Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities

Selected Issues Papers, May 17, 2024

Source details

Canonical URL

Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities

Other formats

• Markdown version
• Structured JSON version
• Bundle manifest

Bibliographic details

• Authors: Can Sever
• Published: May 17, 2024
• Series: Selected Issues Papers
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400276811.018

Summary

• This paper documents the current state of gender inequalities in the WAEMU by focusing on outcomes (health, education, labor market and financial inclusion) and opportunities (economic rights).
• Findings show that despite significant progress toward gender equality over the last three decades, there are still prevalent gender-based disparities that prevent women from fulfilling their economic potential.
• Both empirical and model-based estimates suggest that the WAEMU can reap substantial economic gains by mitigating the existing gender gaps in schooling and labor market outcomes.
• Achieving gender equality is identified as a macro-critical goal for the region.
• The need for specific policies supportive of gender equality may vary by member country, but a multifaceted and holistic approach is needed to unleash the related economic potential in the WAEMU as a whole.

Key Findings on Outcomes and Opportunities

• Outcomes analyzed: health, education, labor market, and financial inclusion.
• Opportunities analyzed: economic rights.
• Progress: Significant progress toward gender equality over the last three decades.
• Persisting gaps: Prevalent gender-based disparities remain across the examined domains, constraining women's economic potential.

Economic Gains and Modeling Results

• Both empirical and model-based estimates indicate substantial economic gains for the WAEMU if existing gender gaps in schooling and labor market outcomes are mitigated.
• Policy implication: Gender equality has direct macro-critical importance for the region’s economic performance.

Policy Implications and Recommendations

• A multifaceted and holistic policy approach is recommended to unlock the economic potential associated with gender equality in the WAEMU.
• Policy design should be tailored to each member country's specific needs while maintaining region-wide coordination to address cross-cutting barriers to gender equality.

Content in this bundle

• Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities
  • Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities (Markdown version)
  • Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities (PDF)