Mend the Gap in Economic Opportunities in Europe and Central Asia

Despite progress over the past decades, significant gender gaps in labor force participation, entrepreneurship, and access to economic opportunities persist across Europe and Central Asia. Women continue to face structural barriers, including unequal access to productive resources, discriminatory social norms, and unequal caregiving responsibilities. These disparities not only limit individual potential but also hinder broader economic growth and resilience. Addressing them requires evidence-based, context-specific solutions.

To advance this agenda, this workshop aims to serve as a platform for evidence-based policy dialogue on strategies to foster women's economic empowerment, labor force participation, and entrepreneurship. The invitation-only event is organized by the World Bank, in collaboration with the Axa Gender Lab at Bocconi University, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), and LABOUR: Review of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations.