International Women's Day 2026 - Jobs for Women, Growth for All
On International Women's Day 2026, we celebrate the transformative power of connecting women and girls to skills development, quality jobs, and economic opportunities across Eastern and Southern Africa. Creating jobs is the surest way to give people hope for the future and lift entire communities out of poverty — and when those opportunities reach women, the benefits extend far beyond the individual, to their families, their communities, and can generate growth for the whole economy. We are shining a spotlight on what is being done to connect women to employment, equip them with the skills for the 21st century, and remove barriers to their participation in the labor force.
Women and girls across Eastern and Southern Africa are more educated and skilled than ever before, yet barriers to full economic participation persist. If women participated in the labor force at the same rate as men, long-run income per capita across the developing world could be 20% higher. The stories and investments highlighted here — from Somalia to Uganda, South Sudan to Angola — show that when women work, communities prosper and economies grow.
At the World Bank Group, our ultimate goal is to help countries build economies that convert growth into local jobs. To accelerate job creation at scale, we invest in the foundational physical and human infrastructure for jobs, support a business-friendly environment, and mobilize private capital. Below is a sample of the many ways in which countries across Eastern and Southern Africa are working, with World Bank support, to put more women to work, build their skills, and expand their economic futures.
Key Numbers: Women & Jobs in Africa
20% - Potential increase in long-run GDP per capita if gender employment gaps were closed
$2.2B - GDP that could be unlocked in Ethiopia alone by closing gender gaps in farming and entrepreneurship
41% - Likelihood that a girl in Eastern & Southern Africa is enrolled in secondary education
4% - Economic cost of gender-based violence as a share of GDP that could be eliminated
Expanding Women's Entrepreneurship
Eastern and Southern Africa has a long tradition of social protection services for vulnerable populations. More than cash transfers, these services encompass a set of policies and programs designed to increase job skills, foster efficient labor markets, and promote entrepreneurship — connecting women to safety nets and sustainable economic opportunity.
Communities experience significant benefits when women are included and empowered—especially when they can improve their skills and access financial markets. Visit the Angola Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC), where women like Rebeca are creating local employment and driving agricultural transformation.
Jolly Okot, a former war abductee from Northern Uganda, now leads a growing network of women entrepreneurs through WEND Africa. Visit the project to see her production facility that is expanding and offering skills, equipment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Skills Development for the 21st Century
Digital technologies and vocational training are reshaping economies, and with them, the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future. Yet gender gaps in digital literacy and technical training persist and women and girls are still underrepresented in information and communication technology (ICT) education and careers. The World Bank Group is working with partners to close the digital divide, including programs to increase digital skills, expand the use of digital platforms and services, and create more inclusive digital public infrastructure.
Visit projects where Ethiopia's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reforms are empowering women with practical, market-relevant skills—aligning training programs with the demands of the labor market, the reforms are opening more pathways to employment.
The World Bank–supported Rajo Kaaba ("Building Hope") Program is providing scholarships for Somali women and girls for higher education in nursing, midwifery, and education across 25 universities. Visit and see how the project is working to equip thousands of women, girls, and youth with technical and vocational skills to enhance employment and entrepreneurship.
For women, a digital ID opens the door to financial independence—enabling access to banking, government services, and social protection. Visit this Digital ID project that is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive digital economy and expanded opportunities for women-owned enterprises.
Safety Nets That Lead to Jobs: Cash Transfers and Economic Recovery
In fragile and conflict-affected settings, targeted cash transfer programs are proving to be a powerful platform—for immediate relief and for launching women into sustainable economic activity. When women receive financial support and complementary services, they invest in their families, start businesses, and begin to build economic independence.
In South Sudan, a World Bank-funded project—locally known as Shabaka Meisha—is changing lives and demonstrates that safety nets can empower resilience and fuel hope even in fragile contexts. Visit and see how women like Betty, Marlin, and Josephine are turning cash transfers into small businesses.
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