Challenges of Empowering Women in the Labour Market and Entrepreneurship in the Context of Full-Scale War and Gender-Responsive Recovery of Ukraine

This comprehensive report explores the multifaceted challenges and opportunities related to women’s economic empowerment in Ukraine amid the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion. It investigates how the war has disrupted women’s employment, entrepreneurial activity, and access to education, while also creating new vulnerabilities and transforming gender roles. Drawing on desk research, focus group discussions with diverse groups of women, and in-depth interviews with government, civil society, and employment service representatives, the study identifies critical barriers such as gender pay gaps, economic inactivity, social stereotypes, and institutional weaknesses. It also highlights the experiences of internally displaced women, migrant women abroad, and the partners of military personnel and former prisoners of war.

The report underscores the importance of targeted support, inclusive recovery planning, and gender-sensitive policymaking. It concludes with evidence-based recommendations for state authorities, NGOs, and international actors aimed at promoting sustainable gender equality and enhancing women’s participation in rebuilding Ukraine’s economy. The study was conducted by UN Women and the Ukrainian Center for Social Reforms under a project funded by the Government of Sweden.

Year: 2024

Source: https://tinyurl.com/3h9sbc6e