Gender equality and social inclusion
Gender equality and social inclusion
Women entrepreneurs selling solar products to new customers in India. Photo @Pollinate Group
Engaging the private sector as champions for gender equality and social inclusion is a critical step on the path towards equal economic opportunity and participation for all. While governments have a role to play in creating policies which encourage inclusive economies, in most countries, private businesses are the largest employers and provide a wide variety of goods and services to communities.
The Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic will exacerbate the inequalities and hardships faced by already disadvantaged groups, particularly women and girls. Women are shouldering much of the economic burden and insecurity of COVID-19, due to an increase in unpaid domestic labour, less stable employment often in the informal economy, and unequal participation in decision and policy-making processes. Despite these challenges, women and people from diverse groups will play a crucial role in COVID-19 recovery efforts, as drawing on the skills, experiences, economic contribution and engagement of all will be vital for economic recovery. BPP initiatives will promote the economic empowerment of women and people from diverse groups, to ensure their meaningful participation in COVID-19 response and that the efforts of the private sector contribute to a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery.
Why gender equality and social inclusion in business?
Women currently face constraints to participating in the private sector and gaining benefits from such participation. This is particularly the case for women who experience greater disadvantage and exclusion, including women with disabilities, indigenous women and women from minority groups. Women can lack the capital and resources to become entrepreneurs or the ability to exercise buying power as consumers. Constraints to women’s full economic participation in, and benefit from, the private sector include: social norms that define which tasks men and women should perform, how much women should be paid, and how genders should interact; definitions of acceptable female behaviour; perceptions of women as being less capable than men; caring responsibilities; and participation being seen as inappropriate or unnecessary. Despite these constraints, women’s participation in the economy has been increasing globally.
The cost of excluding people with disabilities is also significant. The International Labour Organization estimates that national economies lose 3% to 7% of GDP when people with disabilities do not have equal access to employment. The barriers that people with disabilities experience in engaging with the private sector include: attitudes; inaccessible physical environments, information and communication; and systemic and structural barriers such as discriminatory policies and legislation.
Businesses are recognising the evidence of the value of diversity in their organisations in contributing to both social and financial returns, and are developing creative approaches to keeping women engaged, building their skills and promoting them to leadership roles. Having a diverse workforce and ensuring women are in leadership roles enhances business performance including through better risk management, improving employee engagement and productivity, attracting talent and bringing more diverse views to solve complex problems. The benefits of disability inclusion are also significant. When people with disabilities can access livelihoods and participate in the private sector, the individual, their family and broader society benefits, with positive flow-on effects throughout the economy.
Providing increased access to goods and services that meet the needs of diverse populations also presents a significant opportunity for businesses. Similarly, businesses perform at their best when the broad range of skills, expertise, and networks within communities are utilised.
However, progress made to date risks stagnating due to the impacts of COVID-19 on women’s economic participation and opportunities for people with disabilities. Supporting the economic empowerment of women and people from diverse groups will be crucial to harness all skills and talents for economic recovery, ensure that economic recovery efforts do not leave anyone behind, and avoid entrenching existing inequalities.
How the BPP supports partner businesses
All partnerships under the BPP have a focus on delivering economic and social benefits to women and girls in line with the Australian Government’s priority focus on promoting gender equality in the development program. Disability inclusion, like gender equality, is a cross cutting priority for Australia’s international engagement anda key development priority for the Australian Government.
The BPP assists partner businesses to invest in new business approaches that support economic recovery and deliver on social, environmental and commercial outcomes. BPP can provide partners with access to DFAT’s resources, including:
- Deep knowledge of development as well as the business, political and regulatory environment in partner countries
- Expertise in development program management, safeguards, and gender and disability inclusion
- Technical assistance through access to advisers and technical specialists
How businesses are addressing gender equality and social inclusion
There are many good examples from businesses around the world making changes in the workforce, value chains and to providing goods and services to promote gender equality by addressing the needs of women and people with disabilities as consumers.
The social impacts of these changes can include:
- Increased income for women and people with disabilities
- Improved access for diverse groups to assets, jobs, training, appropriate products and services (everything from banking to childcare)
- Increased ability for women and people with disabilities to make decisions at home, and in their work or business
- Changes to policies, practices and attitudes to support the work and businesses of women and people with disabilities
The BPP is calling for partnerships to support gender equality and social inclusion in the Indo-Pacific.
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