Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Review of Evidence on Enablers and Barriers

This review is one of a series undertaken by the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) Initiative

Abstract

This rapid evidence review summarises the evidence that women’s economic empowerment (WEE) promotes economic growth, firm productivity, and human development. It also reviews the key enablers and barriers to WEE. The authors have followed strict criteria regarding the rigor of studies included in this review, noting inconsistencies in the scale and quality of evidence on key questions about WEE. They draw on this evidence to distill key findings to support the United Nations High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment’s priority setting and make recommendations for policy interventions or important topics requiring further research.

Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) initiative is a multi-funder partnership with the UK Department for International Development, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Canada’s International Development Research Centre.

Citation

Peters, E.; Astone, N.; Malik, A.; Maret, F.; Heller, C. Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Review of Evidence on Enablers and Barriers. Urban Institute, Washington DC (2016) viii, 44p

Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Review of Evidence on Enablers and Barriers

Published 1 October 2016