GIWPS Managing Director Dr. Jeni Klugman participated in a panel discussion at the McCourt School of Public Policy about the role of technology in closing the gender gap in economic participation. Dr. Klugman emphasized that across sectors, gender gaps in the world of work are large, pervasive, and persistent. Systemic constraints like adverse social norms and discriminatory laws limit women’s economic opportunities. Yet social protection has the potential to close these gaps, and innovative technology advances in digitizing services like banking and social payments can help expand women’s financial inclusion.
Dr. Klugman was joined in conversation by Professor Anne Cammisa and Alexa Roscoe, the digital economy lead in the Gender Secretariat of the World Bank’s IFC. The event was co-sponsored by the Georgetown Women in Public Policy Initiative and the Georgetown Technology Policy Initiative.