When Women Thrive, Economies Rise

Evidence from the Global South shows why women’s economic empowerment is smart policy

The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is “Give to Gain”. It calls on governments, organisations, and communities to give resources, visibility, infrastructure, education and training, support, and opportunities to women in order to advance gender equality. 

For policymakers and development partners, equality between women and men is not only a question of fairness, it is also sound economic policy. When women have the same access to education, resources, and decision-making as men, they contribute more fully to businesses, communities, and national economies. 

Research supported by PEP across Africa, Asia, and Latin America consistently shows that supporting women’s economic empowerment and participation leads to higher productivity, stronger growth, and more resilient societies.

The evidence also shows that progress depends on policies that address the real constraints women face.

Care work: A hidden constraint on growth

In many countries, women carry most of the responsibility for childcare and household work. This unpaid care limits the time and flexibility they have to take up stable, well-paid employment. As a result, many women work in informal or low-productivity jobs that offer flexibility but little security or income growth.

Evidence from Burkina Faso illustrates the economic significance of this constraint. Local PEP researchers compared policy options aiming to increase women’s participation in the labour market. They found that subsidising childcare services is more beneficial to women and their families than providing direct cash transfers. Affordable childcare allows women to engage in paid work on a sustained basis, increasing household income and supporting broader economic growth.

Expanding opportunity through education & skills

Education and training are powerful drivers of economic advancement. Higher levels of schooling, especially post-secondary education, increase women’s chances of accessing stable and better-paid employment. Vocational training is similarly important for increasing earnings, but the type of training and the way it is delivered are key to its impact.

In Kenya, researchers examined a vocational training programme that included soft-skills development, such as communication, confidence, and job search strategies. Young women who participated earned more and found jobs more quickly. The programme also influenced young men’s attitudes about women’s right to work, showing that well-designed training can support economic outcomes and gradual social change.

However, education and training are not sufficient on their own. Many women have high levels of education in Peruand the Philippines, yet weak childcare systems and persistent expectations about gender roles limit their employment opportunities. While skills open doors, supportive policies are needed to translate those opportunities into real employment.

Increasing agricultural productivity

In rural economies, access to land, inputs, and knowledge shapes productivity. Women farmers often have less secure land rights and less access to extension services and new technologies. This limits both their own output and national agricultural performance.

Research from Benin illustrates how targeted design can change this dynamic. In a study of soy contract farming, programmes that deliberately included women reduced knowledge gaps within households and increased productivity. When women received direct access to information and resources, overall farm performance improved.

In Tanzania, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, such as improved seeds and soil management techniques, increased yields for both men and women. The gender productivity gap remained mainly among farmers who did not adopt these technologies, underscoring the importance of equal access to innovation.

Simulation analysis in Cameroon further shows that improving women’s access to arable land and subsidised vocational training can support long-term structural transformation. Secure land rights encourage investment, which in turn increases productivity and supports economic growth.

Gender equality in agriculture is therefore closely linked to national productivity and food security.

Building resilience

Women are overrepresented in informal employment and small-scale agriculture. These sectors are often the most exposed to economic downturns and climate variability. When crises occur, women typically have fewer resources to support themselves: fewer savings, less access to credit, and weaker asset ownership.

By strengthening women’s access to land, skills, childcare, and productive assets, governments increase households’ capacity to absorb shocks. More diversified and stable income sources enhance community resilience, contributing directly to macroeconomic stability.

From participation to quality employment

In many countries, women are working but in low-productivity or insecure jobs. Real empowerment requires access to decent work, meaning employment that offers fair pay, stability, and prospects for advancement.

The combined evidence from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Benin, Tanzania, Peru, the Philippines, and Cameroon shows that quality employment depends on removing multiple, interconnected structural barriers. Affordable childcare enables sustained participation. Skills training improves employability and earnings. Secure land rights and access to technology increase productivity. 

When these constraints are addressed together, women move into more productive roles. Household incomes grow. Children’s health and education improve. Agricultural systems become more efficient. The wider economy benefits from higher output, increased consumption, improved human capital, and greater resilience.

Women’s economic empowerment is, therefore, a strategic economic choice.

This International Women’s Day, the evidence from the Global South is clear: when women thrive, economies rise.