Economic empowerment initiatives often focus on strengthening women’s capacities and opportunities. However, many barriers women face are systemic, rooted in patriarchal norms and unseen by male decision-makers, because they don’t experience them. Progress is further hampered by lack of age and disability disaggregated data about multiple barriers to women’s economic empowerment. Individual-level, multidimensional data on poverty and inequality can help reveal these barriers.

With COVID-19 reversing gains on poverty and inequality, such data is critical to ensure gender-equal recovery. Panellists will illustrate how availability of disaggregated data enabled gender-responsive action, with a focus on action in the Pacific.

Speakers

Joanne Crawford - Special Advisor, Equality Insights (IWDA)
Vaela Falefehi Ngai – Director, Women’s Development Division for the Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs
Ruth Maetala – Director, Dignity Pasifik
Kim Robertson – Adviser, Human Rights & Social Development Division, Pacific Community (SPC)
Chris Ryan – Statistician, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific