We must address the shocking gender gap at global financial institutions

‘Though the share of women in leadership at these important institutions has doubled in the last two decades, not a single IFI had reached gender parity in their management ranks.’ Photograph: monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images/iStockphoto

In advance of International Women’s Day, your timely piece on the World Bank’s new report finding no equality for working women in any country (5 March) was a stark reminder of the work left ahead. However, it’s important ask whether there is equality for working women at the World Bank itself, or any of the seven major international financial institutions (IFIs) that my colleagues and I studied in 2023.

At the time we found that, though the share of women in leadership at these important institutions has doubled in the last two decades, not a single IFI had reached gender parity in its management ranks. Since the study was released, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has achieved gender parity in management – which is to say that only one IFI has achieved this at any point in time. It’s also worth noting that gender equality gains are easily reversed and prone to periods of stagnation.