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Caring for Equality: Empowering Women in Uruguay

Women in uruguayIn December 2015, Uruguay passed Law 19.353, establishing the National Comprehensive Care System. This was the first law that pushed for gender equality and laid the framework for various positions of care as a right, not only for children under 3 but also for the elderly and people with disabilities.

The law, backed by the coordinated efforts of multiple ministries, regulated services, trained caregivers and public awareness initiatives aimed at rebalancing gender norms. The SNIC aims to challenge deeply entrenched gendered division of labor in Uruguay, where women disproportionately shoulder unpaid domestic and caregiving work.

SIEMPRE Centers: Redefining Care and Empowering Women

Uruguay’s National Comprehensive Care System, launched in 2021, introduced SIEMPRE Centers, which are early community childhood daycares with early-learning facilities managed by public, private and civil society partnerships, according to the March 2025 report. These centers offer up to eight hours of daily care and receive support from collaboration between trade unions, employers, communities and the Instituto Nacional de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes (INAU).

Five components driving SIEMPRE’s impact are workshops for families comprising life and vocational skills like gastronomy (cooking), sewing, hairdressing, gardening and other crafts. These workshops aim to empower parents, primarily mothers, to increase their ability to pursue education or paid work due to freed-up time. Violence prevention is a welcome side-effect of SIEMPRE Centers, with staff often able to detect and respond to domestic or gender-based violence, boosting women’s physical safety, according to the March 2025 report. Lastly, centers help shift gender norms by providing crucial skills to young fathers like cooking and nursing, which are deep-rooted stereotypes assigned to women.

Legal Advances for Women

Legal framework and broader equality policies endorse key international women’s rights treaties and implement a progressive domestic legal framework. Notable laws include:

Supporting networks and civil society organizations like Mujer y Salud en Uruguay advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights through public awareness campaigns. Uruguay XXI, an agency that promotes investment and exports, has advanced gender equality in its workforce. Fifty six percent of its 2024 “Más Comercio” mentoring targets were women-led businesses, and women hold about 58% of its leadership roles.

Driving Change

Further engagement, such as campaigns encouraging male caregivers, aims to break norms. For example, the MenCare Campaign engages men as fathers and caregivers to promote gender equality. Although progress is slow, Uruguay is making efforts to make SNIC a social service. By strengthening collective provision, Uruguay transforms care from a burden into a collective responsibility, which would validate unpaid work and reduce hidden gender costs.

SIEMPRE Centers often negotiate through collective bargaining involving unions, employers and the government. Union-business partnerships can produce systemic reforms.

Constant Obstacles

However, despite formal equality, significant challenges persist, like unequal representation. For instance, women hold about 28% of parliamentary seats and top leadership roles, one of the lowest levels in Latin America. Women endure the brunt of unpaid labor. About 61.4% of women are involved in unpaid work, compared to 35.9% of men, resulting in women dedicating their time to domestic chores and caregiving, limiting their opportunities.

While the SNIC made strides in guaranteeing women’s care, the lack of funds makes it difficult to expand its resources. The SNIC budget share for the past five years has been stagnant, resulting in limited ability to construct and expand new centers nationwide. Violence against women in Uruguay remains at one of the highest rates in Latin America, with about 77% of women over 15 experiencing some form of gender-based violence, according to a survey conducted by the United Nations Uruguay.

Looking Ahead

Uruguay’s SNIC is a bold, feminist-informed leap in public policy that directly confronts the gendered distribution of care and builds new pathways for women’s economic and social success. SIEMPRE Centers represent a strong frontline that provides care, economic empowerment, decision-making power, and violence prevention. Yet progress could halt without continued investment, cultural transformation, and stronger female representation.

– Sebastian Llerena

Sebastian is based in Edison, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Gender Wage Gap in Croatia: Giving Women Time To Shine

Gender Wage Gap in CroatiaOver the last few years, Croatia has experienced steady economic growth at a rate above the EU average. However, during the same period the country’s gender wage gap has widened. The employment rate for Croatian women is the fifth lowest in the EU, and Croatia remains one of the lowest-ranked EU countries for gender parity overall. Several factors have led to the gender wage gap in Croatia, where nearly 22% of Croatian women are at risk of poverty and material deprivation compared to 17.7% of men.

Status of the Gender Wage Gap in Croatia

Croatian girls consistently outperform boys in school, both in test scores and average years of schooling. However, these achievements do not translate into similar success in the labor market. Men earn significantly more over their lifetimes, with women earning just 86.8% of what men earn monthly. Additionally, while Croatian men and women begin working at similar employment levels, women’s market participation drops with age. This gender earnings gap has serious long-term consequences, not only reinforcing women’s economic vulnerability but also contributing to higher rates of poverty among women.

