Gender Publications

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 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 7, 2019

Report: Moving Toward Gender Balance in Private Equity and Venture Capital

The study explores the link between financial returns and gender diversity; the lack of women in the industry; and steps needed to achieve gender balance. One of the key findings of the report is that private equity and venture capital funds with gender-balanced senior investment teams generated 10 percent to 20 percent higher returns compared with funds that have a majority of male or female leaders.

English | 137 pages | 2019 IFC

Mar 7, 2019

Making Progress: Sri Lankan Businesses Advance Gender Equality

The SheWorks Sri Lanka partnership was established in March 2018. As the partnership completes its first year, this report captures group-level progress toward realizing SheWorks commitments. SheWorks members are spread across Sri Lanka’s different priority sectors, such as garments and apparel, tourism, information technology, banking and finance. This report consolidates 18 members’ learnings and best practices around the recruitment, retention, and promotion of employees.

English | 47 pages | 2019

Feb 6, 2019

Report: Taking Women Entrepreneurs to the Bank in Romania

This report shows the impact of Garanti Bank Romania’s Women SME Banking Program. With support from IFC, the bank has loaned over €145 million to women-owned enterprises, with surveyed recipients experiencing an average real sales growth of over 5 percent per year, higher than the national average for firms in Romania.

English | 56 pages | IFC

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—Packages Limited. Advancing Gender Diversity through Equal Opportunity Recruitment Practices

Packages Limited, a manufacturing company in Pakistan, conducted an employee engagement survey and revealed the need to ramp up gender diversity efforts. This case study explores the business benefits resulting from the implementation of equal opportunity recruitment practices to increase gender diversity. Between 2016 and 2017, when the practices were first introduced, and 2018, the number of female job applicants for each position doubled.

English | 12 pages | IFC

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—National Foods Limited. Retaining Top Talent through Family-Friendly Policies

National Foods Limited is a food manufacturing company in Pakistan. This case study explores NFL’s business benefits that resulted from implementing family-friendly policies, including an on-site daycare facility and flexible work, as part of the company’s goals of becoming an equal opportunity employer. Since the launch of family-friendly policies, the company has achieved a 100% maternity return rate and a 65% increase in the number of women in its workforce.

English | 12 pages | IFC

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—Interloop Limited. Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Roles

This case study discusses the business impacts that Interloop, a hosiery manufacturing company in Pakistan, obtained after recruiting and retaining female STEM graduates in nontraditional job roles. By creating an equal opportunity work environment, Interloop has been able to strengthen and maintain relationships with its key international buyers, reduce absenteeism and attrition rates, and increase productivity.

English | 12 pages | IFC

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—HBL Pakistan. Advancing Gender Diversity through Effective Anti-Harassment Mechanisms

HBL, the largest bank in Pakistan, implemented a zero tolerance anti-harassment policy and realized this is a key element to achieving gender diversity by enhancing perceptions of safety and security for female and male employees. HBL has seen a steady increase in the share of women in its workforce, from 12.6% in 2015 to 15% in 2017. This case study explores HBL’s business impacts of creating a safe workplace.

English | 12 pages | IFC

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—Artistic Milliners. Advancing Women in Business Leadership & Management

This case study highlights how Artistic Milliners, a denim manufacturing company in Pakistan, is strengthening its female talent pipeline and differentiating from competitors by achieving a 50:50 ratio of women and men in senior management positions. Women in leadership positions have steered their respective departments toward success. The company has seen a 70% increase in sales in the U.K. denim market as well as improved performance in the female-headed supply chain department, translating to savings of almost $2 million.

English | 12 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—WSO2: Offering Childcare not only Makes Business Sense, but is also Common Sense

WSO2, a multinational IT company is a pioneer in middleware applications—software that helps create a seamless workflow for business operations. WSO2’s Sri Lanka workforce has over 500 employees, 35 percent of whom are women. This case study explores the on-site crèche facility and how WSO2 holds a 100 percent maternity return rate which is a significant business benefit.

English | 5 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—Unilever Sri Lanka Limited: Diversity, a Commitment at the Heart of Unilever’s Business

Unilever Sri Lanka is one of the biggest fast-moving consumer goods companies in Sri Lanka, with 29 brands in categories such as home care, personal care, and foods. The company employs over 400 workers, out of whom 25 percent are women. This case study explores the on-site crèche facility and support offered to employees aimed at providing a conducive work environment, especially for parents.

English | 5 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—Selyn: Sri Lanka's only Fair-Trade Guaranteed Company Investing in Childcare

Selyn mobilizes traditional Sri Lankan handloom weavers in producing fashion items, home products, toys, and fabrics. Its network now includes around 1000 workers and 90 percent of them women. This case study highlights the business benefits of the on-site daycare center based in Kumbukgette and the “Kids Club” that enable weavers’ children to go to the factory after school.

English | 5 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—Standard Chartered Bank: On a Journey to Increase Gender Parity in the Workplace

Standard Chartered, a London-based financial services provider, operates in more than 1,200 outlets over 70 countries. In Sri Lanka, it employs 600 people, 48 percent of whom are women. This case study highlights the impacts of the on-site crèche facility and how childcare support is weaved into the company’s commitment to retain, develop, and promote talent, irrespective of gender or parental status.

English | 5 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—MAS Holdings-MAS Kreeda, Vaanavil: Providing Childcare Support to Parents in the Conflict-Affected Northern Province

MAS Kreeda is a sportswear manufacturing unit of MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, an IFC client company and member of both IFC’s SheWorks Sri Lanka partnership and IFC’s Global Tackling Childcare partnership. Women represent almost 80 percent of employees at MAS Kreeda, Vaanavil in Sri Lanka. This case study highlights the key business impact of having an on-site crèche facility at its Vaanavil location—in a conflict-affected province. It also provides a summary of 10 childcare facilities and community schools provided by MAS Holdings.

English | 9 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—LSEG Technology: On a Journey to Fostering an Inclusive Work Culture

LSEG Technology, a member of IFC’s SheWorks partnership in Sri Lanka, is one of the largest technology companies in the country. The organization employs over 500 professionals and 20 percent of them are women. This case study iterates that having an on-site crèche facility can lead to high retention of working parents. Moreover, it highlights how tackling childcare has been key in building the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy.

English | 6 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—Hemas Holdings PLC: KidZone, a Back-Up Care Arrangement

Hemas, a member of IFC’s SheWorks partnership in Sri Lanka, has served millions of customers through its leading wellness, leisure, and mobility operations. The company currently employs over 7500 individuals, of whom nearly 30 percent are women. This case study discusses the back-up care arrangements and other support provided to working parents such as extended maternity and paternity leave and flexible work solutions.

English | 6 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—F.J. & G. de Saram: Pioneering Daycare as a Concept since 2000

F.J. & G. de Saram one of the largest law firms in Sri Lanka. The law firm has over 100 employees out of whom 64 percent are women. This case study highlights the journey of establishing an on-site crèche facility and its business impact over the past 18 years. Since the childcare facility was launched, the firm has seen almost 100 percent maternity return rate and a high percentage of women professionals in its workforce.

English | 5 pages | IFC

Dec 12, 2018

Case Study—Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Limited: Investing in Parents through Childcare Benefits

Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd known for luxury residential and commercial high-rise developments is a member of IFC’s SheWorks partnership in Sri Lanka. The company employs over 750 employees and 24 percent of them are women. This case study discusses the on-site crèche facility that was launched in 2018 at the head office. This resulted in significant improvements in retention of new mothers and supported the vision of building a gender diverse organization.

English | 5 pages | IFC