Fostering Women's Economic Empowerment through Special Economic Zones

Abstract

This global report examines the
 opportunity for special economic zones to promote
 women's economic empowerment and boost zone and
 enterprise competitiveness in developing countries. The
 research covers Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, El
 Salvador, Jordan, Kenya, and the Philippines. The study
 focuses on women's economic empowerment in the context
 of zones at three levels: (i) fair employment and working
 conditions for female employees; (ii) equal access to
 opportunities for professional advancement; and (iii)
 investment opportunities for female entrepreneurs. The study
 also examines gender-friendly policies and practices that
 support these three main goals, which include a wide range
 of options around laws, regulations, labor policies,
 gender-sensitive professional development programs, family
 support mechanisms, women's health programs, and
 supplier diversity and capacity-building initiatives. This
 study establishes the business case for investments in
 women's economic empowerment in SEZs, and identifies
 good-practice examples of recommended enablers to address
 this investment opportunity. Enablers are defined as efforts
 to counteract the negative impact of the obstacles women
 face in economic participation, and can include policies and
 programs at the government, zone, and enterprise level. The
 study provides background, evidence of challenges and
 success stories, comprehensive recommendations, and a suite
 of tools and tips to implement the recommendations successfully.