The findings of a gender assessment undertaken in Jamaica will be unveiled this Thursday (March 9) during a panel discussion, as part of Jamaica’s commemoration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday (March 8).

The assessment, which is being supported by the World Bank and the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica looks at the fact that despite Jamaica’s noted progress in various areas of gender equality, equal access to economic opportunity is still a distant goal for many Jamaican women.

The research delves into the implications of economic inclusion for women, which have become more important given the country’s current demographic challenges highlighting the need for required investments that will effectively translate into better economic opportunities for women.

The panel discussion, which will take place at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston at 9:30 am, will be attended by Olivia Grange, minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Emina Tudakovic, High Commissioner for Canada in Jamaica and Eliana Rubiano-Matulevich, World Bank Senior Economist.

The panel discussion will look at effectively translating investments into better economic opportunities for women.

The panellists include Sharon Robinson from the Bureau of Gender Affairs; Dr Clover Hamilton-Flowers from the Ministry of Education and Youth and Mrs Mareeca Brown from the Planning Institute of Jamaica. The moderator is Christina Da Silva, head of cooperation at the Canadian High Commission.

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8. The theme for the International Women’s Day 2023 is ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.’

The World Bank Group joins with the Canadian High Commission to discuss these and other issues during the launch of the recently published Gender Assessment for Jamaica, as we celebrate International Women’s Day.