Applying a gender lens to financial inclusion

UNCTAD's trade policy dialogues seek to reinforce engagement with member states by providing a forum for candid and focused discussion among trade negotiators on topical issues in international trade policy from a development perspective.

This session, organized in partnership with UN Women and the International Trade Centre (ITC), will address gender and financial inclusion. Financial inclusion remains a key development concern, which has become more acute with the pandemic. Of particular concern is the persistent gender gap. Women have in general significantly fewer opportunities to gain access to financial resources than men. 

For example, 65% of women had a financial account compared to 72% of men in 2017, according to the World Banks' latest available figures.

The session will provide a forum to exchange recent experiences and views on applying a gender lens to financial inclusion. It will focus on innovative policies, initiatives and measures, with a view to identifying further needs, gaps and bottlenecks and implications for future action. 

The discussion will draw on relevant recent UNCTAD research.