Gender inequality in Burkina Faso is pronounced, particularly in the labor market, where women are underrepresented in formal employment and overburdened with domestic responsibilities. A team of local PEP researchers found that subsidizing childcare services significantly increases women’s employment, particularly for skilled women, while improving household well-being. In contrast, increasing cash transfers to poor rural households, though boosting consumption, reduces women’s participation in the workforce. Providing childcare subsidies would empower women by lowering their domestic burden and encouraging active participation in the labor market, leading to broader economic benefits.
Find out more about the research methods, findings, and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
