-
Blog post
Can growth truly be sustainable?
A sustainable approach to growth provides economic opportunities for the poor, builds resilience, and prepares low-income countries for the impacts of climate change while limiting current emissions and environmental degradation. Yet as massive investments roll out to support the global COVID-19 recovery, 2021 is projected to be the second highest year in history for global...
-
Blog post
Making the Green Revolution greener: Agricultural adaptation and climate change
Climate change poses a striking threat to the livelihoods of rural farmers in low-income countries. As weather patterns become more volatile, agriculture will be disrupted, worsening food security and poverty. In response, farmers will be forced to adapt. Increasing agricultural productivity and introducing climate-resilient practices through technology can support incomes...
-
Blog post
Leaders and citizens: Women’s political participation in India
Women’s political participation has emerged as a key element of the discourse around the upcoming state elections in India. In this post, Nalini Gulati and Ella Spencer explore the evidence on various aspects of women’s political engagement in the country – representation in government, women as political leaders, and women as active citizens. According to the WEF...
-
Blog post
Building back better: Fostering gender equality in Bangladeshi readymade garment industry
Post-COVID-19 recovery in one of Bangladesh’s largest industries could lead to increased inclusivity thanks to external market pressures. Editor's note: This blog is part of our International Women's Day campaign and contains findings from this IGC project. In Bangladesh, inclusive and resilient employment generation has received considerable policy focus as a...
-
Blog post
Women's employment during the pandemic in Ghana: A tale of vulnerability and resilience
Women have traditionally been more vulnerable in the labour market, more underrepresented and the nature of their employment less secure. While the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to contain it hit women's employment the hardest, they were also the more resilient and rebounded much faster than men. Editor’s note: This article is part of our International Women’s...
-
Blog post
Barriers faced by women in labour market participation: Evidence from Pakistan
Data from a job-matching service in Pakistan reveals differences in how men and women search for jobs, and lends insight into the barriers women face in labour market participation. Editor’s note: This article is part of our International Women’s Day campaign and is based on this IGC project. At 22%, Pakistan has one of the lowest female labour force participation...
-
Blog post
The pandemic’s gendered impact on livelihoods and wellbeing: Evidence from India
A survey of over 700 households from India’s National Capital Region finds that women report bearing a greater burden of pandemic-induced mental stress relative to men, with potentially lasting effects on their well-being and productivity. Editor’s note: This article is part of our International Women’s Day campaign and is based on this IGC project. In the...
-
Blog post
One year on: Zambian economy during COVID-19
On 18 March 2020, Zambia reported its first COVID-19 case. One year later, like the rest of the world, the pandemic has had unprecedented effects on many aspects of life. The economic effects have been particularly significant, most aptly demonstrated at the macro level by Zambia becoming the world’s first COVID-19-era sovereign debt default. The COVID-19 policy...
-
Blog post
Matter of mobility: Barriers to women’s work and education, and the dangers at home
As countries across the world implemented lockdowns to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, both women and men have been largely confined to their homes but with differential impacts. In this post, Nikita Sharma discusses the pre-pandemic restrictions on the mobility of women in India – on account of social norms and safety concerns – as well as the dangers they face at...
-
Blog post
Has COVID-19 exacerbated gender inequalities in Pakistan?
Women in the developing world face an array of vulnerabilities and are at a relative disadvantage when compared to men. In Pakistan for example, they are less likely to receive vital information on health safety, have lower levels of education, and are less likely to own a mobile phone or have internet access. In the context of a pandemic like COVID-19, these disparities...
Blog post
Vaccine uptake and resistance: Lessons and policy levers
As new variants of COVID-19 are disrupting global efforts to end the pandemic, governments need to work faster to immunise populations and curtail the spread. This blog examines lessons and policy solutions for global immunisation efforts, drawing from recent evidence on vaccine acceptance in low- and middle-income countries. With the urge to vaccinate their populations...