2023-12-26-牛津经济研究院-性别智能投资促进北非包容性增长_61页_940kb

GENDER-SMART INVESTING FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN NORTH AFRICA

Key Points:

• Female Employment Gap: North Africa has low female labor force participation (under 20% of employed working-age population) and higher unemployment rates among women post-COVID.

• Entrepreneurship & SMEs: These are crucial for economic growth and job creation, but SMEs in North Africa face structural challenges like access to finance and regulatory barriers.

• Gender-Smart Investing (GSI):

  • Aims to bridge gender financing gaps by targeting businesses with gender-diverse leadership, women-owned firms, or products/services that empower women.
  • Linked to stronger employment growth and resilience, aligning with SDGs (e.g., SDG 5, 8, 10).

• Constraints:

  • Women's access to finance is disproportionately low due to cultural and social barriers, despite legal reforms.
  • Limited female participation in leadership and ownership hinders GSI impact.

• Solutions & Recommendations:

  1. Policy Reform:

     • Integrate gender-specific measures into SME strategies and align policies to support female entrepreneurship.
     • Provide explicit inclusion in national action plans and develop targeted programs.

  2. Enhance Policy Alignment:

     • Ensure cross-sectoral coordination; align strategies with evolving global and regional contexts.

  3. Broaden Stakeholder Engagement:

     • Encourage public-private partnerships (DFIs, IFIs, private sector) to leverage resources and foster an enabling environment.

  4. Holistic Approach to GSI:

     • Focus on capacity building, skills development, and inclusive workplace practices beyond capital infusion.

  5. Expand DFI/IFIs Role:

     • Increase investments in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and Egypt, emphasizing value-chain approaches (e.g., procurement from women-owned SMEs).

  6. Shift Social Perceptions:

     • Promote gender equality in household and workplace roles to enable women's economic participation.

Conclusion: GSI is critical for achieving inclusive growth, economic resilience and sustainable development, but sustained policy commitment and cultural shifts are necessary to address deep-rooted barriers.