Gender Publications

Oct 1, 2021

Women Technopreneurs: The Landscape for Women Technology Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

IFC and SLASSCOM report on the landscape for women technology entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Write and Implement a Workplace Policy for Prevention of Sexual Harassment

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps for integrating the systematic prevention of sexual harassment into human resources policies.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Write and Implement an Employee Code of Conduct for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps to ensure that prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment is systematically integrated into codes of conduct.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Establish and Manage a Worker Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Harassment

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps to ensure that the issue of addressing sexual harassment is systematically integrated into company grievance processes.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 1, 2021

How to Support Your Company to Develop a Community-Based Grievance Mechanism for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

This tip sheet provides ‘How To’ steps for addressing gender-related grievances from affected communities, including stakeholder consultation and how to set up a community-based grievance mechanism.

14 pages | © October 2021 IFC | Complimentary

Sep 19, 2021

The Rakorako Peer Learning Series

This report provides an overview Rakorako peer learning series, showcasing the achievements of the participating companies and providing a blueprint for other private sector entities in Fiji and across the Pacific, and illustrating the compelling benefits to businesses if action is taken.

Jul 28, 2021

Workplace responses to Family and Sexual Violence in PNG: Measuring the Business Case

The report presents the results from the first round of research data—which provide a benchmark for measuring the business case for workplace responses. Impact to business will be measured through additional data collection efforts in 2021 and 2022.

Jun 29, 2021

Sourcing2Equal Kenya: Barriers and Approaches to Increase Access to Markets for Women- Owned Businesses

An IFC Sourcing2Equal study on gender-inclusive sourcing to understand the barriers that women-owned SMEs face in accessing procurement contracts in the private sector in Kenya

Jun 25, 2021

Leading Tanzanian Women in Financial Services

Tanzania’s financial services sector is an important engine of economic growth and includes banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and credit reference bureaus.

May 26, 2021

Women and e-commerce in Southeast Asia

Across the globe, e-commerce is thriving. In Southeast Asia, the e-commerce market has tripled in size since 2015, and it is expected to triple again by 2025. Two new IFC reports show that this growth could be even higher if we invest in women entrepreneurs on e-commerce platforms.

English | IFC 2021

May 26, 2021

Women and e-commerce in Africa

Across the globe, e-commerce is thriving. In Africa, the number of online shoppers has increased by an average of 18 percent every year since 2014, with similar growth anticipated over the next decade. IFC’s latest report shows that this growth could be even higher if we invest in the women entrepreneurs on e-commerce platforms.

May 22, 2021

Barriers and Opportunities to Refugee Women Engaging in the Digital Economy in Jordan and Lebanon

The digital economy can offer a new and promising path forward for people seeking employment across the globe. Online platforms are altering the future of work, reducing barriers to entry and blurring the distinction between formal and informal labor. In this new environment, innovative work models offer significant opportunity to the digitally literate and can improve livelihoods for vulnerable populations, including women and refugees, by allowing them access to flexible employment opportunities. Online marketplaces can help entrepreneurs reach local target audiences they may not otherwise be able to service, allowing small businesses to overcome fragmented markets that are common in developing countries.

Apr 22, 2021

Factsheet: Inclusive Supply Chains

IFC works end to end across a company’s value chain to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the procurement and distribution operations of a business. This often means engaging with micro, small, and medium sized businesses to help companies diversify their supplier base or enhance their distribution channels to open new markets. This factsheet provides an overview of IFC's approach to inclusive supply chains and its programs.

English | 2 pages | 2021 IFC

Apr 15, 2021

Gender-Responsive Training Methods: A Guidance Note

This Guidance Note highlights how training initiatives can respond to women and men’s different needs and learning preferences. It is intended to strengthen the skills and practice of training providers who run technical business courses for entrepreneurs—whether face to face, or virtually.

Mar 29, 2021

Insular Life: The Case for Insuring Women for a Better Tomorrow

This case study explores how Insular Life, a leading insurance firm in the Philippines, has developed innovative life and health insurance solutions for individual women and women-owned businesses with support from IFC and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi).

