Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment: Gender-Based Violence Landscaping Study

An increasing body of evidence shows the critical importance of addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in the world of work as an essential component of women’s economic empowerment (WEE). GBV contributes to poverty, magnifies the gender gaps in labor force participation and pay, and affects advancement opportunities. 

This study, the most comprehensive of its kind, is a detailed review of the evidence base for addressing GBV in areas of WEE interventions including: preventing and mitigating GBV in areas including intimate partner violence, within formal and informal workplaces, public spaces and transport, and in technology-facilitated forms. 

Conducted by the USAID Women’s Economic Empowerment Community of Practice (USAID WEE CoP), the study endeavors to answer the learning question, “What are proven and evidence-based approaches that governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and societies are using to mitigate GBV and harmful behaviors that reduce women’s safety and ability to participate in and benefit from the economy in general and WEE in particular?”

Carried out between May and September 2021, this report draws on a literature review of over 250 sources, as well as interviews with 37 key informants. Using a typology to explain and identify the approaches with the strongest evidence base, the report presents 13 proven, 12 promising, and seven potential interventions for preventing and mitigating GBV. This accompanying infographic summarizes the findings.

A full elaboration on the methodology and limitations as well as a complete list of documents consulted for the literature review are included in the supplemental annexes to this report.