This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
As Kenya navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, the government's economic response has been crucial in cushioning the impact on businesses and citizens. However, a closer look at these policies reveals a glaring omission: the lack of consideration for gender.
Studies have shown that women dominate small-scale micro and informal businesses, yet they are marginalized in formal employment. This means that benefits from pay roll tax reliefs may not be equal between men and women. Furthermore, women are also marginalized in the small formal enterprise sector, which is a priority of the economic stimulus.
Unless there are deliberate efforts to mainstream gender in access, women-owned enterprises are likely to be marginalized due to their low bargaining power. The demand for non-essential goods is currently low, and it's expected to be even lower as households prefer to spend only on essential services like food and health.
Small food kiosks, significantly run by women, have been driven out of business due to recommended social distancing rules. Schools have closed, child care facilities have also been closed, jobs have been lost, and child care burden has shifted to households and more specifically to women.
The pandemic has severe implications on women, and thus the need for gender-sensitive policies. Gender mainstreaming in economic policy pays dividends to the economy. Women are not only the biggest contributors in subsistence farming but also bear the biggest responsibility in food preparation and serving.
There is overwhelming evidence that women's incomes have larger impacts on nutrition, education, and health compared to men's incomes. Studies also provide evidence that women's economic empowerment increases women's ability to contribute to major household decisions and hence increases gender equality and improves the bargaining power for women.
Gender equality reduces overall economic inequalities, leading to more stable and resilient economies. We have a great opportunity to ensure that the various economic responses, including the most recent economic stimulus package, have more efficient outcomes in terms of protecting/cushioning all citizens (men, women, children, and youth) while enhancing economic resilience and growth.
Ensuring that gender mainstreaming is key in the implementation framework is a good way to achieve the twin goals. The need for gender mainstreaming in social protection and other economic policies is even greater now during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the emerging inequalities are addressed while protecting the people (men, women, youth, and children) and the economy at large.
Gender programming in social protection and other economic policies would be a good strategy to ensure more efficient outcomes for the people of Kenya and a more resilient economy with more chances of a 'quick bounce-back' after the pandemic.
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