Key Factors Leading to the Gender Wage Gap in Croatia

One reason for this is Croatia’s notably large gender gap regarding the allocation of time spent on care and domestic tasks. While the EU average score for this time disparity is 48.6 out of 100, Croatia’s score is 68.5. Similarly, 80% of Croatian women report they do housework every day as opposed to 40% of Croatian men—a disparity well above the EU average—with women performing almost 20 hours more of unpaid domestic work per week. As of 2017, 32% of Croatian women aged 25-64 did not seek employment due to having to perform unpaid labor looking after children or incapacitated adults. This pattern of unpaid labor limits women’s access to income and financial independence, which increases their risk of poverty, especially for single mothers and women in rural communities.

The widest gender gap in employment rates in Croatia is among the age group of 25-29, at a rate that increased between 2013 and 2022 from 5 percentage points to a whopping 20 points. The World Bank theorizes that this gap stems from expectations around child-rearing, stating that “women around this age could be at a disadvantage on the labor market, as an expectation that they might soon take maternity leave makes employers hesitant to hire or promote them.” The World Bank likewise theorizes that women in this age group are more likely to “seek flexible or part-time roles” over full-time employment in anticipation of family responsibilities. Croatia’s coverage of daycares and kindergartens is low, at 51% compared to the EU average of 86%. Childcare is even scarcer in rural areas, where as few as 13% of children have access to kindergarten.

Overall, Croatian social norms contribute greatly to the gender wage gap. The expectation and anticipation that women perform the brunt of domestic tasks leads to a greater share of women performing unpaid labor and facing limited access to professional opportunities, and likely influences a social structure that provides little support for women seeking childcare. These social norms also influence occupational segregation that contributes to the gender wage gap, with female-majority sectors such as education and health care offering more part-time roles and lower wages.

The Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic deepened gender inequality in Croatia. Women held a disproportionate number of jobs in sectors that lockdowns hit the hardest, such as tourism and personal services, and many, particularly those with lower education levels, lacked the option to work remotely. Women thus lost jobs or income more than men and at the same time had less protection from formal social safety nets. Unpaid care responsibilities surged during school closures, limiting women’s ability to seek or retain employment. Many women lacked access to health insurance or unemployment benefits, excluding them from government support. The pandemic also worsened mental health and coincided with a 31% rise in reported domestic violence, a crime in which women make up the vast majority of victims. 

Addressing the Gender Wage Gap in Croatia

Addressing the gender wage gap in Croatia and creating a more equitable labor market requires systemic cultural and policy-driven changes. Expanding access to affordable childcare and eldercare services is essential to ease the caregiving burden that disproportionately falls on women, allowing them increased time and energy for paid work. Promoting flexible work arrangements such as part-time roles with benefits, remote work options and adjustable hours could help women remain in the workforce, particularly during childbearing and childrearing years. Enhancing parental leave policies to encourage shared caregiving responsibilities between men and women could also reduce career interruptions for women. In addition, public awareness campaigns and educational efforts that challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes could shift societal expectations and foster more inclusive work environments.

Change Is Happening

Croatia has introduced several concrete measures to help close the gender wage gap. In 2022, Croatia enacted legislative changes to the Employment Relations act, including defining “equal work” and mandating more salary transparency. However, the impact of such changes on the gender wage gap in Croatia is not yet clear. Starting in 2023, lawmakers introduced amendments to the Gender Equality Act and the Labor Act mandate that employers implement internal procedures for addressing harassment, establish equal treatment plans and are subject to stricter penalties for non-compliance with anti-discrimination rules. While comprehensive national statistics are not yet available, recent EU-wide surveys indicate a slight increase in women’s reported satisfaction with workplace equity and growing awareness of legal protections.

The Croatian government is also enacting policies aimed at improving access to childcare and eldercare services. Under the EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan (2021–2026), Croatia committed €190 million toward building and upgrading kindergartens, with a goal of enrolling 90% of children aged 3–6 by 2030. The plan also includes investments in eldercare such as day centers and in-home services for the aging population. These efforts help reduce the unpaid care burden on women and improve their ability to participate in the labor market. Again, exact statistics on the immediate effect of this plan are not yet available. However, by increasing access to paid employment, particularly for women in low-income or rural households, these changes contribute directly to poverty reduction.

Moving Forward

While Croatia continues to grow economically, the gender wage gap still limits opportunities for women and deepens poverty among those who shoulder the burden of unpaid care work. However, policymakers have introduced new laws, increased wage transparency, and expanded access to care to begin addressing these inequalities. 

– Kelsey Eisen

Kelsey is based in San Francisco, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Being Poor in Kenya: Challenges and Solutions 

Being Poor in KenyaMillions of Kenyans live in abject poverty. In 2022, the overall poverty rate was approximately 40%, and the food poverty rate was around 32%. Kenyans suffer financially and lack the resources to live a stable and productive life, even as the country’s economy grows. To address this inequality, the Kenyan government and NGOs have implemented programs and initiatives to fight this problem. Here is information about being poor in Kenya.

