Gender Issues in Financial Liberalisation and Financial Sector Reform

This paper examines gender issues in relation to financial liberalisation and financial sector reform. It aims to demonstrate that the processes of financial liberalisation and financial sector reform are not gender-neutral and that, therefore, gender analysis has a place in the design and implementation of financial sector restructuring. Failure to take gender issues into account may lead to inefficient and inequitable outcomes in terms of women’s access to financial markets and through them financial services (credit and savings principally). This analysis is intended to inform policy dialogue within bilateral agencies, principally between gender/women in development desks and sections responsible for economic reform and programme aid. Beyond this the paper is a background resource to feed into the design of more gender-aware adjustment programmes.