## 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](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/05/16/gender-inequality-in-the-waemu-548997)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/05/16/gender-inequality-in-the-waemu-548997/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/05/16/gender-inequality-in-the-waemu-548997/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/05/16/gender-inequality-in-the-waemu-548997/bundle-manifest.json)

## 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)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2024/english/sipea2024016.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Gender Inequality in the WAEMU: Current Situation and Opportunities (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2024/english/sipea2024016.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2024/05/16/gender-inequality-in-the-waemu-548997_