Gender Publications

Apr 6, 2020

Childcare in the COVID-19 Era: A Guide for Employers

This guidance note, a companion to IFC's Global Guide for Employer-Supported Childcare, outlines ways in which employers can support the care and family needs of their employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and fulfill their obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

English | 17 pages | 2020

Mar 9, 2020

Distributing Light and Livelihoods: Solar Products Create Economic Empowerment for Women in India

Since 2014, IFC and Dharma Life have partnered to help grow this network of women distribution agents and to support Dharma Life’s expansion into new geographies within India. IFC provides advisory support to Dharma Life to train its existing entrepreneurs for better impact, and to create awareness about alternative and clean sources of lighting in its areas of operation.

Feb 16, 2020

Venture Capital and the Gender Financing Gap: The Role of Accelerators

This report studies the steep differential between financing for male and female-led start-ups post-acceleration and finds perceived risk and investor bias are the most likely causes.

Jan 29, 2020

Her Home - Housing Finance for Women

Women make up half the world's population, and half of its economic potential. Yet they are far less likely than men to own a home. That's because women work in informal jobs, are unfamiliar with formal loan-application procedures, or are stifled by traditional cultural norms. This new study sheds light on the women's market for housing finance in Colombia, India and Kenya.

English | 68 pages | 2020 | IFC International Finance Corporation 2020

Jan 8, 2020

Women Matter: Findings from Sri Lanka's National Financial Inclusion Survey

This document covers an analysis of findings from Sri Lanka’s National Financial Inclusion Survey (NFI Survey) from a gender perspective. The NFI Survey was launched in 2018 as part of the effort to develop the country’s first strategy for financial inclusion.

Dec 3, 2019

Implementing Corporate Governance Practices - A Resource Guide for Microfinance Institutions in Myanmar

This Resource Guide for Microfinance Institutions in Myanmar is part of IFC’s efforts to support the development of a sustainable microfinance sector in Myanmar. This initiative is aligned with IFC’s Financial Institutions Group’s Global Microfinance and Digital Financial Services’ efforts to improve corporate governance for financial inclusion in the region and globally with Myanmar as a pilot country, and IFC’s Corporate Governance program in Myanmar which promotes the adoption of better governance practices in the private sector. The experience and knowledge gained through this initiative will serve to support improvements in corporate governance among microfinance institutions (MFIs) in a variety of contexts.

Nov 26, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare in Myanmar

The report, Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare in Myanmar, was produced by IFC’s Gender Business Group. It contains the findings of the Tackling Childcare Study which found that when companies support their employees to balance their childcare responsibilities with their work obligations, there are many benefits. The findings are intended to provide recommendations for Myanmar businesses on how to better support the needs of working parents and to realize the business benefits of employer-supported childcare.

Nov 18, 2019

Guide for Employer-Supported Childcare

This practical guide for private sector companies addresses various aspects of employer-supported childcare, including quality, financial sustainability, and results measurement. The publication was developed in response to demand for guidance from companies seeking to implement childcare, so they can join a growing number of family-friendly employers. The guide was prepared by the IFC-led Global Tackling Childcare Working Group, composed of more than 30 organizations and the Government of Paraguay.

English | 126 pages | 2019

Nov 4, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Benefits and Challenges of Employer-supported Childcare in Bangladesh

The policy brief presents findings from an IFC-led survey administered to more than 300 employers as well as consultations with more than 75 employees and 40 stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the government, civil society, and care providers, on the benefits, challenges, and solutions for employer-supported childcare in Bangladesh.

Nov 3, 2019

Waka Mere Commitment to Action

More than 6,500 employees working for the biggest companies in Solomon Islands are now benefiting from more equal, supportive and respectful workplaces, with a marked rise in the numbers who feel safe at work, in the wake of a two- year initiative on gender equality. This findings are contained in a report assessing the Waka Mere Commitment to Action, which showed the number of employees who did not feel comfortable or safe at work fell from 25 percent two years ago to just 10 percent.

Oct 8, 2019

Supplemental Appendix: Women Entrepreneurs Find Business Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Sector

This document provides information on the research methodology utilized for IFC-Daraju case study “Women Entrepreneurs Find Business Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Sector” including data collection and analysis, survey questionnaire, and sampling.

English | 9 pages | 2019

Oct 7, 2019

IFC & Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women: Investing in Women's Business Growth

The Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility Progress Report 2019

English | 2019 IFC

Oct 4, 2019

SME Governance Guidebook

This Guidebook specifically addresses the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs at the various stages of their lifecycles, offering tailored corporate governance recommendations. The Guidebook includes the Action Planning Tool to help SME owners, investors, and managers take a pragmatic approach to governance, as a means of strengthening their businesses over the long term.

Oct 4, 2019

Banking on SMEs - Trends and Challenges

What is the future of SME banking? In IFC’s inaugural SME business banking survey, we asked the heads of SME operations serving small businesses around the world. The online survey launched in 2018 posed questions to identify the biggest issues SME banking leaders are grappling with and to better understand the opportunities to run innovative, competitive and sustainable SME banking units.

English | 40 pages | 2019 IFC

Sep 30, 2019

Case Study: Women Entrepreneurs Find Business Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Sector

This case study from Nigeria explores how stakeholders in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, such as financial institutions and service providers, can unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs. Evidence from Daraju Industries and other companies in emerging markets demonstrates that investing in female distributors can open new markets, boost sales and growth, and improve profitability.

English | 8 pages | 2019

Aug 21, 2019

Financial Inclusion for Women-owned MSMEs in India

A country-level diagnostic to assess the demand and supply of finance for women-owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India.

Jul 29, 2019

The Business Case for Workplace Responses to Domestic and Sexual Violence in Fiji

This study, which identifies the impacts of domestic and sexual violence on Fijian employees and employers, has been conducted to inform the development of tailored solutions for the business community in Fiji.

Jul 23, 2019

Trailblazers - Portraits of Female Business Leadership in Emerging and Frontier Markets

The publication features the inspirational personal stories of 20 female business leaders and their advice to other female professionals aspiring to top positions, and highlights the positive impact of their leadership on private sector development in emerging and frontier markets. It also provides key gender facts and data on the status of women on boards and in business leadership around the world.

Jun 24, 2019

Understanding Gender-Based Violence Through the Lens of Haitian Garment Workers

The study explores workers’ experiences with various types of gender-based violence and assesses the impact on the workplace. One of the key findings of this research is that gender-based violence is a daily occurrence in the lives of garment workers impacting their well-being and performance in the workplace.

Jun 14, 2019

Case Study: Metro Markets Creates Jobs and Careers for Women

Metro Markets, a food retailer in Egypt, partnered with IFC to assess its workforce to close gaps between men and women and address some of its business challenges. The workforce assessment kicked off a longer-term initiative to increase the share of women in the company’s workforce. This case study discusses challenges and solutions implemented by the company.

English | 4 pages | 2019

Jun 13, 2019

Case Study: Pakistan Business Council Helps Boost Women's Employment

Over the course of a year, IFC and the Pakistan Business Council produced a series of peer-learning activities and knowledge tools addressing topics such as female employee retention, anti-sexual harassment policies, women in leadership, and the business case for women’s employment. This case study explores the results of this project that reached more than 335 executives from the Pakistan business community, both from PBC member companies and the wider Pakistani private sector.

English | 4 pages | 2019

May 29, 2019

The Benefits and Challenges of a Workplace Crèche: Employer-Supported Childcare in India

The report presents findings from a survey administered to nearly 300 companies in India and from roundtable discussions conducted around the country. It offers recommendations for employers, the government, donors and investors on how to maximize the benefits to employers, employees and their children, as well as the Indian economy.

English | 60 pages | 2019

May 28, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer Supported Childcare in Fiji

This study demonstrates the need and appetite for affordable, accessible and quality childcare services among working parents in Fiji. The study finds that each year, businesses and the public sector in Fiji are losing an average of 12.7 workdays per employee due to the responsibilities of working parents. Absenteeism, lateness, low productivity, distraction, exhaustion and stress – this is the struggle of juggling work and being a parent in a country where childcare options for children aged zero to five are limited, unregulated and inaccessible to most of the population.

Apr 22, 2019

Strengthening Women Farmers in DCM Shiram's Sugarcane Value Chain

The agriculture sector employs nearly 98 million women in India. Yet, their contribution remains undervalued—especially in sectors such as sugarcane farming, which are perceived to be male-dominated. This case study explores how DCM Shriram Ltd. and IFC developed specific solutions to increase the visibility of the work done by women farmers and their impact on improving farm yields.

English | 4 pages | 2019

Mar 11, 2019

Respectful Workplaces: Exploring the Costs of Bullying and Sexual Harassment to Businesses in Myanmar

The report offers business leaders an opportunity to understand the experiences of employees relating to bullying and sexual harassment in Myanmar workplaces. It provides a set of practical recommendations, targeting business leaders, human resource managers, employees and other interested parties to create workplaces that are safe and free from bullying and sexual harassment.