Guidance

FCDO's Work and Opportunities for Women programme

The Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) programme is the flagship women’s economic empowerment programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
21 March 2018
Last updated
7 October 2024 — See all updates

About the programme

The objective of the WOW programme is to improve economic opportunities for women working in global value chains, increasing participation and ensuring dignified, equal and empowering work.  

The 7-year programme, running until March 2025, aims to enhance the economic empowerment of women by supporting businesses, organisations and programmes that are ready and willing to take action. It will enable these stakeholders, across the supply chain ecosystem, to make progress and influence the global agenda on women’s economic empowerment.

The programme is being delivered by an alliance of experts at the cutting edge of women’s economic empowerment research, programme design and delivery. PwC leads this alliance, working with CARE International and Social Development Direct. Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the University of Manchester were members of the alliance between 2017 and 2020.

What we do

1. Business partnerships in supply chains to reduce the barriers that prevent women from securing dignified, equal and economically empowering work.

WOW is focusing its business partnerships on the issues of gender and climate change. It is working with Waitrose to improve women’s leadership in climate smart agriculture in horticulture and fresh produce supply chains in Kenya; with Twinings to improve women’s ability to adopt climate smart agriculture using Farmers Voice Radio; and with the Ethical Tea Partnership in Malawi to ensure women tea farmers benefit from a ‘payment for ecosystem services’ approach to agroforestry. WOW is also supporting companies to better understand the impacts of the increase in plastics recycling on women waste pickers in Indonesia.

Female tea picker in field in Kenya. Photo: Business for Social Responsibility

2. Business partnerships to improve data and transparency on women’s work in supply chains

WOW partnered with several companies, conducting research to gain a deeper understanding of the risks and opportunities for women within their supply chains. This work focused on sectors in which women are less visible and/or their challenges are unknown. This research enabled the WOW programme to identify further opportunities for partnership.

Research was undertaken at 3 levels:

  • macro-level: global supply chains
  • meso-level: company supply chains
  • micro-level: deep dive country supply chains

This research has now been completed.

Female garment workers in a factory. Photo: Business for Social Responsibility

3. The WOW Helpdesk: increasing knowledge and support for delivering women’s economic empowerment

The WOW Helpdesk provides FCDO and other government departments with access to rapid technical assistance. This provides guidance on addressing women’s economic empowerment at different stages of programming. The Helpdesk has 3 functions:

  • responsive queries: This support service draws from a wide pool of expertise to respond to queries from advisors across the FCDO network
  • targeted guidance: This service provides proactive guidance and support on priority themes for women’s economic empowerment across FCDO’s Economic Development portfolios
  • evidence digests: Regular communications are distributed across the FCDO network. They collate lessons from the WOW programme and signpost to new resources on women’s economic empowerment

Female garment work in factory. Photo: CARE International UK

4. The WOW Fund: making progress on the Action Agenda of the UN High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment

The WOW Fund supported initiatives which sought to progress the Action Agenda of the UN High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment (UNHLP). The £1.8 million Fund, which ended in August 2022, supported strategic initiatives which promoted long-term change in women’s economic empowerment. These initiatives demonstrated impact and contributed to global knowledge in 3 key areas:

  • enhancing land tenure security
  • recognising, reducing and redistributing unpaid care and work
  • improving outcomes for women in informal work

Grants were awarded to the following projects:

Innovations in informal land tenure awareness, rights and security for the economic empowerment of informal women workers in Delhi and Patna (India)

The lead implementer for this programme was SEWA Bharat, alongside SEWA Delhi, SEWA Bihar, SEWA Grih Rin and the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS).
The project supported women workers (home-based and domestic) living in informal settlements to increase their land tenure awareness and security, as well as their access to infrastructure services and housing finance. This led to increased economic opportunities and strengthened their individual and collective agency to advocate for change with local and municipal authorities. The learning generated from this project will inform wider advocacy efforts to promote security of tenure for women in informal settlements and develop innovative finance products and services targeting informal women workers.

Accelerating national progress toward achieving equality in unpaid care and domestic work and promoting women’s economic empowerment (Rwanda and South Africa)

The lead implementer for this programme was Promundo-US, alongside Rwanda Men’s Resource Center (RWAMREC) and Sonke Gender Justice.

This project aimed to support and facilitate the redistribution of unpaid care work responsibilities between women and men, and to increase women’s decision-making power within the domestic relationship. It focused on conducting thoughtful and consistent dialogue with individuals and institutions, questioning, challenging and changing harmful and restrictive gender stereotypes that perpetuate social and economic inequality. In Rwanda and South Africa, the partners adapted Program P, an existing curriculum which engages men in active fatherhood, by increasing its focus on issues specific to women’s economic empowerment.

The project also supported select government ministries and civil society actors in both countries to incorporate women’s economic empowerment initiatives into existing systems and institutions. This  includes training and ongoing support to community health workers and social work personnel. The project produced evidence on how to ‘scale up’ approaches to redistribute unpaid care work at the household level. It also showed the links between the redistribution of unpaid care work with wider women’s economic empowerment outcomes.

