Course Overview

This program equips policymakers, economists, planners, and development practitioners with the tools to analyze how gender inequality affects macroeconomic outcomes—and how macroeconomic policies can either reduce or exacerbate gender gaps. It aligns with the World Bank Gender Strategy, IMF Gender Mainstreaming Framework, and global evidence on gender‑responsive economic policy.

Participants learn how gender inequality influences growth, productivity, labor markets, fiscal outcomes, and poverty reduction—and how to design macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive and sustainable development.

2. Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the macroeconomic implications of gender inequality.

• Analyze gender gaps in labor markets, productivity, human capital, and access to finance.

• Integrate gender considerations into macro‑fiscal, monetary, and structural policies.

• Assess the gendered impacts of economic shocks and policy reforms.

• Apply World Bank and IMF tools for gender‑responsive macroeconomic analysis.

• Design gender‑responsive budgeting and policy interventions.

• Produce policy briefs aligned with international gender and development frameworks.

3. Target Audience

• Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Gender officials

• Central bank economists and financial sector regulators

• World Bank–funded project teams

• Development practitioners and policy analysts

• Researchers and academics in gender and economics

• Civil society and NGO program managers

• Private‑sector development and labor market specialists

4. Detailed Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Gender & Macroeconomics

• Why gender inequality is a macroeconomic issue

• World Bank and IMF frameworks for gender‑responsive macroeconomic policy

• Gender gaps in labor markets, education, health, and finance

• Economic costs of gender inequality

• Case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Module 2: Gender Inequality & Economic Growth

• Gender gaps in labor force participation and productivity

• Human capital accumulation and intergenerational effects

• Gender inequality and long‑term growth trajectories

• Measuring the macroeconomic cost of gender inequality

• Structural transformation and gender dynamics

Module 3: Gender & Labor Markets

• Occupational segregation and wage gaps

• Informal sector dynamics and unpaid care work

• Barriers to women’s economic participation

• Policies to promote decent work and equal opportunities

• Gender‑responsive labor market reforms

Module 4: Gender, Fiscal Policy & Public Finance

• Gender‑responsive budgeting (GRB)

• Public expenditure analysis through a gender lens

• Tax policy and gender equity

• Social protection and care economy investments

• Integrating gender into Medium‑Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs)

Module 5: Gender, Monetary Policy & Financial Inclusion

• Gendered impacts of inflation, interest rates, and credit conditions

• Financial inclusion gaps and access to finance

• Central bank policies and gender considerations

• Digital finance and women’s economic empowerment

• Gender‑responsive financial sector regulation

Module 6: Gender & External Sector Dynamics

• Trade liberalization and gendered employment effects

• Global value chains and women’s participation

• Migration, remittances, and gender dynamics

• Climate change, external shocks, and gender vulnerability

• Gender in regional integration and trade agreements

Module 7: Gendered Impacts of Economic Shocks

• COVID‑19, climate shocks, and conflict impacts on gender equality

• Macroeconomic stabilization and gender outcomes

• Designing shock‑responsive social protection systems

• Resilience and adaptive capacity of women and vulnerable groups

Module 8: Tools for Gender‑Responsive Macroeconomic Analysis

• Gender‑disaggregated data and indicators

• Gender‑aware Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs)

• CGE models with gender extensions

• Gender impact assessments of macroeconomic reforms

• World Bank and IMF diagnostic tools

Module 9: Policy Design for Gender‑Inclusive Development

• Policies to close gender gaps in education, health, and finance

• Care economy investments and macroeconomic returns

• Private‑sector development and women‑owned enterprises

• Gender and climate‑smart development

• Aligning national policies with global gender commitments

Module 10: Practical Exercises & Capstone Project

• Conducting a gender‑macro diagnostic for a simulated country

• Designing a gender‑responsive fiscal or monetary policy intervention

• Preparing a gender‑responsive budget statement

• Developing a gender‑inclusive economic reform package

• Capstone: Produce a Gender & Macroeconomics Policy Brief for decision‑makers

5. Training Methodology

• Expert‑led lectures and guided discussions

• Hands‑on gender‑macro data analysis

• Case studies from World Bank and IMF programs

• Group work and scenario‑based simulations

• Practical sessions on gender budgeting and policy design

• Capstone project with peer and instructor feedback

6. Deliverables & Outputs

Participants will receive:

• A Gender & Macroeconomics Toolkit (frameworks, templates, datasets)

• Gender‑responsive budgeting and policy analysis templates

• Diagnostic and reporting tools

• Capstone project report and presentation

• Certificate of Completion from Regewall Training Institute