1. About this page

This page is designed to help financial institutions (FIs) quickly familiarise themselves with the topic of gender and how to integrate its lens into transactions they finance. This should be read alongside the ‘Gender’ page under the Value-Add section.

  • Additional considerations

    Formal specific technical guidance is provided at the end of the page and in the Resources section, including Performance Standard 2: Working and Labour Conditions and IFC Good Practice Note: Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity.

    This page provides an overview and general guidance. FIs should carefully consider each company based on its specific characteristics and circumstances including scale, location, technology, management capacity and commitment and track record. Risks, impacts and opportunities relating to a particular company or sector can also change over time for a number of reasons (e.g. changes in the applicable laws and regulations or in the type of the company’s activities or assets). FIs may need to engage external experts in some situations (see ‘Advice for FIs’ section below).

2. Introduction

BII views gender equality and the promotion of equality of opportunity as fundamental to well-functioning economies, and therefore is something it aims to support through its investments.

It is important that all companies consider how business operations can impact men and women differently. Sometimes (particularly in emerging markets) there are local, cultural or national customs and practices, which inform recruitment and employment practices. Gender-based discrimination and inequality most frequently affects women. This guidance focuses on how discrimination against women can be addressed, though it acknowledges that men can also be victims of gender-based discrimination. FIs and their clients should apply sound judgment and decision-making to promote equality among men and women and to reduce or remove gender-based discrimination from the workplace.

Examples of gender-based discrimination include: allowing gender prejudice or stereotypes to influence the selection, promotion and advancement of employees; sexual harassment in the workplace; restriction of access to trade unions or worker’s councils; and poor policies regarding maternity and childcare arrangements.

Sectors in which gender-based discrimination are likely to be particularly relevant are those that:

  • Rely on large numbers of women, including some forms of manufacturing (specifically textiles), agriculture, education, retail and healthcare. It should be noted that suppliers might also employ large numbers of women in difficult working conditions.
  • Have traditionally been male-dominated and continue to limit entry into the workforce to women, or where a male-dominated culture remains despite an increased number of women. Examples include mining, construction and financial services. The issues are about entry into the workforce and operating equally within it.

3. Why financial institutions and their clients should address this topic

Good employment terms and conditions for all employees, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or other traits or background, provide companies with business benefits such as, a wider talent pool to recruit from, enhanced productivity and improved staff retention. There is also significant evidence to show that Board and executive level diversity (including gender, age, skills, sector and geographic experience) can improve decision-making and overall business performance.

4. Advice for financial institutions

FIs should assess the extent to which gender is factored into the business plan and operations of the company. Specifically:

  • Is there evidence of discrimination based on gender in terms of hiring, promotion, terms and conditions of employment (including risks of gender-based discrimination and workplace sexual harassment)?
  • Are there opportunities to improve business performance through a more proactive approach to gender issues?
  • Are there any specific supply chain risks or opportunities that relate to gender? (i.e. reduce risk of discrimination in supply chains, and enhance productivity through proactive engagement on gender)

At a minimum, all companies must comply with local regulations and should include within their employment and human resources policies, commitments to gender equality, as required within the ILO Core Conventions, particularly Convention 111 concerning Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation.

FIs should check that the company has not been prosecuted fined or otherwise exposed (for example in the media) for violating gender equality regulations.

There are a number of measures that companies can implement to promote gender equality in the workplace. Some measures are listed below. FIs should assess which policies the company follows, and which it might be required to adopt to prevent gender-based discrimination.

  • Creating a supportive management culture

    Senior management commitment plays a key role in creating and maintaining a non-discrimination culture in the company. FIs should take this into account when assessing companies’ approach and practices regarding non-discrimination.

  • Implementation of non-discrimination policy - Assigning roles and responsibilities

    To ensure proper implementation of the non-discrimination policy the company should have assigned clear responsibility and accountability to an identified executive manager or member of its human resources team. FIs should check that the company has an appropriate non-discrimination policy in place and has assigned responsibility for it.

    The company should also have a plan and operational guidelines to ensure that the policy is properly implemented. Implementation should be monitored and reported on at management and Board level. Some companies may also report on gender issues through their external reporting or through regular newsletters to employees or stakeholders.

  • Recruitment and retention

    Companies should:

    • Ensure recruitment, retention and advancement decisions are based solely on candidate merit and not based on gender.
    • Ensure advertising and recruitment does not create implicit gender bias because of the location/ type of adverts.
    • Ensure recruitment panels include both men and women.
    • Promote men and women equally.

  • Terms of employment

    Companies should:

    • Pay equal wages and provide equal benefits to men and women for equal work.
    • Conduct regular fair-pay reviews.
    • Provide maternity leave that is equivalent to or better than national requirements and undertake appropriate proactive management / provision of facilities (e.g. breastfeeding facilities) and other care related services.
    • Guarantee that after maternity leave the worker returns to the same or an equivalent job with no substantial change in contractual or other relevant terms.
    • Provide paternity leave that reflects national requirements as a minimum.
    • Implement policies in respect of redundancy and downsizing that are not biased against women.

  • Working conditions and accommodation

    Companies should provide adequate ablutions and sanitary facilities for women that are separate from male facilities.

    Where worker accommodation is provided this should be safe, secure and segregated.

  • Representation

    FIs should assess whether workers groups and/or collectives and/or unions represent both men and women’s interests and include female representation. If this is not the case, FIs should work with companies and the relevant parties to address the issue.

  • Grievance procedures

    Companies should implement an accessible, confidential and fair grievance mechanism. Its procedures should enable women to report workplace grievances (including incidences of intimidation and sexual harassment) and have a process to address them effectively.

5. Further resources

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