IDOS hosted an international workshop in Bonn, focusing on gender-responsive social protection and employment policies in low- and middle-income countries. Experts discussed key challenges such as women’s heightened vulnerability, social norms, intrahousehold dynamics, discriminatory legislation, and administrative barriers.
©IDOS
Under the title “Gender-Responsive Social Protection and Employment Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries” the event took place on 21–22 November and was part of the IDOS projects “Feminist Employment Policies”, “Gender Inequality and Social Policies” and “Stability and Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)”. The workshop brought together distinguished scholars, policymakers, and development practitioners to examine the latest research on social protection and employment with a focus on gender.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a driver of economic growth. However, progress remains slow, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where gender disparities often begin in childhood, shaping and limiting women’s future employment opportunities. To address these critical gaps, the workshop featured research papers on diverse topics, including child labor, cash transfers, intrahousehold dynamics, structural transformation, jobs and digitalisation, pensions, care policies and trust, training and education, female entrepreneurship and wage labor, and crisis protection.
IDOS experts presented a framework paper on gender-responsive social protection and employment policies. The presentations fostered dynamic discussions, generating insightful policy recommendations to advance gender equality in social protection and employment strategies.
