Protecting the Lives and Livelihoods of Women and Girls During the COVID-19 Pandemic
About the Event The COVID-19 pandemic will likely exacerbate gender inequalities in economic opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, women-owned firms are primarily concentrated in informal or low-paying sectors, and thus lack basic formal social protections that could provide a buffer against economic distress. Often, women farmers have lower levels of access to productive inputs and information than men. In times of crisis, their farm productivity and food security will likely be hit hard. School closures and health services interruptions could interrupt the trajectories of adolescent girls at a critical life juncture. Evidence from the World Bank and other promising