Challenges

Several challenges exist that exacerbate poverty in Kenya. Here are some examples of those challenges:

  1. Limited Access to Basic Services: Limited access to quality education, health care and clean water affect many Kenyans. Overcrowded classrooms and poor learning conditions prevent educational development in many schools. Major health risks arise for families due to common poor hygiene habits. In the urban slum of Kibera, crowded shacks and contaminated water bring about typhoid and cholera.
  2. Unemployment: The World Bank Group estimates that 75% of young Kenyans (35 and under) have few employment opportunities. Being poor in Kenya leads to most people performing low-paying informal work with little job security. Many farmers also struggle with poor infrastructure and limited access to international markets.
  3. Food Insecurity: Rising food prices and regular droughts make it challenging for families to afford food. Rural Kenyans suffer from a lack of soil fertility and volatile weather. The Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation interviewed farmers in Yatta and found that food shortages negatively affected 87%, rising food prices impacted 76% and decreased water availability affected 72%.
  4. Gender Inequality: Being poor in Kenya leads many women to face social and economic barriers. These women are mostly limited to low-paying household employment. Cultural standards create very young mothers, which forces women into full-time childcare and discourages further education. Additionally, a 2023 report found that women are around 27% less likely to have the same opportunities as men, especially in political representation and decision-making power.
  5. Environmental Disasters: Environmental disasters severely impact Kenya. Unpredictable climate shocks prevent local communities from recovering, leading to forced displacement. Indeed, a farmer in Loya states that droughts and locust infestations are “missiles sent from the skies.” Lengthy droughts in Kenya’s arid regions have caused hunger for 23.8 million people.
  6. Crime: Rampant poverty leads to rampant crime. A Security Research and Information Centre study found that 98.8% of residents of urban slums had seen a crime within the past three months. Being poor in Kenya also drives people to commit minor crimes, such as illegally selling alcohol or wood.

Solutions and Initiatives

Despite the difficulties that Kenya is facing, several initiatives are working to address poverty in Kenya. Here are examples of some of those initiatives:

  1. Inua Jamii Program: The Inua Jamii Program is a government-led cash transfer program. President Uhuru Kenyatta started it in 2015; the goal was to fight poverty and help vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, orphans and disabled. This program provides bi-monthly cash transfers, helping more than 700,000 elderly people greatly improve their well-being.
  2. The BOMA Project: Kathleen Colson founded The BOMA Project in 2005 and it operates as a U.S. nonprofit and Kenyan NGO. BOMA’s Rural Entrepreneur Access Project provides cash grants and business training to Kenyan women in arid regions. It empowers these women to start small businesses and work towards escaping poverty. BOMA has launched more than a thousand businesses and hundreds of savings groups, helping more than 800,000 women and children overcome poverty.
  3. Waste Management: Alfy Ayoro and Yajub Jaffar founded the local organization Kibra Green in 2017. The organization allows Kibera residents, especially young people, to be involved in their community by establishing weekly garbage clean-ups and by collecting and selling recyclable items. The organization also trains locals in metalworking for future job opportunities, strengthening community engagement and helping them overcome poverty.
  4. Vaccine and Sanitation Initiatives: Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Shining Hope for Communities launched a vaccination campaign to fight Nairobi’s cholera outbreak. The outbreak started in 2022 and health officials acted fast by temporarily closing schools. Nairobi’s informal settlements were especially at risk due to a lack of clean water and poor sanitation, making it easier for a waterborne disease like cholera to spread. This initiative achieved a 99.2% vaccination rate and implemented over twenty new sanitary facilities and water ATMs, improving overall sanitation and reducing disease.
  5. Water Backpacks: Teachers gave students water backpacks to transport water to and from schools in Laikipia County efficiently. Teachers and health officials educated students on proper hygiene. These backpacks created more locations where students could access safe drinking water, greatly improving their health. Adding the backpacks in classes prevented students from overcrowding around one water source.

Looking Ahead

Millions of Kenyans struggle with limited access to essential services, unemployment and food shortages made worse by climate change and sanitary concerns. However, successful initiatives against poverty are possible through heavy investments in many government and international organizations. Overcoming this widespread issue involves long-term partnerships between many organizations to guarantee the complete elimination of poverty in Kenya.

– Rafe Photopoulos

Rafe is based in Gainesville, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Yamandú Orsi’s Plan to Reduce Child Poverty in Uruguay

Poverty in UruguayIn a continent of continual crisis, Uruguay is an outlier. The Latin American country has been a success story in recent years, boasting a lower poverty rate than the U.S. However, while previous governments have helped reduce poverty in Uruguay to a low level, the newly elected president, Yamandú Orsi, still faces several challenges surrounding poverty in the country.

About Yamandú Orsi

On March 1, Orsi took office for the first time, a remarkable achievement for someone from humble beginnings. Orsi, 57, grew up in a house without electricity in rural Uruguay before moving to the Canelones region, where he found political success. He served as intendant (like a mayor) of Canelones from 2015 to 2024. In November 2024, Orsi secured his most significant political victory by winning the Uruguayan presidency as a candidate for the Broad Front, a left-wing coalition.

