Aid in Support of Women's Economic Empowerment - Chapter 2
Economic empowerment aims to raise the capacity of women and men to participate in, contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways which recognise the value of their contributions, respect their dignity and make it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth.
Economic empowerment of women increases their access to economic resources and opportunites. This access is often hindered by discrimination and persistent gender inequalities. Women's economic participation and empowerment bring direct benefits to women but also have a strong impact on poverty and growth, and are essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Aid committed by DAC members to gender equality and women's empowerment in the economic and productive sectors amounted to USD 4.6 bilion on average per year in 2007-08.
A small share of these USD 4.6 billion targeted gender equality or women's empowerment as the main ("principal") objective (2%).
Lower priority was given to gender equality in the economic and productive sectors than in all sectors combined.
Much of the aid targeting gender equality in the economic and productive sectors was allocated to agriculture/rural development (42%).
There is scope for increasing investments in women's economic empowerment, in particular in the sectors of transport, energy, trade and employment.
Gender equality as a principal objective in the economic and productive sectors
Aid committed to gender equality in the economic and productive sectors amounted to USD 4.6 billion per year in 2007-2008. Only a small share of this aid (2%) targeted gender equality or women’s empowerment as its principal objective
