ADB's Work in Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Women face many challenges which prevent their full integration in the global economy. These include: limited access to education and skills training; gender wage gaps; and unequal distribution of domestic work. Even when women participate in the labor force, this does not automatically lead to a reduction in gender-based inequality. In developing Asia, only 49% of women of working age participate in the labor force compared with 80% of men. Further, a woman in developing Asia is paid only 77% that of her male counterpart, on average, and their labor force participation has been declining event before the pandemic.

Yet, women’s economic empowerment encourages productivity, increases economic diversification, and income equality. ADB supports projects across the region that prioritize science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for girls, women’s entrepreneurship, action to reduce women’s unpaid care work, and maximizing women’s future potential in high-values economies.

Climate action can be a force for gender transformation. Evidence shows that in countries with high levels of gender inequality, there is also higher vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change. Climate extremes degrade ecosystems and place heavy burdens on women and girls, whose livelihoods are highly dependent on natural resources. Effective climate change adaptation takes place when the social drivers of vulnerability are addressed.

ADB supports innovative approaches to gender responsive climate finance, developing gender responsive nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and supporting women’s participation in the renewable energy transition to achieve a just transition. With growing levels of investment in renewable energy there is great potential to bring women and female entrepreneurs into the sector. This can only happen by building women’s skills, addressing gender norms, providing women with finance, and changing policies that prevent women participating in the energy sector.

Urban development initiatives need to ensure equal gender access to infrastructure services. Women need to be involved in decision making on urban issues affecting their lives and environment. Infrastructure which neglects to consider the needs of women and girls impedes their equal access to critical resources such as clean water, health, sanitation, and digital communications. Further constraints on women and girls are placed by their unequal access to transport in cities, threats to their personal safety and security, and lack of representation in urban governance. ADB supports the redesigning of cities to include women, improving women’s access and use of transport, and digital technology for women.

While Asia's economic growth puts pressure on the region’s limited natural resources, many places continue to struggle with high levels of poverty, food insecurity and poor nutrition. Strategies for agriculture and rural development do not always directly benefit women, and without targeted actions to support female farmers, existing disparities may be amplified. Unless gender inequality in agriculture is addressed comprehensively, the region will struggle to achieve food security.

ADB is initiating rural infrastructure and technology projects that include women in food security and safety decision making. The projects also expand women’s job opportunities in agricultural value chains and help women farmers gain access to finance. The bank supports building women’s capacity through training and skills development in climate-smart agriculture technologies, practices, and crop varieties.

National plans, policies, institutions, and budgets need to comprehensively assess gender gaps and identify action to close these gaps. Changes to promote gender equality need to be backed by adequate resources, and be systematically monitored for progress in reducing gender discrimination.

To date, women occupy only 6% of seats on corporate boards and only 18% of seats in legislatures across the region. ADB supports initiatives to empower women by equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to participate in decision-making processes and the development agenda.