Frisco, TX, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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The Gender Wage Gap in Syria and the Fight for Empowerment

Gender Wage Gap in SyriaIn Syria, where years of brutal violence and extreme poverty have devastated the nation, women are emerging not only as survivors of conflict, but as architects of their country’s future. Yet, despite the crucial role they now play in the rebuilding process, the gender wage gap in Syria remains a barrier to progress. Syrian women are largely undervalued and underpaid compared to their male counterparts, a reality that only perpetuates the nation’s dire economic situation. 

A Country in Crisis

Many widely regard the Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011, as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. Over a decade of fighting led to the displacement of more than 14 million civilians, social and political instability and the collapse of the economy. As of December 2024, an estimated 90% of Syrians lived below the poverty line, and 16.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance.

Only on December 8, 2024, after 24 years of oppressive totalitarian rule, did the Assad regime fall at the hands of opposition forces. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 600,000 people, many of them men. Now, with so many killed or displaced, Syrian women are increasingly taking on roles in shaping their families, communities and the future of their country.

A Disproportionate Impact on Women

At the same time, women are facing significant struggles. While the civil war had a negative impact on all Syrians, it disproportionately impacted women in many ways. Increases in sexual and gender-based violence, alongside the destruction of hospitals and clinics, deprived countless women of basic and reproductive health care. In 2023, 3.9% of Syrian girls ages 15-19 gave birth, a statistic that reflects both this limited access to health care and rising rates of early and forced marriage.

Syrian women also face a lack of employment opportunities, and when they do secure jobs, they are often receive less pay than men. Globally, women earn around 77 cents for every dollar that their male counterparts earn. Although comprehensive data on the gender wage gap in Syria is yet to exist, labor force participation rates illustrate the economic disparity: in 2024, it was 62.8% among males compared to only 13.3% among females. These numbers are representative of a wider trend in the Arab world, where women’s access to employment is up to 44% lower than men’s.

Beyond being concerning from a gender equality standpoint, the wage disparity in Syria also has serious, even life-threatening implications for women and their families. 92% of female-headed households report either an insufficient or complete inability to meet their basic needs. Additionally, 74% of the almost 6 million Syrians experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition are women and girls.

The Civil War as a Turning Point

However, suffering does not solely define the story of Syrian women. Amidst violence and desolation, many women stepped out of the home and into new roles, defying long held gender norms and stereotypes. Women found numerous ways to transform their challenges into opportunities by protesting against the Assad regime, finding work to support their families and empowering their daughters to learn to take care of themselves.

One particularly noteworthy individual is Ghalia Rahhal, founder of the Mazaya Center for Women’s Empowerment. Despite an assassination attempt, the murder of her son and sexist opposition, she has never stopped her fight to integrate feminist principles into Syrian laws and practices. By training women in refugee camps on politics and equality, Rahhal is preparing them to become active participants in the transitional and future government of their country. 

Inspired to achieve similar goals, the nonprofit Uplifting Syrian Women seeks to help women and girls obtain better jobs by providing them with free online courses and trainings. The organization aims to close the gender wage gap in Syria by empowering women to enter the workforce and recognize their importance in the country’s rebuilding process.

Why Closing the Gap Matters

Looking forward, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the future of women in Syria. One reality, nevertheless, is that the empowerment of women is economically beneficial for all. As the World Economic Forum reports, increasing women’s workforce participation could boost a country’s economic output by up to 35%. That potential could become a reality as more and more women take an active role in the government and the workforce, helping close the gender wage gap in Syria and lift their country into a better future.

– Caroline Clark

Caroline is based in Needham, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr