World Bank: Constraints of Women in Accessing Jobs

The World Bank commissioned the project. The World Bank aims to support the government by designing a National Jobs Creation Program. Since women are one of the main beneficiaries of the program, the World Bank was interested in conducting a quick diagnostic which would identify the main employment constraints that they face in accessing jobs or becoming active. However to understand the challenges and constraints that women face, it is crucial that the perspective of men also be taken into account. Employers are also crucial to this exercise as they will provide insight on their hiring practices, internal company policy, and good practices which can be implemented at other companies. The diagnostic entailed a qualitative research segment comprised of 32 focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews. The focus groups were conducted all over Lebanon with employed, unemployed, and inactive females and employed males. The study findings provided the World bank with the framework required to design the program.