A Country of the Future

Unlike many of its South American counterparts, Uruguay is widely seen as a success story. Since returning to civilian rule in 1985, the country has prioritized financial stability, economic growth and progressive policies. It has also emphasized sustainability, with approximately 93% of its electricity coming from renewable sources.

The previous president’s attempts at reducing poverty in Uruguay have proven to be largely successful, with the country holding a 10.4% monetary poverty rate, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). While the low poverty rate is a success, the reduction in the poverty rate has slowed in recent years, something that Orsi will look to address.

Child Poverty and Gender Inequality in Uruguay

Poverty in Uruguay remains relatively low. However, the same cannot be said for the child poverty rate. According to UNICEF, the rate is estimated at 19.4%, nearly double that of the national poverty rate. Uruguay’s child poverty issue is also inherently gendered, with the World Bank estimating that 71.8% of needy children live in female-led households. The cause of such high child poverty rates has been attributed to COVID-19 and unemployment within the country. 

However, Orsi has pledged to expand the existing “Bono Crianza” scheme to alleviate this issue. The policy aims to improve the income and financial security of “households in situations of extreme socioeconomic vulnerability where pregnant women and/or children from 0 to 3 years old reside.”

Expanding this scheme will undoubtedly reduce child poverty in Uruguay. It will reach more and more parents in need of additional income, many of those being female-led households. Additionally, Orsi is also looking to raise social spending to “generate employment opportunities for young people.”

Poverty in Uruguay: Little Action as Positive Action

With Uruguay being a success story over the last few decades, Orsi is not looking to make wide scale changes. His plan to reduce poverty is derived from making subtle changes to the system rather than starting afresh. Through these subtle changes, Orsi will hope to bring down both the monetary and child poverty rates. Further emphasizing the impressive development that Uruguay has undergone since the 1980s.

– Andrew Nicoll

Andrew is based in Long Melford, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Gender Wage Gap in Burkina Faso

Gender Wage Gap in Burkina FasoBurkina Faso is a landlocked West African country, bordered by Mali, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger, Togo and Benin. Despite some improvements made in women’s rights in the past, the gender wage gap in Burkina Faso remains a significant issue. A 2024 report by the World Bank group has found that an 82% gap in wage earnings exists between men and women. This significant disparity is attributed to the fact that most women are not paid at all for their work – 91% of female wage workers are unpaid, in comparison to 66% of male workers. Most of this work occurs in the agricultural sector, with more than 70% of the population being in rural areas.

The Current Issue

Some of the driving factors of the gender wage gap in Burkina Faso are the widespread notions that women belong in the home, or that their role in the workforce should not interfere or supersede their responsibilities in the home. “Occupational segregation” is common, with men in higher-level positions in higher-skilled work. 

Women are expected to take care of the household, so economic ventures outside of caregiving are difficult. The World Bank Group says, “We find that gender differences in labor force participation are primarily driven by differences in returns to worker characteristics, such as the number of young children in the household, and notably not due to characteristics such as differential educational attainment.” 

The lack of women or advocacy for women in politics means that it is difficult to address these issues. Currently, only 13 of the 71 members of the Burkinabe parliament (18.3%) are women.

Past Progress

It would be remiss to speak on gender equality or economic reform in Burkina Faso without mentioning Thomas Sankara. Sankara, leader of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, was a revolutionary, Marxist and Pan-Africanist, and an outspoken, uncompromising feminist. 

He himself spoke on the inherent wage disparity in domestic duties being unpaid, saying “We are fighting for the equality of men and women, not of a mechanical, mathematical equality, but by making women equal to men before the law and especially before wage labor.”

Sankara passed many initiatives to help Burkinabe women. He encouraged both girls and boys to finish school, and required schools to let pregnant students return to finish their education. He also hired more women in government positions. Traditional gender roles such as caregiving drives economic gender inequality, so giving women opportunities outside of household/caregiving obligations allows them to participate more freely in the workforce.

Current Progress 

Burkina Faso has approved initiatives in order to help women and children including the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme (CSSSP), and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program (WASH). The 2024 Gender-Responsive and Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP) report recorded the impacts of this initiative. 

The CSSSP provides a cash transfer of FCFA 16,000 (30 USD) per month to every household within the 11 municipalities it was implemented in. The report tracked the impact of the CSSSP, as well as the combined impact of the cash transfer and the WASH program, which provides water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services.

This economic stability that this financial crutch offers allows women more freedom in their economic ventures. The GRASSP report noted that the hours of economic activity of girls in beneficiary households increased 9.9%. It also wrote that, “Women in the treatment group reported having gained some control over their savings and earnings, compared to their counterparts in the comparison group.” Additionally, the report indicated that improved quality of life encourages peace in the home stating that “[Beneficiaries] acknowledged that poverty was the cause of arguments, and that receiving the cash transfers ameliorated this stress since they had less difficulty paying for their basic needs.”

Continuing and expanding these programs would see an overall boost in Burkinabe economic stability. Food security and happier family dynamics make fulfilling household and caregiving duties easier for women. This opens up time and opportunity for economic activity.

Conclusion

In truth, the circumstances of these women come as a result of an overlap of patriarchal ideals and general economic inequality. Addressing the root problems means dismantling the traditional gender roles that assign and restrict women to caregiving, and to eliminate wage disparity to provide equal opportunity for women to generate independent income or own capital.

Teaching men to take on some of the time and mental burden of managing a household not only encourages respect and shared responsibility between spouses, but also frees up time for women to pursue independent economic ventures. But as of now, the CSSSP program is addressing the financial stress and household stress separately, improving the quality of life of women who struggle with them.

– Sandhya Mathew

Sandhya is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Financial inclusion for women in South Asia

Financial inclusion for women in South AsiaFinancial inclusion for women in South Asia is emerging as a powerful tool to foster empowerment in a region where gender disparities persist, particularly in education, employment and economic independence. As financial literacy programs and access to banking services become more accessible, women are not only gaining greater control over their finances but also starting businesses that contribute to the growth of local economies and communities. In countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, financial inclusion initiatives are reshaping the lives of women, helping them break free from traditional barriers and boosting their confidence as entrepreneurs.

The Importance of Financial Literacy for Women

Financial literacy is an essential skill that enables individuals to make informed decisions about budgeting, saving and investing. However, in many South Asian countries, women have traditionally had limited access to financial services and education. Societal norms often discourage women from engaging in economic activities outside the home. In some cases, women have little control over household finances, making it difficult to save, invest or manage money effectively.

Programs aimed at financial inclusion for women in South Asia are helping to close this gap. In particular, initiatives that educate women on personal finance and entrepreneurship are proving to be transformative. These programs equip women with the necessary knowledge to manage their money and budget and understand financial products like loans, insurance and investments. By providing this essential education, women in South Asia are empowered to take charge of their financial futures and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

Case Studies From South Asia

Several countries in South Asia have made significant strides in promoting financial inclusion for women. India, for example, has seen remarkable progress through government-backed initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which aims to provide access to banking for all citizens, including the unbanked, particularly women. Since its launch in 2014, millions of women have opened bank accounts and gained access to financial services. This initiative has helped women build savings, secure loans and improve their financial literacy, enabling them to take control of their lives and make financial decisions without relying solely on male family members.

In Bangladesh, organizations like the Grameen Bank have pioneered the concept of microfinance and microloans, specifically targeting women in rural areas. These small loans have empowered women to start small businesses, such as selling goods or providing services, thus promoting economic independence. The success of microfinance has not only helped women become entrepreneurs but also created a ripple effect in their communities. Women who benefit from microloans are often able to support their families better, improve access to education for their children and contribute to the overall economic development of their villages.

Pakistan, too, has seen an increase in financial inclusion initiatives aimed at women. The State Bank of Pakistan introduced the “First Women Bank Limited” (FWBL), which provides services tailored to women’s financial needs. The bank offers microcredit loans, savings accounts and other financial services to women in rural and urban areas alike. The bank’s mission is to empower women by providing them with the financial resources needed to build businesses and support their families. Along with microfinance, Pakistan has also seen an expansion of mobile banking services, which have helped bridge the financial inclusion gap for women in remote areas.

Impact on Women’s Lives, Families and Communities

The impact of financial inclusion for women in South Asia extends beyond the individual. When women are financially empowered, their families and communities benefit as well. Studies have shown that when women control financial resources, they are more likely to invest in their children’s education, health and well-being. This creates a positive feedback loop where empowered women uplift entire communities.

Furthermore, financial inclusion programs for South Asian women play a crucial role in reducing poverty. By helping women access loans, savings accounts and financial education, these programs provide the tools necessary to lift families out of poverty and increase overall economic stability. With greater access to financial resources, women can start businesses, create jobs and contribute to the broader economy.

Investing in Women’s Financial Education

The evidence is clear: investing in financial inclusion for women in South Asia is crucial for sustainable development and poverty reduction. By providing women with the knowledge and tools to manage money, start businesses and access financial services, financial inclusion programs are breaking down the barriers that have traditionally kept women from reaching their full potential. As more women in South Asia gain access to financial resources, they are not only improving their own lives but also contributing to the economic growth and development of their countries.

Empowering women through financial inclusion is a key step toward creating a more equitable and prosperous future for South Asia. With continued investment in women’s financial education, the region is on the path to creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

– Alaya Laila

Alaya is based in Abuja, Nigeria and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Gender and Ethnic Wage Gaps in Ecuador

Gender and Ethnic Wage GapsGender inequality in the labor market manifests itself in many ways, not only regarding salary differences but also often involves women working longer hours in more informal sectors and engaging in higher levels of unpaid work. Despite not being one of the most underperforming Latin American states addressing the gender pay gap, Ecuador was ranked 89th out of 186 countries for gender inequality by the Human Development Index in 2012. This highlights that there is still work to be done to improve opportunities and benefits afforded to women in the workplace.

