At a moment when many countries of the MENA region are looking to accelerate economic growth and build more stable, open societies, this report argues that greater women’s economic empowerment holds one of the keys. It asserts that despite challenges some countries are facing in guaranteeing women equal access to economic opportunity, progress is underway and can be further nurtured through targeted, inclusive and coordinated policy actions.

Corporate institutions have pushed the case of women's rights from a business perspective, promoting the concept of investing in women as a mutually beneficial tool to better the economy and society. The business case for gender equality is integrated across all levels of the private sector, from holistic macro approaches on economic empowerment through corporate culture, to specific products that invest in women. This study will examine the private sector's role as a responsible global agent. It will determine what is being done in order to promote women's rights through corporate culture, investments, and products. The cases under review will highlight the disparity between corporate gender initiatives and economic empowerment. This study will also analyze how the private sector defines its role in regards to gender and human rights, whether or not these initiatives could be considered as a tool for gender equality, and if there is an opportunity to advance women's rights.

Based on focus groups and interviews with nearly 4,000 women, men, girls, and boys from 20 countries, this book explores areas that are less often studied in gender and development: gender norms and agency. It reveals how little gender norms have changed, how similar they are across countries, and how they are being challenged and contested.

Report on the results and plans for the future of the U.S. Agency for International Development regarding gender issues

While Tanzania has been at the forefront of creating a positive legal framework and political context for gender equality, certain legal, regulatory, and administrative barriers still hinder women's full participation in private sector development. This report analyzes these barriers and makes recommendations for needed change, to ensure women's full contribution to private sector development and economic growth in Tanzania. Building on intensive stakeholder consultations and the findings of numerous studies, notably the MKURABITA diagnostic and the 2003/4 Investment Climate Assessments for Tanzania and Zanzibar, this report examines these gender-related barriers to growth and investment. It highlights legal and administrative constraints that have a disproportionately negative effect on female-headed businesses, and makes recommendations for needed reforms. Addressing these issues would not only help unlock the full economic potential of women, but would help improve the environment for all businesses in Tanzania. While Tanzania's economic growth has been strong, this report finds that if the country were to bring female secondary schooling and female total years of schooling to the same level as now enjoyed by males, this could produce up to an additional annual percentage point of growth - a valuable contribution to achieving the 6-8 percent annual growth targets of the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP or MKUKUTA).