Gender Publications

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 24, 2021

On the Road to Greater Mobility: Understanding the demand for gender-segregated transportation in urban Afghanistan

This study highlights a unique and rich set of over 2,000 women on their mobility and demand patterns in 4 largest cities in Afghanistan with key recommendations for the public sector, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to implement gender-inclusive transportation solutions.

English | 60 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 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

Dec 9, 2020

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

TAQA Arabia recognized a need to consider specific risks for women as part of the project’s environmental, social, and health and safety requirements.

6 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Asyaport, Infrastructure, Turkey

The case study explores how the company has taken action to promote equal opportunities and highlights the the implementation of the company’s Environmental and Social Action Plan.

7 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Gas Natural Açu (GNA), Energy, Brazil

The case study explores how the company has implemented key elements for prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment within the workplace.

9 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Bioparques de Occidente, Agribusiness and Forestry, Mexico

The case study explores how the company has implemented a holistic approach towards the prevention of gender-based violence and sexual harassment within the workplace and its worker housing complexes.

10 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 1, 2020

Women and Ride-hailing in Sri Lanka

This research explores whether the ride-hailing industry could play an important role in closing the gender gap in mobility and economic participation in Sri Lanka.

Nov 16, 2020

Private Equity and Value Creation: A Fund Manager’s Guide to Gender-smart Investing

This guide is a practical step-by-step road map for fund managers on how to strengthen gender diversity within their own firms and incorporate a gender focus into investment operations. It combines learnings from CDC and IFC’s experience with over 160 fund managers and draws on best practices with a series of case studies from stakeholders across the industry.

English | 109 pages | 2020 IFC & CDC Group

Nov 12, 2020

COVID-19 and Gender Equality: Six Actions for the Private Sector

This guidance note recommends six actions that private sector companies can implement to ensure that both women and men can return to economic activities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and participate equally as leaders, employees, business owners, and consumers.

English | 45 pages | 2020 IFC

Nov 12, 2020

Sri Lankan Businesses Advance Gender Equality

The report consolidates lessons from the SheWorks Sri Lanka Partnership and shares business results and good practices from 15 leading SheWorks companies in Sri Lanka..

Nov 11, 2020

Disclosure and Transparency During COVID-19 – Increasing Resilience and Building Trust During and After the Pandemic

This tip sheet provides guidance for both listed and privately-owned companies on how to disclose what they are doing to manage the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the pandemic, using IFC’s Disclosure and Transparency Framework, which is focused on strategy, governance, and performance. This framework promotes the issuance of standardized corporate reports and data – and provides investors and key stakeholders with the information they need to assess company resiliency, preparedness, and continued management of material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues both during and after the crisis. It can also provide guidance for stock exchanges and regulators who are adapting their disclosure and transparency framework during COVID-19.

Nov 2, 2020

Gender Lens Investments Enable Women Entrepreneurs to Thrive in Pakistan

The challenge of establishing and growing enterprises is even greater for women entrepreneurs in emerging economies, where women-owned and led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face an estimated credit deficit of nearly $1.5 trillion.

Oct 27, 2020

Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Employment in the Private Sector in Sri Lanka

The report presents a snapshot of the gender dimensions of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment in Sri Lanka.

Oct 14, 2020

Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Sri Lanka

The report presents a snapshot of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) across Sri Lanka

Oct 9, 2020

Factsheet: Women in Agribusiness Value Chains

Despite their contributions, women in agriculture face unique challenges that hamper their productivity, in turn weakening rural economies, the businesses that depend on them, and the global food chain. This factsheet presents an overview of IFC’s Women in Agribusiness Value Chains program working 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 | 2020 IFC