The Gender Wage Gap

In Ecuador, female workers earn between 13-26% less than men, with women in rural parts of the country estimated to work around 23 hours longer a week than their male counterparts. Women are also more commonly involved in “vulnerable” employment, working without formal arrangements or protections. They are, therefore, reliant on the economy doing well to stay in their job and are more likely to end up in poverty. Since the ’90s, the proportion of women employed in such employment in Ecuador has increased to 61.1%, compared to 43.5% of men, higher than the Latin American average.

Additionally, there is an invisible side to this gender wage disparity. According to data from the Household Satellite Account, “in 2014, unpaid work performed by women in Ecuador represented 15% of GDP.” Thus, the gender wage gap in Ecuador is much more than just differences in earnings; it is the quality of the work and conditions available to women. These gendered differences within the labor market intersect with racial and ethnic discrimination, making life especially difficult for minority women.

Ethnic Wage Gap

Ecuador’s population is diverse, with 1.1 million indigenous citizens from 14 nationalities. Throughout its history, similar to other countries with large Indigenous populations, these groups have suffered marginalization and discrimination. This has significantly impacted the relative prosperity and quality of life of indigenous people. In Ecuador, ethnic wage gaps are considerably higher than gender ones, with Indigenous citizens receiving only 33% of nonindigenous workers’ salaries.

Regarding opportunities, Indigenous people are two to three times less likely to be in stable, specialized careers in countries like Ecuador, where large Indigenous communities live in urban areas. When the gender pay gap intersects with these profound ethnic ones, this inequality becomes even more pronounced, especially for Indigenous women. These groups not only suffer from gender wage gaps but are put at an even more significant disadvantage in comparison to their nonindigenous female counterparts due to racial inequalities. Also, many Indigenous women live in rural areas of Ecuador, meaning they are also affected by the differences in rural and urban working opportunities and conditions.

Addressing Gender and Ethnic Wage Gaps in Ecuador

The Ecuadorian Constitution has attempted to address gender equality, committing itself to eliminating discrimination against women and creating a National Council of Women (CONAMU) focusing on policy directly related to women’s issues. Legislation such as the Law for Equal Pay between Women and Men has obliged employees to pay equal wages to male and female workers in the same jobs. Similarly, the Law to Promote the Violet Economy has expanded on this to promote female participation in sectors where they are often underrepresented.

The government passed an additional gender parity law in 2020, setting quotas to encourage increased female participation in election candidate lists and address the gender imbalance within the government. In 2021, this quota was set at 15% and increased to 30% in 2023. The government hopes that gender parity for electoral candidates will be reached by 2025. These diversity requirements have shown promising progress thus far, with women making up 46.9% of the candidates in the February 2024 subnational elections.

The United Nations (U.N.) has also made significant progress in expanding education provision for women and girls and encouraging female participation in elections. U.N. Women have worked alongside the United Nations Office For Project Services (UNOPS) to develop initiatives to help “national and local administrations incorporate a gender perspective” in the public sector.

This will ensure that the specific needs of women and girls are being addressed across different government sectors to bring Ecuador closer to meeting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The organization has also promoted monetizing unpaid care responsibilities to recognize the additional labor women carry. If this proposal were to come to fruition, it would have significant benefits for Ecuadorian women, who in 2012 carried out around 40 hours of unpaid domestic work a week on top of other work commitments.

Final Remark on Wage Gaps in Ecuador

Despite Ecuador making great strides in improving the gender wage gap, not much is being done to tackle the profound ethnic wage gap that is disadvantageous and limiting ethnic minorities (especially Indigenous people). To ensure that all women earn a fair wage for their work and are valued as much as their male counterparts, addressing this ethnic pay gap alongside gender is crucial. Otherwise, indigenous women and those from other ethnic minorities will be left behind.

– Ciara Howard

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

Photo: Pixabay

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PDF-Africa Addresses Gender Inequality and Youth Unemployment

PDF-AfricaAccording to the United Nations’ (U.N.) latest global gender gap index, Nigeria ranks 130 out of 162 countries in the gender inequality index. Many women, particularly those in rural areas, are being denied access to education and employment, unlike their male counterparts. Additionally, youth unemployment remains high in Nigeria, with more than 50% of young people either unemployed or underemployed, contributing significantly to poverty. Furthermore, PWDs face systemic barriers to education, employment and health care, further deepening impoverishment across communities.

Preston Development Foundation

Preston Development Foundation (PDF-Africa) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives and well-being of individuals, especially women, young adults and PWDs, through sustainable and strategic initiatives. With a mission rooted in sustainable and impactful societal change, the organization focuses on four strategic pillars: Education, Health, Gender Equality and Financial Inclusion. These issues require a multi-faceted strategic methodology. Thus, PDF-Africa adopts a holistic, community-centered approach to tackling challenges in education, health, gender equality and financial inclusion. Its methodology is anchored in collaboration, sustainability and empowerment, focusing on community-driven solutions that encourage individuals and stakeholders to take an active role in community development.

The significance of PDF-Africa works lies in the widespread impact of these changes. Limited access to education, inadequate health, gender discrimination and financial exclusion continue to hinder the progress of vulnerable groups across Nigeria and Africa as a whole. By developing tailored interventions in these areas, PDF-Africa seeks to bridge these gaps, create equitable opportunities and improve overall quality of life. Through a holistic approach, the organization empowers individuals through capacity building and skill acquisition. PDF-Africa aims to help them break free from cycles of poverty and marginalization, fostering long-term development and resilience.

A Combination of Approaches

PDF-Africa implements targeted programs such as training, health education programs and digital literacy programs to address gaps and increase employment opportunities and career choice pathways for adolescents. In addition, the organization conducts public awareness campaigns and outreaches to raise awareness and increase knowledge gain, ensuring that individuals and the community are well-informed to act and make informed decisions.

By utilizing a combination of approaches, PDF-Africa not only addresses the issues in society but also empowers individuals and communities to thrive, act and make informed decisions for themselves. This approach enables PDF-Africa to drive sustainable change within the communities it serves.

Improving Lives

Through targeted interventions in health, education and empowerment, PDF-Africa has made significant strides in improving the lives and well-being of women. These initiatives include enhancing functional literacy, providing young adolescent girls with menstrual hygiene products and awareness and offering training to boost digital literacy in today’s evolving world. As a result, PDF-Africa is expanding opportunities and increasing employability rates among its beneficiaries.

In recent years, PDF-Africa has made strides in expanding access to STEM education for women and girls of color. It has reached more than 180 participants through initiatives like the Yan Matan Arewa Hackathon Initiative and Search Engine Training. Through partnerships with individuals, public schools and tech companies, PDF-Africa has provided participants with resources, materials, computers and financial support to enhance their learning experience and open pathways in STEM fields.

Additionally, PDF-Africa has made a significant impact on the lives and health of girls and women in vulnerable communities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Between 2018 and 2024, PDF-Africa reached more than 4,000 young women and girls across 10 secondary schools and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Abuja, providing essential support and resources. In 2023, the nonprofit organization extended its efforts beyond distributing menstrual hygiene products to include educational campaigns in schools lacking menstrual health knowledge.

Conclusion

PDF-Africa’s comprehensive, community-centered approach is making strides in reducing gender inequality, improving youth employment prospects and fostering inclusion for marginalized groups in Nigeria. Through targeted interventions in education, health, gender equality and financial inclusion, PDF-Africa empowers individuals and communities to break cycles of poverty and marginalization. By equipping women, young adults and PWDs with the skills and resources they need to thrive, the initiative is not only enhancing lives but also driving long-term, sustainable development across Nigeria.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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3 Ways Mothers Can Be Lifted Out of Poverty

MothersPoverty disproportionately affects women, particularly mothers. For instance, in 2017, 20% of women in the United Kingdom (U.K.) were living in poverty compared to 18% of men. Additionally, 90% of single mothers experience poverty. While the proportion of men facing poverty has decreased in recent years, the rate for women has remained stalled. Here are some of the ways mothers can be lifted out of poverty:

Better Provision for the Essential Living Costs

Governments can address poverty by improving support for essential living costs faced by families. By covering expenses for heating and electricity through targeted schemes for the most vulnerable, working families can make fewer sacrifices. Such programs would eliminate the difficulty of buying groceries and maintaining a warm home. This support would enable families to focus more on spending quality time with their children and provide mothers with much-needed respite.

Child Care Provisions

Child care provisions also provide a hopeful potential solution. High child care costs act as a key barrier for parents who work. Fees are an additional financial factor that particularly impacts lower-income parents during school holidays. Suppose countries can implement better universal child care provisions. In that case, the gap between accessibility for low- and high-income parents can be closed. Parents can focus on work and career progression, leading to better wages for their families. Children can interact with other children and develop their creativity and imagination. Creating these schemes will, therefore, benefit both the parents and the children. 

Turning to a success story, Sweden works as a model for other countries, providing hope that these solutions are attainable when put into practice. The “income packaging” approach to the welfare state adopted in Scandinavian countries promotes female involvement in the world of work. By providing children’s allowances, mothers can focus on work rather than entirely on ensuring that child care measures are in place. This enables greater career progression and mothers to work more hours rather than being confined to part-time roles due to child care commitments. 

