Transforming pathways in the Global South for young women to work

As the pandemic and the climate crisis continue to disrupt livelihoods, the global economy faces the prospect of another worldwide recession that would widen inequality on a global scale. To advance sustainable development and unlock both Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent work and economic growth and SDG 5: Gender equality, it is imperative to focus on solutions rooted in addressing and transforming systemic challenges and open pathways for those who have historically been left on the economic margins—particularly young women.

Facing gendered structural and social barriers and without early training and experience, a majority of young women in the Global South are either economically inactive or pushed into unpaid or underpaid informal jobs that exclude them from social protection benefits, limit the development of needed professional skills and networks, and preclude their entry into the formal workforce—trapping them in cycles of economic dependence.

On July 27, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) and the Echidna Global Scholar Alumni Network hosted a conversation focused on transforming the work experiences of young women across the Global South, exploring critical changes needed in tertiary education systems, education-to-employer interfaces, and entrepreneurial policies and practices.

Below are visual representations of both the panelists’ presentations and the readouts from the breakout room discussions, respectively:

This event was part of the Echidna Global Scholar Dialogues, which present the latest evidence in girls’ education from Global South researchers, provide an overview of efforts by local policymakers to address critical issues to improve learning opportunities and life outcomes for girls and young women, and share implementation challenges from practitioners on the ground. Event participants have the opportunity to share their own experiences and challenges and connect with others working on similar gender equality and education issues.