Around the world, women are reshaping economies and are drivers of economic growth. Yet, too many women still face barriers that prevent them from unlocking their full economic potential. This is a missed opportunity. At the World Bank Group, we take a comprehensive approach—laying the foundation through investments in education, health, and legal reform; building a ladder of opportunity through access to services, markets, and capital, and harnessing the power of the private sector to scale impact and drive innovation.

The SWEDD project in the Sahel and West Africa has helped over 2 million women and girls in developing their skills, health, and safety, and economic opportunities. In India, the Tamil Nadu Women Employment and Safety Program is enhancing care and safety services to support the employment of 1.6 million women. The IFC Banking on Women has invested over $10 billion in 307 financial institutions across 83 countries since 2012 to finance women-led enterprises. Since 2021, MIGA’s Guarantee Platform has committed over $2 billion in lending to women-owned MSMEs. Through this interconnected approach, women are gaining the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to access better jobs, grow their businesses, and drive economic growth.