Botswana: Country tops the region in women’s representation in senior management positions

Botswana has been ranked as a global leader in the inclusion of women in senior management positions according to a survey released in March.

The 2012 Grant Thornton International Business Report, which was released to coincide with International Women’s Day, 39% of senior management positions in Botswana are held by women.

The percentage places the country in a tie with the Philippines and Thailand for second position in the world.

The highest score in the Survey was achieved by the Russian Federation, at 46%, while the global average was 21%.

On the African continent by South Africa followed Botswana with 28%.

Japan recorded the lowest score in the survey at 5%, with other OECD low scorers including Germany at 13% and Denmark at 15%.

Botswana’s figure was more than twice the combined average of the G7 countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US – who were reported to collectively have only 18% of their women in senior management positions.

The most improved score in this year’s survey was for Turkey, which now boast 31% of its senior management positions being filled by women.

But overall the survey warned that around the world the figures for women are generally either stagnant or in decline. For example, women hold 22% senior management positions in Latin America, down from 28% in 2009; Asia Pacific economies 19% down from 25% in 2009 and the BRIC economies 26% down from 30% in 2009.