Africa: African Women Are Among the Most Hardworking, but Least Privileged in Terms of Income and Opportunities

Four papers focusing on gender, poverty and inequality received considerable attention, Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at the 10th African Economic Conference in Kinshasa, as they highlighted constraints and proposed solutions regarding women’s financial inclusion and empowerment, as well as to their access to land.

The first presentation by United Nations University researcher Maty Konte investigated the effect of gender discrimination in access to finance. For Konte, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment have been a central goal in achieving successful and sustainable development. However, using the period 1980-2010 as a sample for her investigation, she noted that the majority of women in many developing countries are still disproportionately disadvantaged in terms of economic opportunities and access to resources.

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