Gender Equality & Inclusivity

Gender equality is a human right and a foundation for significant global progress. Yet, inequality and related challenges remain prevalent across the world and continue to block global sustainable development. Advancing gender equality is a core development objective of U.S. foreign assistance—gender inequality, discrimination, and violence cut across all thematic areas and development sectors.

Effective gender equality strategies prioritize human rights; address social and cultural norms and institutions; engage all of society; and include legislation and policies that promote gender equality and nondiscrimination. This equitable, intersectional, and inclusive approach to overcome gender inequality depends on engaging all communities; families; and individuals, including people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to create true and lasting change.

Fast Facts

• The World Economic Forum reports that it will now take 132 years to reach full gender parity, an increase from previous predictions, due to the ongoing negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening global food crisis, and increasing humanitarian emergencies.
• An estimated 70% of women and girls face GBV in humanitarian contexts and the crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan demonstrate the deep impacts of conflict on women and girls and their access to basic services and education.
• The USG’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) program reached 12 million women in its first year (2019-20), 9 million of whom were the direct recipients of USAID programming and partnerships.

Key U.S. Legislation, Strategies & Programs

Legislation:

• Women, Peace, and Security Act

Strategies:

• National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality
• Root Causes of Migration Strategy
• USAID’s 2022 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy
• U.S. Global Strategy To Empower Adolescent Girls
• U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally (GBV Strategy)

Programs:

• USAID:
  • Women’s Economic Empowerment
  • Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response
• State Department:
  • The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief