IFC commissioned a private-sector gender analysis in three countries: Cote D’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Liberia. This work investigated existing gender gaps across key thematic areas and key economic sectors and the extent to which they hinder the realization of equal opportunities for women to participate in economic development.

MSA employed three types of studies: i) desk research, reviewing existing literature in the respective countries; ii) secondary data analysis, examining existing datasets at a national and subnational level; and iii) primary data collection, conducting key informant interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders relevant to different research questions. MSA found that lack of basic education and technical skills limited entry into higher value-added activities, skill mismatches, informal employment, lower quality jobs, workplace harassment, and lack of women in leadership positions. Ultimately, the insights generated were used to inform IFC’s investment decisions in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Mozambique.