Income Transfers and Support for Parents in Employment

Implementing schemes with more generous income transfers and support for working parents has effectively reduced poverty. In countries like the U.K., where social transfer systems are limited, support for vulnerable working families falls short, resulting in higher poverty rates. In contrast, Scandinavian countries provide more comprehensive support for single mothers. This targeted approach ensures that the assistance is more effective and beneficial. Additionally, the direct benefits can be assessed more efficiently, allowing for easier adjustments and improvements as needed.

Final Remark

The changes required to lift mothers and their children out of poverty are achievable. With a global commitment to supporting this group, effective tax redistribution and improved support schemes can help break the cycle of poverty. By implementing these measures, future generations of families can be lifted out of poverty and provided with greater opportunities for a better life.

   – Sarah Littleton

Sarah Littleton is based in London, U.K. and focuses on Good News, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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What You Need to Know about Child Marriage in Iraqi Kurdistan

Child Marriage in Iraqi KurdistanChild marriage remains a significant issue in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. It occurs in regions where poverty is prevalent, such as India, Africa and the Middle East. Campaigns and legislative frameworks have been implemented to combat the issue.

Prevalence

Data from Iraq’s Central Bureau of Statistics showed that 5% of Iraqi girls were married before the age of 15, while approximately 22% of Iraqi girls married before they turned 18. Child marriage contracts in the Kurdistan region are often concluded informally outside the courts. The marriages are not formally registered, leading to the underreporting of actual rates. There are international legal instruments and local laws that set a minimum age for marriage and require registration. However, enforcement of these laws is often weak. This allows informal marriages to occur without legal repercussions.

Key Drivers of Child Marriage

Several factors contribute to child marriage in Iraqi Kurdistan.

  1. Conflict and Displacement: Conflict and displacement exacerbate vulnerabilities, leading families to marry off daughters to reduce economic burdens.
  2. Cultural and Social Norms: Traditional beliefs and social pressures can impact this. Some communities may view early marriage as ensuring their daughter’s future and protecting her family’s honor.
  3. Gender inequalities: Deep-rooted gender inequality and gender biases subordinate the status of women and girls in societies that perpetuate the practices.

Risks of Child Marriage

Young girls who marry as children face numerous risks. They are vulnerable to health issues as a consequence of rape, early pregnancy and premature childbirth. Psychologically, they may suffer from social isolation enforced by their families and domestic violence. Despite legal measures, violence and rape remain prevalent in child marriages due to inadequate official responses.

In Iraq, although rape is criminalized, charges can be dropped if the victim marries the perpetrator. Moreover, since spousal rape is not criminalized, domestic violence is seldom reported, with families often resolving issues privately.

Legal Contexts

“The Personal Status Law and Amendments 1987 sets the legal age for marriage at 18”. However, judges can permit girls as young as 15 to marry under certain circumstances, for example, parental consent if the marriage is deemed as being in the best interests of the girl. This contributes to the prevalence of child marriage in the region. Proposed bill changes to Iraq’s Personal Status Law recently alarmed women and children’s rights campaigners.

The proposed amendments would allow Muslim citizens to choose between secular and religious laws for family matters, potentially legalizing child marriage for girls as young as 9. Furthermore, these amendments would undermine existing protections for women regarding divorce and inheritance. These changes could institutionalize sectarianism in family law and empower religious authorities, raising significant concerns among women and children’s rights advocates. On July 28, 2024, a group of activists, including campaigners from the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), gathered in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square in opposition to the bill.

Actions Taken

In 2016, an Inter-Ministerial committee in Kurdistan adopted a plan to change societal attitudes toward child marriage. The plan included launching a campaign called “Ensuring My Future.” The campaign emphasized the direct link between empowering young boys and girls and reducing child marriage rates. It also challenged the misconception that child marriage secures a girl’s future. The plan targets young girls, adolescent girls and parents by showcasing success stories of women in various professional fields to inspire girls to pursue education and careers. Additionally, religious and health arguments are used to persuade families to abandon the practice of marrying their daughters at a young age.

A Child Marriage Task Force was established in Kurdistan in 2016. The task force has representation from child protection and gender-based violence working groups to coordinate responses and provide guidance. It focuses on prevention strategies, policy recommendations, awareness raising, and improving data collection to address the issue in the region effectively.

There is also an increased collaboration between international organizations, local nongovernmental organizations and government bodies to address child marriage. Initiatives like the Global Programme to End Child Marriage, implemented by the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are working to create sustainable change by addressing the root causes of child marriage and supporting affected girls.

These include a comprehensive approach that empowers girls with education and life skills. Furthermore, it engages communities to challenge harmful norms, strengthens support systems and services, advocates for protective policies, and emphasizes data collection. UNICEF has reported that the collaborative efforts of various organizations fighting against child marriage, including Girls Not Brides, have successfully averted 25 million arranged child marriages.

Final Remark

Progress has been made to eradicate child marriage in Iraqi Kurdistan. However, continued efforts are needed to empower girls and shift societal norms to ensure a future where every child can enjoy their right to a safe and fulfilling childhood.

– Hannah Ravariere

Hannah is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr