Key Areas for Action

Raise Gender Awareness amongst Policy Makers
Given the history of gender relations in the ECA region, a major effort is required to raise the awareness of policy makers to the fact that economic transition and economic development are nor gender-neutral processes. In fact, in order to foster sustainable growth it is essential to mainstream gender analysis into policy making.

Strengthen Information and Analytical Capacity
Policy makers need reliable information on baseline gender differentials and on the gender impact of policies and reforms, in order to inform their deliberations and deliver better outcomes. At present many countries lack adequate information and the capacity to evaluate it. It is also important to build local capacity in the economics of gender and gender mainstreaming.

Support Gender Equality through Select Lending Operations
Gender sensitive policy making also needs to be fostered through select lending operations designed to address specific issues. A clear example of this is the growth of a number of micro-credit initiatives for women, and the creation of advisory services for women entrepreneurs and farmers.

Improving the Welfare of the Household
Studies have shown that household income in the hands of women improves the chances for the household to move out of poverty. This is because women are more likely to spend the income for schooling, health expenditures and food.

Raising Economic Growth
Gender inequality reduces output and productivity in farms and enterprises. These losses are the result of inefficiencies that arise from systematically excluding women or men from access to productive resources, public services, and employment.

Strengthening Good Governance
Evidence also suggests that gender inequality weakens a country's quality of governance - and thus the effectiveness of its development policies. Several recent studies find that corruption is lower in countries where women have more equal rights and greater participation in public life. A study of 350 firms in Georgia concludes that women are less likely to pay bribes to government officials. While these findings are only suggestive, they argue for a larger presence of women in the labor force and in politics, since they can be an effective force for rule of law and good governance.

Thus, in a process of transformation as far reaching as economic transition, it is important to mainstream gender-sensitive policy making into the overall strategy for development and poverty reduction.