This archive report was first published on 19 August 2020.
According to a Mercer survey, conducted between September 23 and November 22, 2019, sub-Saharan Africa organizations have made significant strides in gender parity. The survey, titled 'When Women Thrive 2020,' found that 94% of women in the region have equal access to leadership roles, significantly higher than the global average of 79%.
Pressure to improve diversity and inclusion (D&I) is also higher in sub-Saharan Africa, with 68% of organizations reporting significant pressure, compared to 31% globally. This pressure comes from multiple sources, including internal and external stakeholders.
Notably, 88% of respondents in the region report that their organizations are already focused on improving D&I, with 56% having talent management practices in place for high-potential women. Additionally, 78% of organizations say women are equally likely as men to move across business units and/or geographies, compared to the global average of 71%.
The survey also highlights the importance of pay equity, with 82% of respondents saying it is part of their organization's compensation philosophy or strategy, compared to 74% globally. Furthermore, 78% of organizations have a team formally responsible for conducting pay equity analysis, compared to 72% globally.
Senior executives are also actively involved in D&I programs and initiatives, with 76% of organizations reporting this, compared to 66% globally. However, managers in sub-Saharan Africa are significantly less involved in supporting D&I efforts than senior executives, which is a major barrier to achieving progress.
According to internal labour market data for 12 organizations in the Middle East and Africa, a modest increase of five percentage points in female representation is forecast for the professional level and above over ten years. The greatest opportunity to improve future representation is through concerted efforts focused on female retention and hiring.
