COVID-19’s impacts around the world are worse than they were in September 2020. Far from a return to “normal,” women and girls are saying that their situation continues to get worse. Fati Musa in Nigeria says, “Women have suffered a lot during the pandemic, and we are not yet recovering from this hardship.” 55% of women reported gaps in their livelihoods in 2020. Now that number is 71%. For food insecurity, the number has jumped from 41% to 66%. 63% of women say that their greatest need is mental health support. Women have stepped up to the challenge. "We are women leaders in emergency . . . we have the capacity to say: I have a voice and a vote, I am not going to stay stagnant . . ." (Colombia). In Niger, women are saying, “Now we women are not afraid to defend ourselves when a decision does not suit us.” The constant struggle is taking its toll. Women are almost twice as likely to report mental health challenges as they were in 2020. As one woman in Iraq describes, “If any opportunity appeared, the man would be the favorite . . . This psychologically affected many women...” This report represents the voices of more than 22,000 people in 23 countries since September of 2020.
As the global economy undergoes two major shifts—the AI revolution and the green transition—we are at a critical crossroads: these transitions hold the power to help bring about a more equitable economy, but today’s markets are failing women. If we fail to act now and reshape markets, we risk aggravating inequality for generations to come and missing out on trillions worth of global growth. This report highlights systemic barriers women face in today's economies, the cost of inequality, and the opportunities for investing in women to create a thriving future for all. Read More
Strive Women’s 2024 baseline research assessed participants' financial health, financial inclusion, and business performance. This brief highlights findings related to entrepreneurs' confidence, decision-making, and control within Strive Women’s Financial Health Framework. Read More
This report explores women’s rights and women-led organizations’ perspectives regarding feminist monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) across six countries. It aims to i) understand and document how these organizations see and use feminist MEAL approaches; ii) enhance understanding of feminist MEAL’s most important aspects; and iii) share with actors at all levels how to conduct and support its approaches more effectively. Read More