Working Paper Series Swedish International Development Agency**

This paper argues that a systematic gender analysis of the current crisis is critical to develop viable solutions and for furthering the trend toward gender equality. It analyses the short- and long-term impact of the current economic crisis with a focus on developing countries. It identifies the multiple channels and transmission mechanisms through which the global economic crisis has affected women‘s lives and explores different areas where the burden of the crisis falls on poor women, using current indications, micro-level evidence and lessons learned from previous crises. The paper shows that the magnitude and types of effects are context-specific: they are likely to vary across countries, sectors, households and among women, depending on the economic, demographic and social circumstances. In the short run, many women are expected to lose their jobs, particularly those working on the export sectors and/or holding flexible jobs. At the same time, a fall in the supply of micro-credit is expected to result in a decrease in earnings among self-employed women workers in trade, agriculture and other sectors. Additionally, there will likely be an increase in th