Sulekha Patel The World Bank Gender indicators in policy making, monitoring and evaluation: A World Bank perspective Sulekha Patel The World Bank

Outline of presentation Elements of gender equality Advance gender equality: business case How does the Bank measure progress? MDGs Prospective MDG indicators Gender Action Plan

Key Elements of Gender Equality Leveling the field of opportunities Gender equality in rights, resources, and voice Household Household resource and task allocations, fertility decisions Economy & Markets Access to land, financial services, labor markets, technology Society Civic and political participation Domains of choices, domains for policy This figure presents a framework that ties together key elements of gender equality* (*Source – Global Monitoring Report 2007) In the household, evidence suggests that increased gender equality between men and women changes the allocation of household expenditures, resulting in a larger share of resources devoted to children’s education and health. In the market, gender inequality is reflected in unequal access to land, credit, and labor markets, and in significantly less access to new production technologies. In society, gender inequality is expressed as restrictions to women’s participation in civic and political life. In addition to improving individuals’ lives, increased gender equality can contribute to better aggregate economic performance. Aggregate economic performance (poverty reduction, growth)

Framework : Key Elements of Gender Equality Ties together key elements of gender equality* In the household: increased gender equality between men and women changes the allocation of HH expenditures, resulting in a larger share of resources devoted to children’s education and health. In the market: gender inequality is reflected in unequal access to land, credit, and labor markets, and in significantly less access to new production technologies. In society: gender inequality is expressed as restrictions to women’s participation in civic and political life. In addition to improving individuals’ lives, increased gender equality can contribute to better aggregate economic performance. *Source – WB Global Monitoring Report 2007

Advance Gender Equality: business case Countries are falling behind their commitment to meet the MDGs Gains in women’s economic opportunities lag behind those on women’s capabilities Lack of women’s empowerment: Imperils growth and poverty reduction Less favourable education and health outcomes for children Rapid spread of HIV/AIDS

How does the Bank measure progress? MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Official Indicators Target 3A: Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education by no later than 2015 Household Economy and market Society Ratio of girls’ to boys’ enrollment in primary, secondary, and tertiary education Share of women in wage employ-ment in the non-agricultural sector Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG3 Effect on Other MDGs Gender equality and women’s empowerment are channels to attaining other MDGs — universal primary education (MDG2A), lower under-five mortality (MDG4A), improved maternal health (MDG5A and B), lower likelihood of contracting HIV/AIDS (MDG6A), Reduce biodiversity loss (MDG7B).

Limitations of the Official MDG3 Indicators Only partially measure gender equality Do not monitor key elements of gender equality (health outcomes and disparities in access to productive resources such as land, credit, and technology) Inadequate measurement of empowerment National-level indicators can veil inequalities between particular subgroups

How does the Bank measure progress? Prospective MDG 3 Indicators Household Economy and markets Society Test scores, male and female Gender gap in wages Percentage voting by male, female, and ratio Proportion of women who have ever been victims of physical violence by an intimate male partner Share of women in informal wage and self-employment in nonagricultural employment Proportion of women in the executive branch Percent of employed women who have access to child care Percentage of individuals who possess basic citizenship documents, female, and ratio Business by average size and sex of owner Access to credit for women and men Land ownership by female, male, and jointly held

The Gender Action Plan Framework Addresses directly the gap between women’s capabilities and economic opportunities Makes markets work for women Identifies and implements policy measures to level playing field for women and improve policy and institutional environment for women Empowers women to compete in the markets Four markets have been identified: Product; Land; Labour; and Financial

The Gender Action Plan Framework: Product Market Policy level Form women’s business, purchasing, and transport associations Increase access to business services for women entrepreneurs Increase access to ICT Increase access to credit and financial services Provide business start-up grants Agency level Reduce time and monetary costs of formalising enterprises Include female-owned business and farms in supply chains Provide information to women entrepreneurs on potential export markets and trade agreements

The Gender Action Plan Framework: Land Market Policy level Conduct social marketing of property rights legislation Solicit women’s input into legislative changes on land holding and titling Ensure women’s full participation in land adjudication and registration processes Involve women and groups in local natural resource management Agency level Promote joint titling Reform laws restricting women’s right to inherit or own land Co-ordinate titling with such support services as credit and training

The Gender Action Plan Framework: Labour Market Policy level Increase women’s access to existing training programmes Ensure non-discrimination in labour intermediation services Provide quality day care and reduce their services Agency level Introduce legislation promoting women’s employment (part-time work and anti-discrimination) Socialise costs of maternity leave Certify good gender practices in firms Engender public works programmes

The Gender Action Plan Framework: Financial Markets Policy level Support self help groups Provide gender-sensitive business services Provide market-based financial intermediation services Agency level Reform financial institutions to increase women’s access to financial services Reform laws regarding rights to property Offer commercial credit lines and financial services for women

Access to what? Financial institutions and services

Barriers to access: Involuntary exclusion for users of formal financial services Price and non-price barriers associated with deposit, credit and payment services: Physical access Services being delivered in fewer and less convenient ways Eligibility Documents and other requirements to process services Affordability Fees (insufficient income, high risk) Discrimination

Voluntary self exclusion: Barriers to access: Voluntary exclusion for users of formal financial services Voluntary self exclusion: No need Particularly older individuals Cultural/religious reasons May be due to lack of appropriate products Indirect access

Infrastructure Infrastructure increases women’s access to all four markets Need to look at infrastructure in a gendered way Women’s priorities are closely linked to their roles in and out of the household Different from, or in additional to, the priorities of men Potential impacts Direct impact on women’s health and well-being Transmit benefits to other members of family Health Education Mixed evidence on labour force participation

Infrastructure modules Modules will show value-added in gendered approach to infrastructure, and indicators for tracking progress Modules available: Water and sanitation Urban Transport Mining Energy ICT

Example of indicators for mining sector Employment Percentage of supervisory positions held by women in mining companies Percentage of managerial positions held by women in mining companies Ratio of pay for women and men for the same type of work in mining companies Impact Percentage of women who report that access to clean water has been reduced Number of water related illnesses reported at the local health center

The Gender Action Plan: How does it work? Produce observable results in reasonable time frame Tailor actions to country realities+ Strengthen statistics on women’s economic participation: Essential for making their contributions to the economy visible Essential for measuring results

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