## Why a Gender Lens Matters: Unlocking Solutions to Macroeconomic Challenges

_Gender Notes, October 18, 2024_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Why a Gender Lens Matters: Unlocking Solutions to Macroeconomic Challenges](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gender-notes/issues/2024/10/18/why-a-gender-lens-matters-unlocking-solutions-to-macroeconomic-challenges-556377)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/gender-notes/issues/2024/10/18/why-a-gender-lens-matters-unlocking-solutions-to-macroeconomic-challenges-556377/index.md)
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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Lisa L Kolovich, Monique Newiak, Diego B. P. Gomes, Jiajia Gu, Vivian Malta, Dr. Jorge Mondragon
- Published: October 18, 2024
- Series: Gender Notes
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400289538.067

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### Summary
- IMF staff argue that applying a gender lens to macroeconomic policy can amplify the impact of reform packages designed to address major macroeconomic questions.
- Key areas of attention highlighted are: strengthening legal rights, gendered aspects of fiscal policy, and enhancing women’s work–life choices, including through structural reforms.
- Capacity development to assist member countries has grown and, to date, has centered on integrating gender into public financial management systems through gender budgeting.
- Authors: Lisa L Kolovich, Monique Newiak, Diego B. P. Gomes, Jiajia Gu, Vivian Malta, Dr. Jorge Mondragon.
- Publication date noted: October 18, 2024.

### Key findings
- Strengthening legal rights is identified as a central element for improving gender outcomes in macroeconomic contexts.
- Fiscal policy has gendered aspects that warrant explicit attention when designing macroeconomic packages.
- Enhancing women’s work–life choices is crucial and can be advanced via structural reforms.
- Gender budgeting and integration of gender into public financial management systems are the principal focus of current capacity development efforts.

### Policy recommendations and reform priorities
- Prioritize reforms that strengthen legal rights affecting gender equality.
- Integrate gender considerations explicitly into fiscal policy design and analysis.
- Implement structural reforms that enhance women’s work–life choices (for example, reforms that address barriers to labor force participation and work flexibility).
- Scale up capacity development that embeds gender into public financial management systems, with gender budgeting as a core tool.

### Capacity development and tools
- Current capacity development centered on integrating gender into public financial management systems through gender budgeting.
- The note highlights demand for expanded macro-gender tools and capacity support to help member countries implement gender-aware reforms.

*https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gender-notes/issues/2024/10/18/why-a-gender-lens-matters-unlocking-solutions-to-macroeconomic-challenges-556377*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Why a Gender Lens Matters: Unlocking Solutions to Macroeconomic Challenges**
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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gender-notes/issues/2024/10/18/why-a-gender-lens-matters-unlocking-solutions-to-macroeconomic-challenges-556377_