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ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, February 27, 2024, /African Media Agency/ – Malagasy women and girls face multiple disadvantages that affect their ability to accumulate human capital in education and health, participate in economic opportunities and make decisions, according to a new World Bank report titled “Unlocking the Potential of Women and Adolescent Girls – Challenges and Opportunities for Greater Empowerment of Women and Adolescent Girls in Madagascar.” Women and girls do not have access to the same opportunities as men and boys in the country, and are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing their vulnerability to poverty, violence and discrimination.
“Investing in the social and economic empowerment of women and adolescent girls can lead to sustainable and equitable economic growth and benefit the country. This is why the World Bank is supporting Madagascar through the recent East African Girls’ Empowerment and Resilience Program or EAGER and other programs in the portfolio aimed at promoting girls’ education, increasing women’s productivity in the labor market and strengthening the capacities of local administrators, community leaders and service providers to effectively implement policies. gender equality reforms,” explains Atou Seck, World Bank Operations Manager for Madagascar.
The report is a mixed methods study that aims to generate knowledge and deepen understanding of gender inequalities in Madagascar, with a particular focus on adolescence. The study identifies factors and strategies that help young women make decisions about education, work and starting a family. It draws on the most recent survey data, as well as qualitative data collected in the Analamanga, Atsimo-Atsinanana and Sofia regions. The study involved focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews with young women, parents of adolescent girls and key informants, which provided a better understanding of gender inequalities and their drivers in Madagascar.
The report reveals that while access to education is a challenge for everyone in Madagascar, girls face additional obstacles unique to them. A significant proportion of adult women (aged 15 to 49) are illiterate, with the figure reaching 55.8% in the Menabe region, compared to 26.9% among men. Malagasy women also face difficulties accessing maternal, sexual and reproductive health services, as indicated by the low percentage of deliveries attended by professionals (45.8%) and the importance of unmet needs. regarding contraception (14.6%). Furthermore, 31.1% of girls aged 15-19 have already started having children, which can have long-term negative effects on their education, health and employment opportunities, and make them more vulnerable to poverty.
The lack of investment in human capital weighs heavily on women’s potential to participate actively and productively in economic opportunities. Malagasy women are less likely to participate in the labor market than men, with only 71.3% of them compared to 82.4% of men. A significant proportion of working women are family workers (14% of women compared to 5% of men) and a smaller percentage of women work as employees (24% compared to 35% of men). Furthermore, the gender pay gap persists and stands at 28.9 percentage points in favor of men. High rates of domestic violence (41% of women in a relationship having suffered at least one form of violence) and child marriages (38.8% of Malagasy women aged 20 to 24 were married for the first time before reaching 18 years of age) further limit their decision-making power and their ability to act.
« The survey data, and even more so the qualitative data recently collected for this report, highlight the troubling and deep connections that exist between poverty, lack of access to education, lack of economic opportunity , lack of autonomy and voice among girls and child marriage. The report also shows that beyond directly addressing identified gender gaps, the underlying drivers of inequalities also need to be taken into consideration when developing relevant policies. These factors include patriarchal social norms, lack of access to basic services, vulnerability to shocks and climate change, and poverty and lack of economic and social capital among the most vulnerable. “, explain Miriam Muller, Senior Social Issues Specialist and author of the report.
To reduce existing disparities between men and women, the report identifies four strategic directions: helping girls and young women to complete their schooling, improving women and girls’ access to professional health care, improving women’s economic opportunities , enable them to be better heard and act, and eliminate all forms of gender-based violence.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for the World Bank.
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Source : African Media Agency (AMA)