Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

11-13-1995

Keywords

Gender and development, women's economic empowerment, microfinance

Abstract / Description

One of the main messages from the Beijing Conference was that we in the international institutions and the donor community should pay more attention to strengthening the economic opportunities for enhancing the status of women. And that, apparently, is our comparative advantage. There is a growing feeling, especially among the women's organizations from the developing countries who were represented in Beijing, that even during periods of economic growth and revival, there are not sufficient economic opportunities generated to absorb the women in the labor force into the formal sector. Consequently there must be means and attention focused on the role of the informal sector in generating income and employment opportunities for women. In that particular context, one of the main topics discussed was the provision of financial and technical services to assist women in creating or strengthening micro enterprises. These were cited as promising approaches. Panel after panel dwelt on the success stories of Grameen Bank, Women's World Banking and ACCION International, which were cited as examples of these successful approaches. And we are quite fortunate today to have Nancy Barry from Women's World Banking on our panel today

Note

Transcript No. BB-03, part of the World Bank program "Beyond Beijing: Acting on Commitments to the World's Women," held November 6–17, 1995, sponsored by the Office of the Senior Adviser on Women's Issues and the Gender Analysis and Policy Group. Copyright notice on document: © The World Bank (text reproductions must include this copyright statement).

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