Empowering Women to Shape the Future of Jobs

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Empowering Women to Shape the Future of Jobs

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Gender gaps in labor force participation persist across all regions and have remained stagnant over the last three decades. The global average gap in workforce participation is 30 percent and, in some regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, the gap remains particularly high at a stunning 56 percent. The economic cost of this gap is non-trivial: globally, economies stand to gain around 20 percent in GDP per capita. In addition, these gaps affect how men and women are impacted by crises as well as their ability to benefit from structural transformation, digitization, and the green transition. Policies, programs, and investments at all levels need to prepare for and respond to gender-specific impacts. This requires going beyond considerations of gender-based vulnerability and enabling women to participate and thrive in green, resilient, and inclusive development.  

In the lead-up to International Women’s Day, this event will underscore the role that women can play in unleashing the future of jobs as economies undergo structural transformation and the green transition. It will bring together policy makers and thought leaders to facilitate knowledge exchange and inspire actions to accelerate equality and put women at the front and center of policy and resource decisions.

This event is organized in collaboration with Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and is the first in a series of events and seminars focused on key development priorities that will help to build momentum toward the 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakesh.

00:00 Messages from youth
02:25 Welcome and opening remarks
05:09 Remarks by Hicham El Habti, President of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
08:35 Remarks by Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco
19:00 Young entrepreneurs: Yetunde Adeyemi, Founder, Nigeria
24:43 Remarks by Axel van Trotsenburg
33:13 Panel discussion: Policy solutions to empower women as jobs transform and get greener
1:01:04 Young entrepreneurs: Inés Yábar, Peru
1:07:29 Panel discussion: Role of women in the future of jobs
1:40:11 Closure

SPEAKER QUOTE

“If all women were to be employed to the extent as men are, you would see world GDP increase 10 to 20 percent. And there are regional differences where it can be even higher.”

— Axel van Trotsenburg, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank

SPEAKER QUOTE

“Empowering women for the future of jobs requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the many barriers and challenges that women face in the workforce.”

— Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco

SPEAKER QUOTE

“…no more than 40% of African girls finish secondary school. [...] Beyond the clear injustice in such a situation, there is also an economic opportunity cost to whole societies. Gender discrimination is a liability for prosperity."

— Hicham El Habti, President, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)

SPEAKER QUOTE

“We need to be given more opportunities to unleash our inner abilities. Because when a woman is empowered, you are empowering an entire nation.”

— Yetunde Adeyemi, Managing Director, Active Foods Ltd., Nigeria

SPEAKER QUOTE

“Companies are underestimating women at their own risk. Yet women are also the ones bearing the brunt of environmental impacts the most.”

— Ines Yábar, the Next Generation Fellow Lead at the UN Foundation, Peru

 

Key Speakers

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Economist, Gender Group, World Bank
Senior Social Scientist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, World Bank
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Organizers

Ministry of Economy and Finance - MEF - Kingdom of Morocco

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

World Bank Group

About the Annual Meetings 2023 

WBG-IMF Annual Meetings 2023