Despite advances in skills and education, women’s labor force participation has been stuck at 53% since 1990.
h2-large
This isn't just about fairness. When half the population is locked out, development stalls.
lp-heading-bottom-xxhuge
A path for women to earn, contribute and lead
A broadband connection can unlock work and income, yet millions of women remain offline and excluded from the digital economy. Gaps in social protection, including limited income support and unaffordable care push millions of women out of the labor force and hold back national progress. At the same time, lack of access to credit is holding women led businesses back from growing and hiring.
By focusing on digital use, social protection and access to capital, we can help dismantle these systemic obstacles and create real opportunities for women, strengthening local and national economies.
background-image
Opening digital doors
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Building
secure lives
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Financing
new futures
true
lp lp-popup
true
Our targets
By concentrating on these areas, we can break down deep rooted barriers and create more jobs.
250M MORE
Women supported through social protection
true
80M MORE
Women empowered through access to capital
true
How women grow economies
h2-large
Women’s economic lives look different from place to place. But when women earn, build businesses, and step into leadership, the effects extend beyond individual households, into their communities and beyond.
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-xlarge
The path to unlocking
women’s potential.
h2-large
This is not an individual problem. It’s a systemic one. Solving it requires a coordinated effort between the public and private sectors. Our plan focuses on three areas:
false
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-huge
background-color
Build the foundation
Health and learning, safety, legal reforms
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-color
Expand access to opportunity
Connectivity, childcare, financial inclusion
true
lp lp-external-link
true
background-color
Harness the power of the private sector
Investment, markets, supply chains, workplaces
true
lp lp-external-link
true
Opportunity changes everything
h2-large
Progress is already taking hold. Across sectors, women are turning new skills, tools, and protections into meaningful work. These gains ripple outward, strengthening local industries, reducing poverty and building more resilient economies.
false
lp-heading-bottom-none
background-image
NORTH MACEDONIA
Care Economy
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Angola
Agribusiness
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Somalia
Construction
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Algeria
Digital Entrepreneurship
true
lp lp-popup
true
background-image
Georgia
Technology & Innovation
true
lp lp-popup
true
Partnerships power progress
h2-large
No single institution can unlock women’s potential alone. Progress depends on partners who can shape policy, mobilize capital, and deliver solutions at scale. Together, we can turn opportunity into jobs and lasting growth.
false
lp-heading-bottom-none
background-image
Government and
policy leaders
true
lp lp-external-link
true
background-image
Private sector
and investor
true
lp lp-external-link
true
background-image
.avif){kind=link}
Development partners and global initiatives
true
lp lp-external-link
true
Working as One World Bank Group
h2-large
The Gender Department works across the World Bank Group to align this effort with our mission to empower people and strengthen economies. IBRD and IDA support policy reforms and systems that expand women’s opportunities. IFC opens private-sector markets and financing. MIGA helps de-risk investments that can create jobs for women. And ICSID strengthens investor confidence through legal stability.
lp-heading-top-none
lp-heading-bottom-none
background-image
Across the Bank
Center for Research on Women and Jobs (CRWJ)
true
lp lp-external-link
true
background-image
IFC
Empowering women
true
lp lp-external-link
true
top left
background-image
MIGA
Advancing gender equality
true
lp lp-popup
true
Halima Abukar
Somali construction worker
“My neighbors used to say construction wasn’t for women. Now, they ask me how to join! There’s no such thing as ‘men’s work’ or ‘women’s work. If you have the skill and determination, you can do anything.”
false
Stay involved
h2-large
Dive deeper into the data, programs, and conversations driving women’s economic progress worldwide.
false
heading-border-spacing-default
View Resources & Events
secondary
For general and specific inquiries
Contact Us
Dani Clark
false