Thursday
March 11
2021

Analysis: Rural Women Can Drive Green Recoveries

By Parimita Mohanty, Annette Wallgren

The post-pandemic recovery packages so far proposed by Asia-Pacific governments invariably omit a key demographic: rural women. Unless policymakers quickly apply a gender perspective to their spending priorities, this large and vital group will be left behind, and the economic impact of official programs will fall short of potential.

By now, most countries in Asia and the Pacific have proposed some sort of post-pandemic recovery package. Many include investments in sustainability, which the United Nations has repeatedly urged governments to undertake. Some plans currently include only budget totals, with policymakers yet to allocate the spending.

Regardless of their current level of detail, all of the region’s recovery programs omit a key demographic: rural women. Unless governments quickly bring a gender perspective to their spending priorities, this large and vital group will be left behind, and the economic impact of official programs will fall short of their potential.

Photo courtesy of Nandhu Kumar.

Source: Project Syndicate (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Coronavirus, Energy
Tags
renewable energy, rural development, women entrepreneurs