The Future is Female!

By: Rachita Sharma, Special Editor | Monday, 9 May 2022

Women in Kuwait have been making great strides towards achieving economic and societal empowerment over the past few years. although the country gave it's women the right to vote and hold elected office only in 2005, yet Kuwaiti women have achieved ample ground improving their societal status and as contributors towards the country's economy.

According to data by the World Bank Gender Statistics Data Bank, back in 2013 about 45 percent of women in Kuwait have actively been part of the country's workforce. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2014, the number of women owned companies reached 13 percent in 2014.

Close to a decade down the line and women in Kuwait have kept the momentum in terms of gaining further representation in the corporate, business, entrepreneurship and political sphere.

While the entire world was reeling under the economic impact of the global pandemic, women were the ones who were disproportionately affected by it all. Although the effects were seen in terms of a first time drop (since 2006) in percentage of women in Kuwait's workforce, Kuwait still topped the charts among GCC countries in terms of participation of women in the workforce.

The country and its government is now steadily moving towards empowering more women to play an active role in the country's economic development. In August 2021, the Kuwait government approved the World Bank Kuwait Country Engagement Framework (CEF) which includes a stand-alone Gender Engagement Framework. The framework suggests that all advisory services rendered by the World Bank in Kuwait be viewed through a gender lens. According to the CEF, efforts will also be made to undertake a cross-cutting approach to increasing women's economic opportunities. The CEF aims to create a conducive environment to support women's employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

In addition, the Kuwait government has set in motion Kuwait's Vision 2035, which includes advocacy for women in the workplace. In order to increase women's engagement in the labor market, the Government of Kuwait's mandate aligns withone of the five goals, i.e. Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality. Women are slated to play a key role in the country achieving its Vision 2035.

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