PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN – 133 PROMOTING PRO-POOR GROWTH: EMPLOYMENT- © OECD 2009 Promoting Employment for Women as a Strategy for Poverty Reduction

a. Place women’s economic empowerment prominently on the agenda in high-level policy dialogue with Governments b. Engage with and support government authorities, employers ’ organisations and trade unions to promote gender sensitive labour market reforms and reduce the costs of doing business to facilitate women's entry. c. Support organisations that promote women entrepreneurs in informal and formal economy and non-state actors in sensitising governments to the need for tackling cultural and social barriers. d. Facilitate increase in supply of gender-sensitive business development opportunities and increase and diversify access to finance for women, including microfinance. Why is employment important for poverty reduction Employment is often described as the most important link between economic growth and poverty reduction. Providing income earning opportunities through wage employment or self employment for poor women and men is crucial to raising incomes and overcome poverty. However, currently women across the developing world enjo