Home-based workers organising for economic empowerment

The lead implementer for this programme was Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), alongside HomeNet South Asia (HNSA).

This project empowered leaders of home-based worker groups to negotiate better outcomes for their members working in precarious conditions in the garment sector. It also supported the building of alliances between home-based worker organisations and wider civil society groups working for change in women’s working conditions in the garments industry. The learning from this project built an understanding of how to develop effective negotiating strategies to improve situations for home-based women workers. The project also emphasised the importance of organising at both the national and global level to enable positive change for women.

Female garment work in Bangladesh. Photo: CARE International UK

Resources

WOW toolkits provide practical guidance and examples for a business audience. They help illustrate where opportunities exist to advance women’s economic empowerment in supply chains.

Toolkits

WOW toolkits provide practical guidance and examples for a business audience. They help illustrate where opportunities exist to advance women’s economic empowerment in supply chains.

Investing in women’s economic empowerment to strengthen supply-chain resilience (PDF, 3.43 MB, 70 pages): This toolkit is for multinational companies that have supply chains in low and middle-income countries. It outlines how investing in women can reduce supply chain risks, including those related to climate change and human rights. The toolkit is designed to provide sustainability and procurement teams with the knowledge and tools to improve sustainable practices and supply chain management. The report includes several real-world case studies across a range of sectors including agriculture and mining. The examples illustrate how companies are benefiting from a focus on women’s economic empowerment. Release date: September 2024.

Supply chain decarbonisation with a gender lens (PDF, 8.4 MB, 61 pages): In March 2023, WOW hosted an event with businesses to crowdsource ideas which fed into the development of this report on Scope 3 decarbonisation with a gender lens. This report is predominantly aimed at multinational businesses with supply chains in developing countries that are taking steps to decarbonise. It is particularly relevant to businesses in sectors that rely on significant numbers of women in their supply chains, for example in agriculture and clothing. It provides practical steps and actions that businesses can take on their decarbonisation journey, with examples and case studies. Release date: December 2023.

Women and the Net Zero economy: a transition toolkit for businesses with global supply chains (PDF, 982 KB, 17 pages): The transition to Net Zero will impact many of the most vulnerable women working in global supply chains around the world. With this in mind, the WOW programme collaborated with Business Fights Poverty and the Harvard Kennedy School Corporate Responsibility Initiative to create a toolkit for business on gender and climate. It will support businesses to incorporate gender considerations into the action they are taking on climate change throughout their supply chains. Release date: November 2021.

Guidance and research

The WOW Helpdesk provides proactive guidance and support on priority themes for women’s economic empowerment across FCDO’s Economic Development portfolios. These reports are listed below and provide valuable advice and information for other policymakers, programme designers and implementers.

Integrating gender into the design, implementation and monitoring of carbon credit projects. This guidance is for project developers in the voluntary carbon market. It aims to help them create carbon credit projects that benefit everyone, including improving outcomes for women. Published: September 2024.

No such thing as a free lunch: Investing in and addressing unpaid care and domestic work – the missing component of equitable development (PDF, 3.79 MB, 61 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 1.09 MB):  This paper is a reference guide on unpaid care and domestic work for people working in international organisations. It sets out the evidence-base for action. It summarises what initiatives work to ensure that the extent and impacts of unpaid care and domestic work are recognised, reduced and redistributed. The paper demonstrates that there are different ways to address the disproportionate amount of time women spend on unpaid care. Release date: October 2023.

From risks to rewards: Overcoming the impacts of climate change on women in agricultural supply chains (PDF, 8.32 MB, 33 pages): This report consolidates findings from action-oriented research partnerships conducted by the WOW programme with Primark, Waitrose, and the Ethical Tea Partnership in Pakistan, Kenya and Malawi respectively. It also includes a desk-based study with Waitrose to assess potential impacts on women workers in the Kenyan horticulture sector during decarbonisation efforts. The report aims to guide future programme activities for companies with agricultural supply chains. It offers valuable insights and potential actions in collaboration with other stakeholders. Release date: 14 November 2022.

Building back equitably: Spotlight on COVID-19 and women workers in global value chains (PDF, 890 KB, 23 pages): This rapid research report builds on the findings of the WOW ‘Hidden in plain sight’ report. It draws on emerging data about how women workers fared through COVID-19, shining a spotlight on the enduring invisibility of women in global value chains. The report argues for proactive strategies by companies and policymakers to rebuild more gender-equitable value chains in the COVID-19 recovery. It presents recommendations for achieving this. Release date: September 2022.

Hidden in plain sight: Why we need more data about women in global value chains (PDF, 1.68 MB, 14 pages): This research brief details the issue of data gaps on women in global value chains (GVCs). It looks at how addressing these gaps will lead to improved responses to workers’ needs, better management of business risks and enhanced responsible business practices. It is written for companies or practitioners engaging in GVCs (particularly those in the garment, agriculture and/or personal care sectors) which rely heavily on women workers. Release date: September 2022.

