Gender gaps in agricultural productivity are a common issue among many developing countries: women farmers are mostly engaged in subsistence farming and are less productive than their male counterparts. UFGE supported studies show large productivity gaps, ranging from 15 percent in Timor-Leste to 26 percent in Democratic Republic of Congo. But what are the most binding constraints faced by women and what kind of interventions can help address them? This session will present evidence on the main drivers behind the observed gender gaps in Timor-Leste and examples of interventions that can help relax women’s constraints and improve their welfare, including interventions in Côte d’Ivoire and Democratic Republic of Congo to increase households’ access to mechanization technologies and childcare services.

This event is part of the World Bank Group’s yearlong Gender Equality and Development +10: Accelerate Equality initiative, which explores the important progress made and lessons learnt over the last 10 years in promoting girl’s & women’s empowerment, women’s leadership, drive for a transformative change toward gender equality, shifting power relations between women and men, and engaging women as agents of change for green, resilient and inclusive development (and for social cohesion, peace & stability in FCV settings). It will also take stock of remaining challenges, while strengthening partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders in the quest to #AccelerateEquality.