Of the world’s poor, around 300 million or 32 percent are in South Asia. The region also has one of the largest gender gaps globally, reflected in women having low access to jobs, assets and mobility. Early marriages and incidences of gender-based violence are also prevalent.
South Asia has the second-lowest rate of female labor-force participation (FLFP) of all regions i.e. 28.3 percent, with women being almost three times less likely to be employed in full-time jobs than men. Many of these jobs are characterized by informality, and the quality of jobs available to women remain low across the region. Moreover, in spite of robust economic growth, the steady decline of FLFP in countries like India—where FLFP dropped from 34.1 percent in 1999-00 to 28.6 percent in 2016 (ILO) —is a significant matter of concern. South Asia has the world’s largest gender gap (18 percentage points) in account ownership at formal financial institutions, and the lowest proportion of women-owned businesses of any region. Gendered gaps in access to finance include a significant financing gap for women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises ($158 billion for India alone). Women in South Asia are 38% less likely to own a mobile phone than men, the widest digital divide in any region.
IFC works with partners in the private sector to close gender gaps, advance gender equality as smart business, and improve women’s access to more and better jobs. In South Asia, we focus on building the business case for gender equality in the workplace by providing research and case studies that demonstrate how it can drive productivity, profitability, and performance
Videos:
Resources
- Women and Ride-hailing in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lankan Businesses Advance Gender Equality
- Gender Lens Investments Enable Women Entrepreneurs to Thrive in Pakistan
- Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Employment in the Private Sector in Sri Lanka
- Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Sri Lanka
- Powered by Women - Business Case for Gender Diversity and Equality in Nepal’s Hydropower Sector
- Shining the Spotlight – Gender Lens Investments Enable Women Entrepreneurs to Thrive in Pakistan
- The Case for Insuring Women for a Better Tomorrow in Bangladesh
- IFC WeConnect International India Brief
- Distributing Light and Livelihoods: Solar Products Create Economic Empowerment for Women in India
- Together We Can Coffee Table Book
- Her Home - Housing Finance for Women
- Financial Inclusion for Women-Owned MSMEs in India
- Tackling Childcare: The Business Benefits and Challenges of Employer-supported Childcare in Bangladesh
- Women Matter: Findings from Sri Lanka's National Financial Inclusion Survey
- Pakistan Business Council Helps Boost Women's Employment
- Strengthening Women Farmers in DCM Shriram’s Sugarcane Value Chain
- National Foods Limited: Retaining Top Talent through Family-Friendly Policies
- Packages Limited: Advancing Gender Diversity through Equal Opportunity Recruitment Practices
- Interloop Limited: Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Roles
- HBL Pakistan: Advancing Gender Diversity through Effective Anti-Harassment Mechanisms
- Artistic Milliners: Advancing Women in Business Leadership & Management
- Tackling Childcare in Sri Lanka: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare
- Making Progress: Sri Lankan Businesses Advance Gender Equality at the Workplace
- The Case for Gender Diversity Among Sri Lanka’s Business Leadership
- Women on Boards of Companies Listed at the Colombo Stock Exchange (Second Edition)
- Women on Boards of Companies Listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange
- The Benefits and Challenges of a Workplace Créche: Employer-Supported Childcare in India
- Cutting Through the Cloth Ceiling
- Building a Sustainable Textile and Apparel Market in Bangladesh
- Employing Women Catalyzes Change at a Chemical Plant In India
Bangladesh
- Export business costs women higher than men
- Initiative launched for market access of women’s businesses
- Huge scope for women entrepreneurs to participate in local procurement
- IFC and WeConnect International deliver the third roundtable on gender-inclusive sourcing in Bangladesh
- Business that knows no gender
- IFC Training Boosts Supervisory Roles for Women in BD's RMG Sector
India
- IFC to lead $200 million debt financing in Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services Ltd with at least $100 million earmarked for women-owned MSMEs
- Shalaka Joshi of International Finance Corporation on the business case for gender equity
- Gender-lens investing for financial growth
- IFC and WeConnect International bring together supplier diversity and inclusion experts in India for corporate roundtable
- How women participate in ride-hailing in India compared to other emerging nations
- Hairline Cracks in the Glass Ceiling
Nepal
- HBL, IFC to help women entrepreneurs
- IFC provides recommendations to boost gender equality in Nepal’s hydropower sector
Pakistan
- PSX celebrates Women’s Day with Women on Board (WOB), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) joining about 80 stock exchanges around the world
- Serena Hotels join hands with International Finance Corporation to further women employment
- IFC partners with Pakistan Business Council (PBC) to increase women’s participation in economic activities
- IFC client Serena Hotels becomes the first company in Pakistan to obtain EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) certification
Sri Lanka
- The Race is On for Women Ride-hailing Customers in Sri Lanka
- More time for idiyappam: Building an appetite for digital financial inclusion in Sri Lanka
- Ensuring Women’s Voices are Heard in Financial Inclusion
- Women in Leadership: CEO Forum heralds new wave of change
- Employer-supported childcare brings substantial benefits for child, business and economy: IFC Report
- Business leaders share the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of employer-supported childcare at roundtable
- SLID, IFC conduct Train the Trainers workshop for IFC Women on Boards and in Business Leadership
- Sri Lanka must up the game to reach economic gender equality: IFC Country Manager Arif
- Women in Management, IFC, Government of Australia Celebrate Lankan Women’s Successes