Market Insights – Gender & Education: Unlocking Inclusive, Sustainable Growth
Posted March 01, 2022
Market Insights from Sweef Capital – Education sector – January 2022
A more educated society and access to quality education will enable women in the workforce and build foundations to breach cycles of inter-generational poverty and equip more people to contribute to achieving a climate-smart and resilient future. In this market insights report, we explore the importance of education on women’s and girls’ empowerment, as well as the intersection between gender and climate considerations in education.
Education is at the centre of building human capital; from early childhood education through to lifetime learning and skills development, it is a key driver of inclusive economic growth, opportunity and productivity. Increasing educational attainment for women and girls contributes to women’s economic empowerment, which in turn, is a key factor in achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While educational attainment has been a significant factor in economic growth across OECD countries, the opportunities are not evenly spread across lower and middle income countries and gains in education have not translated into better labour market outcomes for many women. Major progress over the last decade towards increasing access to education and school enrolment rates at all levels, particularly for girls has been eroded by the COVID-19 pandemic and girls are less likely than boys to return to formal schooling.
Education, upskilling and re-skilling over the life course – especially to keep pace with rapid technological and digital transformations affecting jobs—are critical for women’s and girls’ health and wellbeing, as well as their income-generation opportunities and participation in the formal labour market.
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