Unpaid and unrecognised: How business can realise the benefits of tackling women’s invisible labour (PDF, 1.21 MB, 25 pages): This guide was developed to support businesses to take tangible steps towards understanding and addressing women’s invisible labour. It explores how businesses rely - both directly and indirectly - on women’s invisible labour for the resilience, productivity and success of their supply chains. Drawing upon real life examples, the report illustrates how business can act on invisible labour and accelerate progress toward a gender equitable world. Release date: May 2021.

Women’s economic empowerment and climate change: a primer (PDF, 894 KB, 40 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 544 KB) : This primer brings together the latest thinking about how women’s economic empowerment and climate change intersect. Together with the complementary briefing on women and the Net Zero economy, it was produced ahead of COP26 to support the UK government to better understand the differential effects of climate change and the inclusion of women in climate action. Release date: April 2021.

Women and the Net Zero economy: a briefing (PDF, 594 KB, 35 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 210 KB) : This briefing, together with the complementary primer on women’s economic empowerment and climate change, was produced ahead of COP26. It aimed to help the UK government better understand the differential effects of climate change and identify opportunities to secure decent jobs for women, as part of the transition to a Net Zero economy. Release date: April 2021.

In The Double Day (PDF, 1.22 MB, 21 pages), the WOW programme explores the issue of unequal and unpaid work and care among garment workers in Bangladesh. The briefing paper presents an overview of current knowledge about unpaid care in the sector. It shares findings from primary research conducted with garment workers in 2019. Release date: July 2020

Measurement of women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 1.14 MB, 54 pages): This paper provides an international analysis of best practice in the field of women’s economic empowerment measurement and compares this to current FCDO (then DFID)/UK Government practices. It also aims to provide practical recommendations to increase effectiveness and consistency in the ways in which women’s economic empowerment is measured. Release date: May 2020.

Promoting economic empowerment for women in the informal economy (PDF, 969 KB, 59 pages): This paper provides an analysis of the gender dynamics of informal work, and a set of corresponding recommendations to promote better jobs for women. It is aimed at FCDO and UK government advisers working on economic development, across a range of issues. These include agriculture, business environment, private sector development, social protection, urban and infrastructure development, digital development and research. Release date: September 2019.

Modern slavery and women’s economic empowerment: A discussion paper (PDF, 1.41 MB, 26 pages): This paper explores how increasing the economic empowerment of women in global value chains can reduce the risk of modern slavery (July 2018).

Women workers in global value chains: A research briefing (PDF, 245 KB, 6 pages): This paper provides an overview of WOW research on the role and work of women in global value chains. Release date: July 2018.

Commercial agriculture portfolio review: Women’s economic empowerment analysis (PDF, 607 KB, 34 pages): This paper provides an analysis of the gender responsiveness of programmes within the FCDO (then DFID) Commercial Agriculture Team. Release date: July 2018.

Evidence digests

The WOW Helpdesk provides regular updates which are distributed across the FCDO network. They collate learning and information from the WOW programme and signpost to new resources on women’s economic empowerment. They are listed below, highlighting any issues, resources and/or information that is specific to each edition.

Evidence Digest, September 2024 (ODP, 917 KB)

  • throwback to the Targeted Guidance on Measurement of Women’s Economic Empowerment
  • evidence review highlighting what works in fragile and conflicted affected states (FCAS) to increase Women’s Economic Empowerment
  • updates on WOW work with Waitrose, and participation in the London Climate Action Week

Evidence digest: May 2023 (PDF, 279 KB, 3 pages)

  • new resources on women’s economic empowerment, including the 2X Global Inclusive gender and climate finance
  • recent work by the WOW Programme on support for women’s economic empowerment in Small Island States (SIDS) within the blue economy
  • insights into the impact of COVID-19 on WIEGO Domestic workers across 6 cities

Evidence digest: December 2022 (PDF, 403 KB, 3 pages):

  • research on both the UNHLP key women’s economic empowerment initiatives to drive empowerment outcomes and informal and formal labour markets in Mexico

Evidence digest: March 2021 (PDF, 497 KB, 3 pages):

  • knowledge and learning on green growth opportunities for women and youth in urban areas
  • snapshot of the targeted guidance on climate change and the net zero economy

Evidence digest: November 2020 (PDF, 278 KB, 3 pages):

  • knowledge and learning from the series of 3 papers on women’s economic empowerment and COVID-19
  • access to recordings of 2 events: presentation of the Implications of COVID-19 on women informal workers query and the launch of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Measurements guidance note

Evidence digest: December 2019 (PDF, 198 KB, 3 pages):

  • findings from the report on addressing violence and harassment in garment factories and supply chains
  • key messages from a guidance note on promoting women’s economic empowerment in the informal economy
  • WOW partnership updates

Evidence digest: June 2019 (PDF, 278 KB, 3 pages):

  • key considerations for designing gender sensitive trade-related research or programmes in middle-income countries (MICs)
  • information on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in China
  • updates on work with retailers to advance women’s rights in Bangladesh

Evidence digest: January 2019 (PDF, 400 KB, 3 pages):

  • highlights of WOW’s work to support women’s economic empowerment programming on land, sexual and reproductive health and market interventions
  • insights from a workshop with companies on women’s visibility and influence in global value chains
  • updates on WOW’s engagement with UK retailers

Evidence digest: October 2018 (PDF, 743 KB, 3 pages):

  • knowledge and learning on sexual and reproductive health rights interventions in the workplace
  • links between empowerment and tackling modern slavery in value chains

Evidence digest: June 2018 (PDF, 611 KB, 3 pages):

  • knowledge and learning on women’s economic empowerment in fragile and conflict-affected states
  • how to find and use Time Use Data
  • portfolio review of DFID’s Commercial Agriculture portfolio

Helpdesk queries

The WOW Helpdesk draws from a wide pool of expertise to respond to queries from advisors across the FCDO network. These queries have resulted in a wealth of information and evidence, collated in a full set of resources (listed below) that can be used by other policymakers, programme designers and implementers.

Time Use Data sources and applications of data on paid and unpaid labour (PDF, 2.1 MB, 37 pages): An overview of the current state of global databases on women’s labour force participation, and on paid and unpaid work. It explores issues of data availability and comparability, and ways in which time use data has been used to address gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Mapping of good practices (PDF, 492 KB, 28 pages): A mapping of good practice examples of economic development programmes that aimed to include and empower marginalised groups, particularly people with disabilities. The sectoral focus is the strengthening of energy and water infrastructure. It also includes as interventions to boost trade, particularly through direct business support and Industrial Zones.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions in the workplace and women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 397 KB, 17 pages): A desk-based review of the evidence on sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions in the workplace and women’s economic empowerment.

Review of women’s economic empowerment and gender work of the business for shared prosperity programme (PDF, 523 KB, 30 pages): A review of gender and women’s economic empowerment inclusion in DFID Burma’s Business for Shared Prosperity Programme.

Trade Mark East Africa: gender review (PDF, 932 KB, 49 pages): A desk-based document review of Trade Mark East Africa’s progress on gender mainstreaming to date.

Evidence overview on sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s economic empowerment programming (PDF, 286 KB, 10 pages):  A rapid evidence review on how best to use sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to influence demographic transition and examples of integration of women’s economic empowerment interventions within SRRH Programming.

Women’s economic empowerment linked to land programming: a preview of evidence for DFID Ethiopia (PDF, 614 KB, 33 pages): An assessment, informed by an evidence review and framework developed by IFPRI (2017), of evidence on the contribution of ‘additional interventions’ along 3 potential impact pathways:

  • links between women’s land rights and women’s agency and decision-making
  • links between women’s land rights and interventions and increases in women’s productivity/incomes in farming and other agricultural related livelihoods
  • links between women’s land rights and improved productivity and/or income in non-agricultural livelihoods

Resources on girls’ clubs and self-help impact on women’s economic empowerment, employment and earnings (PDF, 286 KB, 12 pages): An exploration of evidence on the impact of self-help groups and girls’ clubs on livelihoods on employment, earnings, consumption and poverty.

Gender and inclusion evidence review (PDF, 461 KB, 19 pages): Evidence on the relationship between gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and growth, and key drivers to ensure opportunities are maximised.

Gender, inclusion and trade thematic brief: integrating gender and inclusion into Prosperity Fund (PDF, 449 KB, 31 pages): A synthesis of evidence on the links between gender, social inclusion and trade. It highlights women’s different roles in trade in selected middle-income countries. It identifies key evidence gaps relevant to the Prosperity Fund’s focus on Non-Tariff Barriers to trade in middle-income countries. It also identifies good practice tools, approaches and interventions that integrate gender, social analysis and appraisal into trade programming. This aims to support gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

China country brief (PDF, 446 KB, 17 pages): This country brief identifies key gender gaps and barriers in China related to Prosperity Fund areas of intervention, the enabling environment, and opportunities to address gender inequality and promote women’s economic empowerment.

Violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, in garment factories and supply chains (PDF, 475 KB, 33 pages): A mapping of evidence on the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment in the garment sector.

Women’s economic empowerment: key facts (PDF, 533 KB, 20 pages): Key facts about investments, entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment.

Tax and women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 460 KB, 21 pages): Evidence-based arguments for the inclusion of a gender and women’s economic empowerment lens in DFID’s work on tax policy, with case studies.

Women’s economic empowerment measurements (PDF, 843 KB, 37 pages): A stocktake of existing practices in measuring women’s economic empowerment in DFID and HM Government economic development programmes.

Incorporating gender equality into the re-design of the Good Governance Fund (GGF) in Moldova (PDF, 673 KB, 24 pages): Evidence to ensure gender equality, social inclusion and women’s economic empowerment are integrated within the programme design of the next phase of GGF Moldova.

