Gender equality is a human right and a strategic imperative for the financial sector. Yet gender gaps persist across access to financial services, leadership representation, financial health, and inclusion. These disparities are reinforced by structural barriers, restrictive norms and unequal economic participation.

Women are powerful agents of change and leaders of solutions to social and environmental challenges. They are financial decision makers, asset accumulators, employees and business owners across both the formal and informal economy.

Banks are essential partners in the collective mission to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Delivering this impact and aligning finance with gender equality objectives can help banks to be more resilient and tap into new markets, customer segments and previously unmet demand.

What we mean by gender equality and women’s empowerment

  • Gender equality refers to the state in which all individuals—regardless of gender—have equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities to fully participate in society and the economy.
  • Women’s empowerment is the process by which women gain control over their lives, exercise their power to act and make decisions for themselves, access resources and operate within systems that support equality and inclusion.

Key areas through which financial institutions can advance gender equality and women’s empowerment

  • Gender-responsive leadership and work environment: Driving equality throughout organizations
  • Portfolio shift: Embedding gender criteria into financing and investment decisions
  • Financial health and inclusion: Designing inclusive products and services
  • Ecosystem shift: Influencing partners, suppliers, and policymakers
Resources and opportunities
Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Target-Setting Guidance for Banks – Co-authored with UN Women, this practical roadmap supports institutions in embedding gender equality into decision-making, target setting, and operations.

 

For UNEP FI Members

Join the Healthy and Inclusive Economies Community of Practice, a shared member space focused on advancing gender equality, financial health and inclusion, decent work, and social impact more broadly. Contact Laura Diaz Zea to join.