The Cost of the Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda; Mainstreaming Environment and Climate for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development

The joint report prepared by the World Bank, UNDP–UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) and UN Women provides a unique quantification of the costs in terms of lost growth opportunities and an estimate of what societies, economies, and communities would gain if the gender gap in agriculture is addressed. The findings of this report send a strong signal to policymakers in Africa as well as development partners that closing the gender gap is smart economics. Closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity could potentially lift as many as 238,000 people out of poverty in Malawi, 80,000 people in Tanzania, and 119,000 people in Uganda. Included are policy recommendations to close the gender gap.