Women’s economic empowerment and GESI within Horn of Africa (PDF, 324 KB, 18 pages): Evidence to inform the design of the Prosperity Fund Horn of Africa Programme to ensure  transformative outcomes to women entrepreneurs, traders and market actors in Ethiopia and Somaliland. It has a focus on sustainability.

Decent work for women workers in the ready-made garment industry in Sub-Saharan Africa (PDF, 613 KB, 43 pages): A summary of priority issues and interventions that will contribute to ensuring work for women in the emerging ready-made apparel sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. It focuses on rights at work and social dialogue pillars. It is in line with ILO core labour standards and the principle of ‘decent work’.

Transforming economies through investment and growth (TEIGR) and women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 558 KB, 34 pages): Information to help shape the business case for a new investment climate and economic transformation programme – TEIGR. It aims to ensure that gender is mainstreamed and specific interventions are designed to advance women’s economic opportunities.

Violence against women border traders (PDF, 700 KB, 36 pages): A rapid evidence review to understand the context of violence and coercion by officials, especially customs officials, at border crossings. It aims to inform the customs element of a new DFID-funded tax and customs programmes.

Transitions to the labour market within Girls Education Challenge (PDF, 989 KB, 35 pages): This report and the WOW Helpdesk Query 32: presentation (MS PowerPoint Presentation, 417 KB) explores ways of transition from basic education to jobs in the labour market for adolescent girls and young women. It focuses on conservative and conflict-affected regions in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan. It aims to maximise programmatic potential for economic empowerment for women and girls, and define ways to measure progress.

Strengthening gender and social Inclusion (with focus on women’s economic empowerment) within the Global Infrastructure Programme (PDF, 1.14 MB, 55 pages): A review of infrastructure development and delivery-related interventions within the Global Infrastructure Development Programme (GIP). It explores which have the greatest potential to strengthen women’s economic empowerment outcomes.

Women’s economic empowerment presentation to newly elected mayors and governors in Colombia (in Spanish) (PDF, 2.08 MB, 45 pages): Information to raise awareness and build capacity of newly elected Colombian mayors and governors on gender and inclusion and women’s economic empowerment. It identifies how these can be integrated into sub-national government policies, plans and projects.

Trade preferences and Women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 558 KB, 28 pages): This brief explores the existing linkages between unilateral trade preferences and women’s economic empowerment. It aims to provide a series of recommendations for the future UK Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)

Todas cuentan en el gobierno local: Equidad de género e inclusión social en planes de desarrollo territorial (PDF, 874 KB, 27 pages): A Gender and Inclusion and Women’s Economic Empowerment Toolkit for newly elected Colombian Mayors and Governors. It aims to raise awareness and build their capacity on integrating gender and inclusion and women’s economic empowerment into sub-national government policies, plans and projects.

Women’s economic empowerment and standards and regulatory reform (PDF, 536 KB, 35 pages): A report to provide assistance to HMG’s offices for Product Safety and Standards in the design of interventions for current and future Prosperity Fund programmes.

The Armenia Good Governance Fund and gender and equality: support for a theory of change review (PDF, 582 KB, 28 pages): A report to support DFID and FCO-funded Good Governance Fund Armenia to integrate women’s economic empowerment into the design of the next phase of their economic programming.

The opportunities and risks of new technologies for women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 652 KB, 29 pages): Guidance and entry points for Prosperity Fund programmes to take advantage of the opportunities and manage the risks of new technologies for gender and inclusion and women’s economic empowerment.

Taxes and duties for sanitary products in Africa (PDF, 320 KB, 14 pages): Information on the  countries in Africa that have removed taxes/duties from sanitary products and the results of these policy decisions, including on the economic empowerment of girls and women.

Input to terms of reference for a socioeconomic study for TAWDIF II, Algeria (PDF, 318 KB, 15 pages): Assessment of robustness of the Terms of Reference developed for “socio-economic study on gender in job search and recruitment: identification of barriers to women’s economic participation and proposals for corrective actions to stakeholders”. It provides evidence on the barriers that Algerian young women face in transitions from education to decent work. It identifies strategies to overcome these barriers.

Women’s economic empowerment during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid review of impacts and responses for economic relief and recovery (PDF, 721 KB, 18 pages): A rapid review of evidence to provide early examples of evidence, practices and key issues for consideration. Evidence has focused on low and middle-income countries, but also on higher income countries where relevant information could be applicable.

Implications of COVID-19 on women informal workers (PDF, 564 KB, 16 pages): A rapid review of existing written evidence to share “real-time” information about what is happening to women informal workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Macroeconomic policy and women’s economic empowerment during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 874 KB, 24 pages): A snapshot of how COVID-19 economic stimulus measures undertaken by sovereign governments can impact women’s economic empowerment. It provides a brief overview of emergency fiscal and monetary stimulus policy options and their potential impact on women, drawn from examples of responses to previous economic crises.

Women’s economic empowerment in Côte D’Ivoire (PDF, 515 KB, 26 pages): Information on the reasons behind the economic disparity between men and women in Côte D’Ivoire and the country’s existing economic policies. This is to inform HMG work with the government of Côte D’Ivoire on the design and roll-out of women’s economic empowerment interventions. The findings and recommendations were presented to FCDO in December 2020 – WOW Helpdesk Query 57 (MS PowerPoint Presentation, 1.38 MB).

Green growth and opportunities for women and youth in urban areas of Mozambique (PDF, 762 KB, 24 pages): Identification of potential economic opportunities for urban women and youth in the green-growth and low-carbon sectors in Mozambique. It aims to inform the design of new interventions to be implemented by the MUVA programme. A complementary note (PDF, 181 KB, 4 pages) was created to help the MUVA programme identify all the questions it needs to consider in further research.

Economic empowerment of excluded groups in the COP26 energy campaign (PDF, 467 KB, 28 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 107 KB): Ahead of the Climate Change Conference (COP26) HMG set up a grant-based, demand-led Technical Assistance Rapid Response Facility (RRF) to the response of the Energy Transition Council (ETC) to requests for support arising from the ETC-country dialogues. This rapid desk-based research looks at the key issues around the economic empowerment of women, people with disabilities and other excluded groups. It aims to support interventions of the Rapid Response Facility.

GESI capacity building in manufacturing Africa (MS PowerPoint Presentation, 3.9 MB): An interactive workshop that aims to provide tools and approaches to equip Manufacturing Africa to address key elements. These include:

  • strategies for success - understanding the business case for gender smart manufacturing
  • the cost of disregarding social safeguarding – Win or lose?
  • positioning for gender smart investing in practice – Show me the money!

Women’s Economic Empowerment and Disability Inclusion in Future Cities programmes (PDF, 212 KB, 5 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 606 KB) : A concise summary of current evidence, good practice and resources for integrating the priorities and needs of women and people with disabilities in the Prosperity Fund Global Future Cities programme.

Southern agriculture growth corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) – strategy review (PDF, 406 KB, 17 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 98.6 KB): Guidance and recommendations on how to better integrate Women’s Economic Empowerment into the 5-year strategy of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania Investment Project.

Discriminatory law reform (PDF, 621 KB, 39 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 173 KB): Information on how discriminatory laws affect women’s economic empowerment. This includes the lessons about eliminating legal barriers to women’s full and equal participation as employees, managers and business owners.

Women’s economic empowerment and disability inclusion in financial services (PDF, 418 KB, 6 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 271 KB) : A rapid review of evidence, good practice and resources for integrating the priorities and needs of women and people with disabilities in the finance sector and economic development programmes.

COVID-19 response of multinational companies (PDF, 530 KB, 25 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 196 KB) : A desk-based review to help FCDO understand how the private sector has included women’s economic empowerment in their value chain response and recovery efforts from COVID-19. It includes information on what FCDO can do to support the private sector to ‘build back better’ and assist women returning to work.

Women in formal and informal labour markets in Mexico: An assessment to strengthen the British Embassy of Mexico’s awareness of why women work in the informal economy in Mexico. It also explores the benefits of women working in the formal economy and the barriers in accessing formal work. The evidence was used by the British Embassy in Mexico in discussions with the Government of Mexico and the Mexican private sector.

Women’s economic empowerment drivers (PDF, 1.24 MB, 70 pages): An evidence review of progress since the UNHLP in 2016 which looks at the latest evidence on the 7 drivers of transformation of women’s economic empowerment.

International financial institutions and women’s economic empowerment: (PDF, 884 KB, 27 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 717 KB):  A mapping and critical assessment of the work carried out by International Financial Institutions on women’s economic empowerment. This assessment enabled FCDO to engage with the World Bank Group as it launched a refresh of their gender strategy.

Women’s economic empowerment in the blue economy in Small Island Developing States (PDF, 2.04 MB, 56 pages): A desk-based review of the evidence on women’s economic empowerment in blue economy sectors in Small Island Developing States where women often take up more precarious, lower paid and less visible jobs. It presents the status, trends and barriers. It looks at how to achieve economic empowerment for more marginalised women. It identifies what works to prevent and respond to violence experienced by women working in these sectors.

Economic databases in Mexico (PDF, 300 KB, 8 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 75.3 KB): An overview on the extent to which the main economic and foreign trade databases in Mexico are disaggregated by gender.

What works to promote women’s economic empowerment (PDF, 578 KB, 38 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 545 KB). An evidence review of the literature on the barriers to women’s economic empowerment and what works to overcome these challenges. It is aimed at UK government staff, particularly those who are not specialists in gender and social development.

Sexual exploitation and harassment in the labour market (PDF, 651 KB, 38 pages) (accessible version) (ODT, 828 KB). An evidence review of sexual exploitation and harassment of women and girls during their early careers (‘sex-for-jobs/advancement’).

Women’s economic empowerment and electric vehicles in Kenya (PDF, 1.17 MB, 27 pages)  (accessible version) (ODT, 81.4 KB). A review of the status of gender-inclusive design in relation to electric vehicles, with a focus on 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers.

Women’s economic empowerment and climate change: an update of the 2021 guidance to help the UK government better understand the differential effects of climate change and support the inclusion of women in climate action. It summarises new evidence and presents a revised framework for action.

Integrating gender in the design of scaled-up or new British High Commission Tanzania programmes: A summary of entry points for integrating gender equality into the design of 5 British High Commission Dar Es Salaam’s programmes. It addresses how each programme contributes to the 4 pillars of the British High Commission’s climate and environmental strategy.

Building women’s economic empowerment into climate transitions: Pre-reading for an FCDO conference Wilton Park from 18 to 20 March 2024.

Gender equality and social inclusion for private sector partners: 2 workshops delivered to the British Embassy in Caracas (Latin American Spanish language only). La igualdad de género es un buen negocio (Marzo 2024) (ODP, 1.79 MB): workshop 1 shared the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), providing positive examples of companies in the region that have implemented them and troubleshooting obstacles to their implementation. Medir la igualdad de género es parte del negocio (Marzo 2024) (ODP, 240 KB): workshop 2 was for companies that have already signed up to the WEPs, offering an in-depth focus on their implementation and guidance on integrating GESI approaches into operations and strategies.

Events

London Climate Action Week: The WOW programme participated in a London Climate Action Week event which was run in partnership between PwC and the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance (NCSA). This event focused on the wider co-benefits of natural climate solutions which extend beyond carbon accounting, with a particular focus on the importance of gender equity within NCS activities. WOW led a deep-dive into gender and natural climate solutions, discussing in particular the importance of gender inclusion in NCS crediting projects, and the ways in which gender equity can be embedded into such projects. This served as an opportunity to highlight WOW’s upcoming guidance – “Integrating gender into the design, implementation and monitoring of carbon credit projects: Practical guidance for project developers in the Voluntary Carbon Market.” Event date: 28 June 2024.

The Africa Debate, Business Roundtable: Invest Africa together with WOW hosted a business roundtable, which served as an opportunity to discuss the initial plans for, and findings of, the research thus far. Held on the margins of Invest Africa’s annual ‘Africa Dialogue’ event in London, the roundtable brought together senior representatives from businesses in the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors across Africa. The discussion focused on the critical need to integrate women’s economic empowerment across all business areas. The conversation also explored the unique challenges and opportunities associated with empowering women workers in these sectors and underscored the vital role of finance and investment as catalysts for meaningful change. Event date: 04 June 2024.

Exploring Carbon Finance Event: The WOW programme co-hosted this event with the Government of Malawi, UK High Commission, and the USAID/UKAid co-funded Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF) programme. The one-day conference explored the current state of the carbon market in Malawi, with the aim to develop a roadmap towards an equitable future for smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers. Speakers included representatives from the Malawian Carbon Markets Initiative, the Tea Association of Malawi, the Ethical Tea Partnership, and the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets. Event date: 17 April 2024.

Wilton Park Conference: FCDO hosted a 3-day conference (with attendees from the private sector, public sector, and third sector) which looked to explore the ways in which women’s economic empowerment could be built into climate transitions. The WOW programme co-hosted a session on a gender-inclusive green economy, which aimed to foster a common understanding of gender-inclusive climate transitions, discuss the enabling environment for a green economy, and identify roadblocks to achieving a gender-inclusive green economy. Event date: 18 to 20 March 2024.

Climate Justice Summit, COP28: The WOW programme co-hosted this event with Business Fights Poverty and FCDO. The hybrid workshop explored the ways in which applying a gender lens can help drive progress towards Net Zero. Speakers included representatives from Business Fights Poverty, EBRD, Mars Inc, PwC, Sasini PLC Kenya and Twinings. Event date: 5 December 2023.

Climate Justice Summit, International Women’s Day: The WOW programme co-hosted this event with Business Fights Poverty. The hybrid workshop explored how to enhance the lives and livelihoods of women around the world, and empower them to thrive. Speakers included representatives from AB Sugar, Flamingo Horticulture Investments, John Lewis Partnership, Mars Inc and PwC. Roundtable participants included representatives from Care International UK, the Ethical Tea Partnership, IFC and Twinings. Event date: 8 March 2023.

Women and climate resilience in global supply chains, COP27: The WOW programme, in collaboration with PwC, hosted a panel discussion featuring representatives from FCDO, BII, EBRD, Waitrose, and Farm Africa. The event marked the launch of the new WOW report titled ‘From Risks to Rewards: Overcoming the Impacts of Climate Change on Women in Agricultural Supply Chains’ and facilitated a discussion on women and climate resilience in global supply chains. Event date: 14 November 2022

Climate Justice Summit, COP26: The WOW programme co-hosted this event with FCDO. The interactive panel discussion focused on the twin challenges of realising women’s economic empowerment and tackling climate change. It explored the ways in which these critical social and environmental issues relate, and how a transition to Net Zero can achieve economic empowerment for women in global value chains. Representatives from Aviva, Business Fights Poverty, IFC, L’Oreal, PwC and Visa formed the panel. Event date: 4 November 2021.

Understanding Invisible Labor in Supply Chains: Impact, Opportunities, and Examples: The WOW programme co-hosted this webinar with Business for Social Responsibility. The webinar focused on the role of invisible labour (including unpaid work and care, and hidden labour) within business operations and supply chains, and the impact of such labour on gender equality. Event date: 22 July 2020.

We have a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct, including fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment on our programme. If you have any queries on the management of WOW or our policies, email: laura.deering@pwc.com

Contact us if you would like more information on the whistle-blowing mechanism, or to report misconduct:

We will follow up matters on an anonymous basis and are committed to investigate claims thoroughly and fairly.

Management information

WOW is managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in alliance with CARE International and Social Development Direct. BSR and the University of Manchester were also members of this alliance between 2017 to 2020.

Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW)

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

7 More London Riverside

London

SE1 2RT

UK

Email: laura.deering@pwc.com

Updates to this page

Published 21 March 2018
Last updated 7 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. Two documents added: Evidence Digest (September 2024), and Integrating gender into the design, implementation and monitoring of carbon credit projects.

  2. Toolkit on investing in women’s economic empowerment to strengthen supply chain resilience added.

  3. This content has been reviewed and updated.

  4. Two new documents added: WOW helpdesk evidence digest (May 2024), and WOW helpdesk query 91 - women's economic empowerment in fragile and conflict-affected states.

  5. WOW helpdesk query 86 and query 88 added.

  6. Added the WOW helpdesk evidence digest, February 2024.

  7. WOW helpdesk query 79 and query 81 added.

  8. New guidance added in the toolkit section on supply chain decarbonisation with a gender lens

  9. Helpdesk guidance number 4, on unpaid care and domestic work, added.

  10. WOW evidence digest May 2023 added.

  11. New documents added: Query 71b, Women’s Economic Empowerment drivers; Query 73, Women’s economic empowerment in the blue economy in Small Island Developing States; Query 78, Sexual exploitation and harassment in labour market; Query 80, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Electric Vehicles in Kenya.

  12. Added WOW Helpdesk queries 74 (economic databases in Mexico) and 71b (women's economic empowerment drivers).

  13. Added WOW Helpdesk Query 76: What works to promote Women's Economic empowerment.

  14. WOW Helpdesk Query 73: Women’s economic empowerment in the blue economy in Small Island Developing States added.

  15. Query 70 added: Women in formal and informal labour markets in Mexico in English and Spanish.

  16. Evidence Digest for December 2022 added

  17. WOW Helpdesk Query 72 added International Financial Institutions and Women’s Economic Empowerment: an evidence review added.

  18. New documents added: Work and Opportunity for Women Helpdesk Query 66: COVID-19 response of multinational companies (PDF and ODT formats).

  19. WOW Helpdesk Query 63: Discriminatory Law Reform and WOW Helpdesk Query 64: Key-sheet – Women’s Economic Empowerment and Disability Inclusion in Financial Services added.

  20. Women and the Net Zero economy: A transition toolkit for businesses with global supply chains added

  21. Added section on unpaid and unrecognised: How business can realise the benefits of tackling women’s invisible labour publication. Added WOW Helpdesk Query 60: GESI Capacity Building in Manufacturing Africa Power Point presentation. Added WOW Helpdesk Query 62: Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor f Tanzania (SAGCOT) – strategy review.

  22. Evidence Digest March 2021, WOW Helpdesk Query 59 Economic empowerment of excluded groups in the COP26 Energy campaign, WOW Helpdesk Query 61 Key sheet added

  23. Added: WOW Helpdesk Guidance Number 3 – Women’s Economic Empowerment and Climate Change: A Primer and WOW Helpdesk Guidance Number 3 – Women and the Net Zero Economy: A Briefing.

  24. WOW Helpdesk Query 53: Implications of COVID-19 on women informal workers added

  25. Link to WOW Webinar: Understanding Invisible Labour in Supply Chains: Impact, Opportunities, and Examples - July 2020 added.

  26. The Double Day report added

  27. WOW Helpdesk Query 18: Resources on girls clubs and self-help groups impact on women’s economic empowerment, employment and earning added.

  28. Section 4 - The Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) fund updated.

  29. WOW Helpdesk Evidence Digest: January 2019 added

  30. Three new reports added: 1. WOW Helpdesk Query 9: Trade Mark East Africa (MEA): Gender Review 2. WOW Helpdesk Query 13: Evidence Overview on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SHRH) and Rights and Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Programming 3. WOW Helpdesk Query 14: Women’s Economic Empowerment Linked to Land Programming: A preview of evidence for DFID Ethiopia

  31. Frequently asked questions document added

  32. Resources now added.

  33. First published.

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