Spring Meetings 2026 | Unlocking Women’s Economic Power

How can increasing women’s economic participation help create more and better jobs?

Expanding women’s access to jobs, finance, and digital tools can increase labor force participation, support business growth, and drive job creation at scale. When women can manage economic risks, connect to markets, and access capital, they contribute directly to stronger and more inclusive economic growth.

The World Bank Group works with countries and partners to strengthen the systems that enable women’s economic participation—such as social protection, digital inclusion, and access to capital. Together, these pathways help women build resilience, participate fully in the economy, and grow enterprises that generate jobs.

This discussion explores progress toward the World Bank Group’s 2030 ambitions, the barriers that remain, and what it takes to scale impact. It also highlights how coordinated action across policy, institutions, and investment can accelerate women’s economic inclusion and support sustainable job creation.

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

It’s time to mobilize the economic power of women

 

 

The world has seldom been in a tighter spot. Across the globe, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, with greater economic damage, even in the wealthiest countries. Food insecurity is on the rise, and climate change is making it worse. In 2022, about 2.4 billion people—nearly a third of humanity—lacked year-round access to enough safe and nutritious food, with women and girls bearing the brunt: They account for nearly 60 percent of people facing severe hunger.

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