World Bank: Addressing Gender Issues in Developing Nations By Daniel Stephenson

World Bank Refresher on background Refresher on background Founded in 1944 Founded in 1944 Provided $17.3 million to country clients in 2001 Provided $17.3 million to country clients in 2001 Owned by more than 180 member countries Owned by more than 180 member countries Mission Mission To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. Economic Economic

The Relevance of Gender Gender-responsive development actions justified because they help to fulfill this mission Gender-responsive development actions justified because they help to fulfill this mission

Basis for World Bank’s Work Countries which promote women’s rights and increase their access to resources and schooling enjoy lower poverty rates, faster economic growth and less corruption than countries that do not. Countries which promote women’s rights and increase their access to resources and schooling enjoy lower poverty rates, faster economic growth and less corruption than countries that do not.

Basis continued.. Gender inequality hurts all members of society Gender inequality hurts all members of society Smaller gaps between women and men = Smaller gaps between women and men = Lower child malnutrition and mortality Lower child malnutrition and mortality Greater transparency in business and government Greater transparency in business and government Faster economic growth Faster economic growth All these in turn narrow the gender gap! All these in turn narrow the gender gap!

Basis continued.. Increasing gender equality is not only central to the idea of development of freedom and control that people have over their lives, but evidence shows that education, health, productivity, credit and governance work better when women are involved. – Nicholas Stern, WB Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Increasing gender equality is not only central to the idea of development of freedom and control that people have over their lives, but evidence shows that education, health, productivity, credit and governance work better when women are involved. – Nicholas Stern, WB Chief Economist and Senior Vice President

Gender Inequalities Voice Voice Education Education Resources Resources

Examples: Economic Growth In Africa improving rural women’s access to productive resources including education, land, and fertilizer could increase agricultural productivity by as much as one-fifth In Africa improving rural women’s access to productive resources including education, land, and fertilizer could increase agricultural productivity by as much as one-fifth

Examples: Economic Growth In Bangladesh, micro credit provided to women has higher returns in terms of raising household consumption (income) than the same credit provided to men. In Bangladesh, micro credit provided to women has higher returns in terms of raising household consumption (income) than the same credit provided to men.

Examples: Governance Cross country studies show that where women have greater rights and play a greater role in public life, levels of corruption in government are lower. Cross country studies show that where women have greater rights and play a greater role in public life, levels of corruption in government are lower.

Examples: Governance In the Republic of Georgia a study of 350 firms showed that firms owned or managed by women are significantly less likely to make unofficial payments to government officials (bribes) than those owned or managed by men. In the Republic of Georgia a study of 350 firms showed that firms owned or managed by women are significantly less likely to make unofficial payments to government officials (bribes) than those owned or managed by men.

Examples: Well-Being Greater equality in education means healthier families. If African women and men had more equal schooling, child mortality would have been 25% lower than it was in Greater equality in education means healthier families. If African women and men had more equal schooling, child mortality would have been 25% lower than it was in 1990.

Examples: Well-Being A cross-country study of 63 countries finds that gains in women’s education made the single largest contribution to declines in malnutrition in , accounting for 43% of the total. A cross-country study of 63 countries finds that gains in women’s education made the single largest contribution to declines in malnutrition in , accounting for 43% of the total.

Examples: Well-Being Smaller gender gaps in literacy translates into lower HIV infection rates, even after accounting for the effects of per capita income and other factors known to affect HIV prevalence. Smaller gender gaps in literacy translates into lower HIV infection rates, even after accounting for the effects of per capita income and other factors known to affect HIV prevalence.

Examples: Well-Being Women’s income, not just education matters. In Brazil, income in the hands of mothers has four times the impact on child nutrition than the same income in the hands of fathers. Similar patterns are seen in Bangladesh and others Women’s income, not just education matters. In Brazil, income in the hands of mothers has four times the impact on child nutrition than the same income in the hands of fathers. Similar patterns are seen in Bangladesh and others

World Bank’s Strategy work with governments and civil society in client countries, and with other donors, to diagnose the gender-related barriers to and opportunities for poverty reduction and sustainable development; and will then identify and support appropriate actions to reduce these barriers and capitalize on the opportunities work with governments and civil society in client countries, and with other donors, to diagnose the gender-related barriers to and opportunities for poverty reduction and sustainable development; and will then identify and support appropriate actions to reduce these barriers and capitalize on the opportunities

Strategy continued.. Guiding Principles: Guiding Principles: country specific country specific country led country led supportive but proactive role supportive but proactive role

Strategy continued.. Basic Process has 3 Steps Basic Process has 3 Steps Identify. Prepare, for each country in which the Bank has an active lending program, a periodic, Country Gender Assessment analyzing the gender dimensions of development across sectors and identifying the gender-responsive actions that are important for poverty reduction, economic growth, human well-being and development effectiveness, and use it to inform the Bank’s country assistance program; Identify. Prepare, for each country in which the Bank has an active lending program, a periodic, Country Gender Assessment analyzing the gender dimensions of development across sectors and identifying the gender-responsive actions that are important for poverty reduction, economic growth, human well-being and development effectiveness, and use it to inform the Bank’s country assistance program;

Strategy continued.. Develop and implement, as part of the country assistance program, priority policy and operational interventions (if any) that respond to the CGA; and Develop and implement, as part of the country assistance program, priority policy and operational interventions (if any) that respond to the CGA; and

Strategy Monitor the implementation and results of these policy and operational interventions Monitor the implementation and results of these policy and operational interventions