The theme of the 2026 International Women’s Day campaign was “Give to Gain,” a call to recognise that contributions of time, resources, visibility, mentoring, knowledge, or support help strengthen communities and accelerate progress toward gender equality. Drawing inspiration from this spirit of intentional giving, and as part of our SDG 8 initiative, we invited several of our authors to share their research insights, inspirations, and policy recommendations on gender parity, decent work, and economic growth.
Across a series of interconnected blog posts, they offer a rich and thoughtful collection of perspectives—highlighting not only the challenges that remain, but also the transformative possibilities that emerge when we commit to advancing equity together.
In Give to Gain: Why Investing in Women Entrepreneurs Strengthens the Global Economy, Dr. Glory Enyinnaya emphasises that Africa has some of the highest rates of female entrepreneurship, and yet economic outcomes remain unequal. One of the most powerful takeaways from this piece is that it is not access to finance that determines success as a female entrepreneur, but rather change readiness. As for the future? Enyinnaya offers four developments that offer reason for optimism. You can also check out a webinar in which she highlights the crucial role of trust in achieving greater levels of financial inclusion.
We asked all our writers to tell us about a female figure that inspires them. For Professor Giandomenica Becchio, we can be in no doubt. In her blog, ‘Economics has a Woman Problem – Barbara Bergmann Told Us So Decades Ago,’ Becchio tells us about one of the founders of feminist economics. Barbara Bergmann’s (1927-2015) pioneering work ‘addressed the economic vulnerability of single parenthood, often women-led, and urban poverty.’ In this piece, Becchio highlights that many of the inequalities that Bergmann identified years ago persist today, despite the closing of the gender education gap. She outlines several frameworks and pathways that could help towards greater equality.
For Dr. Bridget Irene, beyond academia it is the female entrepreneurs themselves who offer sources of inspiration. In her blog, Reimagining Women’s Economic Futures: Why Gender, Enterprise, and Sustainability Matter for SDG 8, she identifies several gaps in gender and entrepreneurship research, and highlights her new book series as a natural home for scholars investigating lived experiences, particularly from the Global South, and the intersection of gender, enterprise and sustainability. She cites several promising avenues developments for advancing women’s economic equality.
Finally, Dr. Jason S. Entsminger, Dr. Heather Stephens, and Dr. Xiaoyin Li, focus on disparities faced by rural women, which remains an understudied area. In their blog, ‘What community-level features may promote entrepreneurial opportunity for rural women?’ they highlight that rural entrepreneurial ecosystems are diverse rather than uniform, and that rural women engage in both necessity‑driven and place-based entrepreneurship. Discussing their research, to be published in a forthcoming special issue in Small Business Economics on rural entrepreneurship, they argue that targeted, place‑based strategies—improving childcare, expanding financial access, enhancing education, and strengthening community networks—can help foster stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems and promote rural women’s economic participation and prosperity.
Taken together, these contributions highlight not only the barriers that persist, but the vibrant possibilities that emerge when women are equipped with the resources, recognition, and supportive environments they deserve. As we carry forward the spirit of International Women’s Day, may this collection serve as a catalyst for deeper inquiry and more intentional action—ensuring that the momentum toward gender equality, decent work, and inclusive growth continues to build long after this campaign ends.