17 Economies, 1 Mission: Accelerating Economic Gender Parity by 2030

In a time of economic volatility and transforming global political landscapes, advancing gender equality remains key to building more resilient and inclusive economies. As the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report highlighted, gender gaps persist across multiple economic dimensions, from labour force participation to pay and leadership in the public and private sectors.

At the current rate, it will take 134 years – approximately five generations – to close the global gender gap across education, health, economic participation and political empowerment. Parity in economic participation and opportunity is projected to take even longer – 152 years – underscoring the urgent need for action.

The World Economic Forum’s Gender Parity Accelerators are tackling these challenges in 17 economies, including Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico and Panama. In Latin America, the accelerators are run in collaboration with the InterAmerican Development Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Through targeted action plans, these accelerators have supported over 1 million women in accessing economic opportunities and are mobilizing resources to address systemic barriers to gender parity. During 2024, action plans were launched in Ecuador, Honduras and Guatemala.

These efforts are part of the Global Gender Parity Sprint 2030, hosted by the Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society. This global platform brings together businesses, governments and international organizations to accelerate gender parity as a basis for economic resilience and innovation.

The Sprint is engaging with three key global transformation processes, in care, in tech, and in the green transition, to identify pathways for labour markets, and industries to ensure a level playing field.

As part of this effort, accelerators operate on an 18-month timeline, enabling governments, private sectors and 50-100 of the largest national employers in the participating countries to redefine workforce strategies, embed gender parity principles in their operations and promote inclusion through technology.

The Gender Parity Accelerators are championing innovative programmes tailored to each country’s context.

In Ecuador, the accelerator action plan launched in July 2024 is supporting the implementation of the Violet Economy Law, a gender parity framework engaging over 150 businesses and industry associations to promote workplace inclusion and pay equity.

In addition, accelerator collaborations with private sector companies have allowed for the development of tools to monitor gender pay gaps and implement data-driven policies benefitting urban and rural communities. The accelerator has also supported Ecuador in its efforts to implement the actions of its first gender-balanced cabinet.

Honduras launched its accelerator in July 2024 as part of the Forum's Partnership for Central America. A public dashboard now consolidates information on services available to women entrepreneurs, improving access to resources.

In addition, accelerator training programmes supported by Banco de América Central (BAC) and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) have equipped multiple cohorts of women with financial literacy skills. Meanwhile, the Female Leadership Programme is set to graduate its inaugural class in 2025, fostering future women leaders.

Australia announced the set-up of a new Gender Parity Accelerator in October 2024, aligning with the government’s Working for Women strategy. This initiative is promoting workplace inclusion and preparing women for jobs of the future, driving the country’s projected $128 billion in economic gains from advancing gender parity.

The accelerator efforts also contribute to the Future Made in Australia plan, a $55.6 million investment over four years, allocated to build the Women's Careers programme, expanding support for women's training in clean energy and other key industries.

Additionally, a new voluntary Commonwealth Supplier Registration process allows businesses to self-identify as women-owned or led, facilitating the measurement and analysis of their participation in government contracts.

Ecuador’s accelerator has engaged over 150 private sector companies, including DHL, Nestlé, Unilever, Holcim, Banco Pichincha and Banco Guayaquil, to adopt inclusive hiring practices and pay equity measures. As a result, women’s participation in small businesses has risen by 33%, and in large corporations, by 23%.

In Guatemala, the accelerator has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with private companies and public institutions, leading to the systematic reporting of investments in gender equality. A key deliverable achieved this year is the launch of the Action Plan for more inclusive Employment and Entrepreneurship Participation (IPEG).

Developed with national business associations, IPEG enhances financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs, particularly indigenous women. The accelerator focuses its efforts on women, recognizing their pivotal role in economic sustainability and local development, as evidenced by the fact that Guatemalan women reinvest an impressive 90% of their income into their families and communities.

Jordan’s accelerator has made significant progress in workplace safety and equity. Through collaboration with Wexport, 439 companies have integrated women into traditionally male-dominated export-related jobs, promoted 173 women to senior roles and implemented pay transparency measures.

Partnerships with the Ministry of Planning and USAID Makanati have also advanced anti-sexual harassment legislation, ensuring private sector companies include such policies in their bylaws and enhance victim protection through improved reporting mechanisms.

The thought leadership of the Forum’s Global Future Council on the Care Economy has informed accelerator efforts by highlighting crucial areas of focus to strengthen and resource care systems.

In 2024, the council released a white paper highlighting the principles, practices, and collaboration models that contribute to more comprehensive and accessible care systems. The white paper also showcases examples of innovative models and practices for policy solutions, care infrastructure, knowledge and information systems, technological innovations, and attitude-shifting initiatives that work for care.

The accelerators offer critical insights for scaling gender equality globally. In Latin America, the Forum collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank to publish a Guide to Promote Gender Equality in Companies, providing actionable strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces.

The Forum’s 2025 DEI Lighthouse report showcases impactful case studies from accelerator countries, such as Bank al-Etihad in Jordan, which is advancing financial inclusion for women through comprehensive programmes.

The Gender Parity Accelerators invite governments and businesses to join their mission of advancing gender equality. Organizations can contribute by collaborating with existing accelerators or establishing new ones; expanding the global network working to close gender gaps by 2030.

For more details, contact us to explore opportunities for collaboration.