International Women's Day 2021—Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world

As we mark International Women’s Day, we celebrate women’s roles in the significant-but-unfinished progress towards gender equality and recognize the leadership and contributions of women in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, data indicate that gender gaps are widening following the pandemic and its effects, and that gains in women’s and girls’ accumulation of human capital, economic empowerment, and voice and agency, painstakingly built over past decades risk reversing.

The good news is that women are stepping up – alongside men - to both mitigate and reverse these effects. They are using innovation and new knowledge to put women at the center of building more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economies which can better withstand future shocks.

Here are some inspiring global examples and helpful resources to learn more and get engaged. 

Africa WB Live Event: Why Investing in Women and Girls Matter Now More than Ever Blog: Why investing in women and girls matters now more than ever	East Asia & the Pacific Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World Blog: Empowering women for resilient recovery in East Asia and Pacific	Europe & Central Asia Campaign: Gender Equality in Europe and Central Asia Blog: To the inspiring women of Central Asia: Thank you!

Latin America & Caribbean  Blog: A year of reflection and action, but not of celebration Resource: Gender Innovation Lab	Middle East & North Africa Event: “Preventing another lost decade in MENA through Women’s Economic Empowerment” Blog: Legal reforms are key — but not enough — to empowering women across MENA	South Asia Campaign: South Asian Women Leaders For Change Blog: COVID-19 propels South Asian women entrepreneurs into the digital economy