World Survey on the Role of Women in Development (2009)

“Women’s equal access to and control over economic and financial resources is critical for the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and for equitable and sustainable economic growth and development”
— World Survey, 2009

Survey Launch

The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) launched their new World Survey on the Role of Women in Development (2009) this week, providing an overview of long-standing gender inequalities, aggravated by current financial and economic crises, as well as concrete recommendations to facilitate women’s access to and control over economic and financial resources.

DAW produces the World Survey every five years, focusing on a different aspect of women’s role in development each time. This year’s World Survey, “Women’s control over economic resources and access to financial resources, including microfinance” calls attention to the need for gender equality perspectives in macroeconomic policies, gender-responsive employment promotion, and the inclusion of social objectives in economic policies.

The 2009 Survey was launched on Monday October 26, at a panel event introduced by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, Sha Zukang, where he stated that “Appropriate responses [to gender discrimination] will facilitate both achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and economic growth and long-term prosperity.”

Survey Overview

At the heart of this year’s World Survey is the question of how to increase women’s access to resources, in particular financial and economic ones, but also to resources such as water and energy, infrastructure and services, information and communication technologies, and housing. The survey documents the challenges women face in gaining access to those resources, including discriminatory socio-cultural norms, informal work that lies outside the reach of regulation, and an unawareness of their own rights.

The survey also presents a mixed assessment of microfinance, stating that while it has been successful in reaching poor women, the increased focus on financial sustainability and commercialization could hinder microfinance’s ability to empower women. The survey calls for financial sector and microfinance reforms, as well as legislation, legal aid, and land reform.

Related Links

Launch announcement

Press release

Fact sheet

You can access the full report here