WOMEN & Development

➡️ The Role of Women in Development – Challenges and Female Empowerment

Women in rural and developing settings face a unique set of challenges which hinder their progression and that of society as a whole.

Often marginalised and denied the chance of decision-making, women become much more vulnerable to some of the world's biggest issues. Women in developing countries are at the highest risk.

"...there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women" - Kofi Annan

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Women play a crucial role in development across every sector. They drive progress in economics, peace, politics, democracy, education, poverty alleviation, equitable healthcare, and social justice worldwide. Their equal participation in society is indispensable to sustainable economic growth and innovation.

Women and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG Goal 5 focuses on pursuing real and long-lasting gender equality. In 2023, a report by the United Nations revealed that SGD Goal 5, like many other goals, is falling short of almost all its targets. The world is failing women and girls.

Based on current trends, by 2030 -

• More than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030

• One in four women will experience moderate or severe food insecurity

• Women will spend an average of 2.3 more hours per day on unpaid care and domestic work than men

• No country will be within reach of eradicating partner violence

• Girls' completion rates in education will remain below the universal mark

• Women's share of workplace management positions will remain below parity, even by 2050

To achieve gender equality and women's empowerment by 2030, there is a need for a further $360 billion per year of investment.

Key Challenges for Women and Development

• LACK OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Women are vastly underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide. At current rates, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. Just 19 countries have a woman Head of State, and women represent only 23% of Cabinet members around the world.

Equality in leadership results in more comprehensive and equitable policymaking that better serves the entire population instead of just 50%.

• POVERTY, LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, and DISCRIMINATION

Women are much more likely to endure extreme poverty than men. A shocking 8% of women globally survive on less than $2.15 a day. Gender inequality in the economy costs women in developing countries $9 trillion a year.

Female participation in the workforce is also lower. Only 61% of women are in employment, formal or otherwise, compared to 91% of men. For women who do work, unequal pay, glass ceilings, and other discriminatory practices prevent them from equal economic success. In 2019, for every dollar that men earned, women earned only 51 cents.

Lack of access to safe water means that women in sub-Saharan Africa spend about 40 billion hours a year collecting water. Women bear the primary responsibility for family water collection, which significantly impacts women's employment and education opportunities.

Women account for 43% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries. In South Asia, this figure rises to 70%. If these women had the same access to resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 30%, raising total agricultural output in these countries. The effects on food security and hunger would be huge. In some cases, it could be reduced by 17%.

Barriers to landownership and discriminatory societal norms deprive these women of the economic and social benefits they could otherwise achieve. Less than 20% of the world's landholders are women. This figure falls to 5% in North Africa and West Asia. Research indicates that when more income is put into the hands of women, child nutrition, health and education improve.

Women need access to quality work, equal education opportunities, a rebalance of unpaid domestic and care work, and gender-responsive development policies and programmes to achieve economic empowerment.

• INADEQUATE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE

More than two-thirds of the world's 796 million illiterate people are women. Worldwide, 119 million girls are out of school. Barriers such as poverty, domestic duties, safety, hygiene, cultural norms, and sanitary needs prevent many girls from attending school.

Educated women tend to be more informed about nutrition and healthcare, have fewer children, have healthier children, earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families - thus perpetuating a cycle of opportunity instead of poverty.

Education is the strongest predictor of marriage age.

The women's health gap results in 75 million years of life lost due to poor health and early death of women every year. Lack of equity in healthcare access, research, treatment, funding, and even diagnosis has created huge gender inequality in healthcare.

Reproductive rights, including access to abortion, are fundamental components of health care and drivers of gender equality. Reproductive rights allow women to make autonomous decisions about their bodies. Without adequate rights, women are left powerless, have poorer health outcomes, and are less likely to improve their economic situation.

Female Empowerment – Sustainable Development for a Better World

Insufficient funding and poorly enforced legislation for women have hindered development for decades.

At least 28 countries do not have laws granting women equal rights to enter marriage and initiate divorce. Laws prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination against women are entirely absent in 67 countries. Where legislation does exist to promote gender equality, effective implementation remains a considerable challenge.

As nations invest more in gender equality and ensure women's access to resources, education, and equal opportunities, the benefits are seen in every corner of society. Gender-sensitive development leads to stronger economies and more peaceful and resilient societies.

Empowering women is not just a matter of justice but also a strategic imperative for development.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 24.01.25 licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

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