English | 8 pages | 2021 IFC

Mar 16, 2021

Tackling Childcare Pakistan: A market study on the benefits and challenges of employer-supported childcare

This study, part of a collaboration between IFC and Pakistan Business Council, surveyed 140 private sector employers in Pakistan, in addition to interviewing working parents, policymakers, and childcare providers, to identify challenges and opportunities for expanding employer-supported childcare and other family-friendly policies in Pakistan.

English | 49 pages | 2021 IFC

Mar 16, 2021

Tackling Childcare Pakistan: Insights from an IFC-PBC Peer-Learning Collaboration

This note discusses the outcomes of the peer learning collaboration, provides an overview of the actions taken and lessons learned by the 13 companies, and outlines ways forward. It aims to inspire other business leaders to take action and help foster a dialogue on the importance of private sector participation in this space.

English | 49 pages | 2021 IFC

Feb 11, 2021

Building safe and resilient workplaces during COVID-19: Bank South Pacific Case Study

This case study outlines the results of Bank of South Pacific’s participation in the Waka Mere Commitment to Action (2017-2019), an initiative to improve business outcomes in Solomon Islands.

Feb 11, 2021

Building safe and resilient workplaces during COVID-19: Solomon Airlines Case Study

This case study outlines the results of Solomon Airlines’ participation in the Waka Mere Commitment to Action (2017-2019), an initiative to improve business outcomes in Solomon Islands.

Feb 8, 2021

Women in Agribusiness Value Chains

IFC’s Women in Agribusiness Value Chains program works with agribusiness clients across the world to help them close gender gaps and realize the benefits of gender inclusion in their value chain.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2021

Feb 8, 2021

Advancing Women's Employment

Why IFC? IFC is the preferred partner for global private sector entities that are at the forefront of leveraging the business case for gender equality. Learn more: Gender-Smart Business Solutions As more women enter the labor market and exert influence as consumers, savvy companies recognize the need to attract and retain more female employees and purchase from women-led companies. IFC’s Gender-Smart Business Solutions program provides clients with the tools and resources to strengthen gender inclusion within their operations, resolve labor issues, increase employee engagement, benefit from inclusive sourcing, and enhance company performance.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2021

Jan 22, 2021

COVID-19 Response: Corporate Strategies for Supporting Small and Medium Enterprise Suppliers in the Andean Region

The COVID-19 crisis is disrupting global, regional, and local value chains and is causing significant challenges for both corporations and their SME suppliers, including women-owned SMEs (WSMEs). This learning brief presents highlights from a virtual roundtable organized for corporate representatives to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on value chains and to share strategies to support SME suppliers, including WSMEs, during and post-crisis. The event brought together managers in procurement, purchasing, and sustainability from companies sourcing goods and services from Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru.

English | 2 pages | 2021 IFC

Jan 22, 2021

Learning Brief: Key Steps to Increase Gender-Inclusive Sourcing Among Corporations in Bangladesh

This learning brief is a resource for senior procurement representatives and outlines actionable recommendations to increase gender-inclusive sourcing in Bangladesh. These recommendations were formulated based on research, roundtable discussions, and interactions with women-owned small and medium enterprises, procurement leaders, and other senior corporate managers in Bangladesh.

English | 4 pages | 2021 IFC

Dec 10, 2020

Bridging the Gap: Emerging Private Sector Response and Recovery Measures for Gender Equality amid COVID-19

As COVID-19 widens global gender gaps, IFC and UN Women have partnered to showcase a growing number of companies and organizations around the world that are taking action to ensure the economic inclusion and social well-being of their employees, customers, and suppliers, as well as local communities. This report aims to inform companies around the world on emerging practices and initiatives for supporting women employees, entrepreneurs, and those in value chains amid the pandemic.

English | 34 pages | 2020 IFC & UN Women

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Alcazar Energy, Egypt

Alcazar Energy recognizes that workplace bullying, and in particular any forms of sexual harassment, could impact business operations and the employee’s wellbeing.

8 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary