This paper examines gender inclusion and women’s empowerment with a market systems lens. It draws on an earlier gender inclusion framework for market systems commissioned by the M4P Hub and published as a Springfield Paper in 2012 as well as an updated and expanded version of the framework published by the BEAM Exchange in 2016. This paper provides a brief background on the M4P context for gender inclusion, explores the evolution of intentional gender inclusion in economic market systems programming since 2008, outlines proven approaches to influence and facilitate private sector engagement, and describes supplementary time-bound approaches to promote and support inclusive market systems change that benefits women. It concludes with a set of guiding principles for inclusive market systems, presenting concepts that are fundamental to our understanding of gender inclusion.

AWID (Association for Women’s Rights in Development) (2004) Intersectionality: A Tool for Gender and Economic Justice, Women’s Rights and Economic Change No. 9, August 2004, Toronto: Association for Women’s Rights in Development.

Bekkers, H., Carter, V. and Jones, L. (2015) Women’s Economic Empowerment: How Women Contribute to and Benefit from Growth: Gender Mainstreaming in Agricultural Sectors, Canberra: Market Development Facility.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (no date) Gender Integration Criteria [pdf] <https://www.gatesgenderequalitytoolbox.org/wp-content/uploads/BMGF-Gender-Integration-Criteria.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and UN Women (2011) ‘Speeches of the Honourable Bev Oda CIDA Minister and Ms. Michelle Bachelet Executive Director UN Women’, UN Conference, Ottawa, 3–5 October 2011.

DFID (Department for International Development) (2011) Promoting the Financial Inclusion of Women and Girls: A Toolkit (June 2011 draft), London: Department for International Development.

Faveri, C., Wilson, K.J. and Shaikh, P. (2015) ‘Making markets work for women: how push and pull strategies can support women’s economic empowerment’, in L. Jones (ed.), Financial and Market Integration of Vulnerable People: Lessons from Development Programmes, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Garloch, A. (2015) A Framework for a Push/Pull Approach to Inclusive Market Systems Development, ACDI/VOCA and USAID – Leveraging Economic Opportunities. https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/marketlinks.org/files/resource/files/LEO_Framework_for_a_Push_Pull_Approach_to_Inclusive_Market_Systems_Devel....pdf [accessed 20 January 2020].

Hughes, C., Bolis, M., Fries, R. and Finigan, S. (2015) ‘Women’s economic inequality and domestic violence: exploring the links and empowering women’, Gender and Development 23(2): 279–97 <https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2015.1053216>.

IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) (no date) ‘Gender, Agriculture and Assets’ [website] <http://gaap.ifpri.info/> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. (2012) Discussion Paper for an M4P WEE Framework: How can the Making Markets Work for the Poor Framework Work for Poor Women and for Poor Men? Durham, UK: The Springfield Centre <http://www.springfieldcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/M4P_WEE_Framework_Final.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. (2016) The WEAMS Framework – Women’s Empowerment and Markets Systems: Concepts, Practical Guidance and Tools, The BEAM Exchange <https://beamexchange.org/uploads/filer_public/0d/50/0d5009be-faea-4b8c-b191-c40c6bde5394/weams_framework.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. and Bramm, A. (eds) (2019) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Transforming Systems through Development Practice, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing.

Kabeer, N. (2009) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Key Issues and Policy Options, policy paper, Sida’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Series, Stockholm: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kabeer, N., Nahmud, S. and Tasneem, S. (2011) Does Paid Work Provide a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment? Empirical Findings from Bangladesh, Institute of Development Studies Working Paper no 375 <http://www.lse.ac.uk/gender/assets/documents/research/choice-constraints-and-the-gender-dynamics-of-lab/Does-paid-work-provide-a-pathway-to-womens-empowerment.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

King, J. and Schneider, L. (2019) ‘Regulatory and socio-cultural enabling environments’, in L. Jones and A. Bramm (eds) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Transforming Systems through Development Practice, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing.

Maestre, M. and Thorpe, J. (2016) Unpaid Care Work: Facilitating Change towards Women’s Economic Empowerment when Market Systems Care, Institute of Development Studies, Oxfam, the BEAM Exchange <https://beamexchange.org/uploads/filer_public/fa/73/fa73f0e0-f2de-4913-b409-fb6d575dbaad/unpaid_carework.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) (no date) ‘Ghana GROW Learning Series’ [website] <https://www.meda.org/growlearning> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Nurul, S. (2016) Women’s Empowerment and Market Systems [video], BEAM Exchange Webinar, 9 March 2016 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl1zWml32gA> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Sancar, A. and Bieri, S. (2009) ‘Poverty and power: reducing gender inequality by ways of rural employment?’ Paper presented at FAO-ILO-IFAD Workshop on Gaps, Trends and Current Research in Gender Dimensions of Agricultural and Rural Employment: Differentiated Pathways out of Poverty, Rome, 31 March – 2 April 2009.

Simon-Kumar, R. (2011) ‘The analytics of “gendering” the post-neoliberal state’, Social Politics 18(3): 441–68 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxr018>.

Stoian, R., Donovan, J., Elias, M. and Blare, T. (2018) ‘Fit for purpose? A review of guides for gender-equitable value chain development’, Development in Practice 28(4): 494–509 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2018.1447550>.

The Springfield Centre (2008a) A Synthesis of the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, Bern: SDC/FDA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs).

The Springfield Centre (2008b) Perspectives on the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, Bern: SDC/FDA.

The Springfield Centre (2008c) The Operational Guide for the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, London: DFID; Bern: SDC/FDA.

The Springfield Centre (2015) The Operational Guide for the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach [pdf], 2nd edition funded by SDC & DFID <http://www.springfieldcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-09-M4P-Op-Guide-Sept2015.pdf>.

UN Women (no date) ‘Gender equality glossary’ [online] <https://trainingcentre.unwomen.org/mod/glossary/view.php?id=36&mode=letter&hook=G&sortkey=&sortorder=&fullsearch=0&page=-1> [accessed 20 January 2020].

World Bank (2011) World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development, Washington, DC: World Bank.

AWID (Association for Women’s Rights in Development) (2004) Intersectionality: A Tool for Gender and Economic Justice, Women’s Rights and Economic Change No. 9, August 2004, Toronto: Association for Women’s Rights in Development.

Bekkers, H., Carter, V. and Jones, L. (2015) Women’s Economic Empowerment: How Women Contribute to and Benefit from Growth: Gender Mainstreaming in Agricultural Sectors, Canberra: Market Development Facility.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (no date) Gender Integration Criteria [pdf] <https://www.gatesgenderequalitytoolbox.org/wp-content/uploads/BMGF-Gender-Integration-Criteria.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and UN Women (2011) ‘Speeches of the Honourable Bev Oda CIDA Minister and Ms. Michelle Bachelet Executive Director UN Women’, UN Conference, Ottawa, 3–5 October 2011.

DFID (Department for International Development) (2011) Promoting the Financial Inclusion of Women and Girls: A Toolkit (June 2011 draft), London: Department for International Development.

Faveri, C., Wilson, K.J. and Shaikh, P. (2015) ‘Making markets work for women: how push and pull strategies can support women’s economic empowerment’, in L. Jones (ed.), Financial and Market Integration of Vulnerable People: Lessons from Development Programmes, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Garloch, A. (2015) A Framework for a Push/Pull Approach to Inclusive Market Systems Development, ACDI/VOCA and USAID – Leveraging Economic Opportunities. https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/marketlinks.org/files/resource/files/LEO_Framework_for_a_Push_Pull_Approach_to_Inclusive_Market_Systems_Devel....pdf [accessed 20 January 2020].

Hughes, C., Bolis, M., Fries, R. and Finigan, S. (2015) ‘Women’s economic inequality and domestic violence: exploring the links and empowering women’, Gender and Development 23(2): 279–97 <https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2015.1053216>.

IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) (no date) ‘Gender, Agriculture and Assets’ [website] <http://gaap.ifpri.info/> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. (2012) Discussion Paper for an M4P WEE Framework: How can the Making Markets Work for the Poor Framework Work for Poor Women and for Poor Men? Durham, UK: The Springfield Centre <http://www.springfieldcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/M4P_WEE_Framework_Final.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. (2016) The WEAMS Framework – Women’s Empowerment and Markets Systems: Concepts, Practical Guidance and Tools, The BEAM Exchange <https://beamexchange.org/uploads/filer_public/0d/50/0d5009be-faea-4b8c-b191-c40c6bde5394/weams_framework.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Jones, L. and Bramm, A. (eds) (2019) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Transforming Systems through Development Practice, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing.

Kabeer, N. (2009) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Key Issues and Policy Options, policy paper, Sida’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Series, Stockholm: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kabeer, N., Nahmud, S. and Tasneem, S. (2011) Does Paid Work Provide a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment? Empirical Findings from Bangladesh, Institute of Development Studies Working Paper no 375 <http://www.lse.ac.uk/gender/assets/documents/research/choice-constraints-and-the-gender-dynamics-of-lab/Does-paid-work-provide-a-pathway-to-womens-empowerment.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

King, J. and Schneider, L. (2019) ‘Regulatory and socio-cultural enabling environments’, in L. Jones and A. Bramm (eds) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Transforming Systems through Development Practice, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing.

Maestre, M. and Thorpe, J. (2016) Unpaid Care Work: Facilitating Change towards Women’s Economic Empowerment when Market Systems Care, Institute of Development Studies, Oxfam, the BEAM Exchange <https://beamexchange.org/uploads/filer_public/fa/73/fa73f0e0-f2de-4913-b409-fb6d575dbaad/unpaid_carework.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2020].

MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) (no date) ‘Ghana GROW Learning Series’ [website] <https://www.meda.org/growlearning> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Nurul, S. (2016) Women’s Empowerment and Market Systems [video], BEAM Exchange Webinar, 9 March 2016 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl1zWml32gA> [accessed 20 January 2020].

Sancar, A. and Bieri, S. (2009) ‘Poverty and power: reducing gender inequality by ways of rural employment?’ Paper presented at FAO-ILO-IFAD Workshop on Gaps, Trends and Current Research in Gender Dimensions of Agricultural and Rural Employment: Differentiated Pathways out of Poverty, Rome, 31 March – 2 April 2009.

Simon-Kumar, R. (2011) ‘The analytics of “gendering” the post-neoliberal state’, Social Politics 18(3): 441–68 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxr018>.

Stoian, R., Donovan, J., Elias, M. and Blare, T. (2018) ‘Fit for purpose? A review of guides for gender-equitable value chain development’, Development in Practice 28(4): 494–509 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2018.1447550>.

The Springfield Centre (2008a) A Synthesis of the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, Bern: SDC/FDA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs).

The Springfield Centre (2008b) Perspectives on the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, Bern: SDC/FDA.

The Springfield Centre (2008c) The Operational Guide for the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, London: DFID; Bern: SDC/FDA.

The Springfield Centre (2015) The Operational Guide for the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach [pdf], 2nd edition funded by SDC & DFID <http://www.springfieldcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-09-M4P-Op-Guide-Sept2015.pdf>.

UN Women (no date) ‘Gender equality glossary’ [online] <https://trainingcentre.unwomen.org/mod/glossary/view.php?id=36&mode=letter&hook=G&sortkey=&sortorder=&fullsearch=0&page=-1> [accessed 20 January 2020].

World Bank (2011) World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development, Washington, DC: World Bank.