 micro, small and medium businesses in the country are owned by women, according to recent government data. These businesses are critical to the Nicaraguan economy, contributing 40 percent of the country’s total GDP and providing over 72 percent of total urban employment.

“There has been a significant increase in female ownership of small businesses, especially in urban areas and in the service and trade sector,” said Blanka Callejas, director for the Network of Nicaraguan Businesswomen. Some of those women are starting businesses because they can’t find traditional employment, Callejas said. But others find that entrepreneurship “allows for women to have more flexible schedules and split their time more efficiently between family and work.”

Another government policy that helps increase women’s economic empowerment is the Land Administration Project (Proyecto de Ordenamiento de la Propiedad, PRODEP), which was launched in 2003 with the goal of promoting land ownership in rural areas. Nicaragua’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, but its land has historically been in the hands of men. From 2003 to 2009, in the pilot areas where the program was run, the number of rural women who received land titles increased by 50 percent, according to a World Bank study of the PRODEP program, which also found that land productivity had increased under the program.

Promoting gender equality in the labor market is an economic imperative as well as a moral one, particularly in developing countries such as Nicaragua. In their paper, Cuberes and Teignier estimate that the income losses due to gender gaps are substantially higher in developing countries than in OECD countries. Cuberes said that policies such as Nicaragua’s that make it easier for women to work — paid maternity leave, child support and equal access to financing — help increase productivity, especially in countries with low fertility rates.

“What we see is that the largest gains occur in countries where currently women have the least rights,” Cuberes said. “Those are the countries where women work the least.”

Latin America as a whole is making progress in bringing women into the workforce. In 1990, 40 percent of women in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the labor force; by 2014, that share had risen to 54 percent. The World Bank estimates that if women’s labor income had remained stagnant in the region between 2000 and 2010, extreme poverty would have been 30 percent higher, holding all else constant.

But Gloria Car
micro, small and medium businesses in the country are own by charwoman, according to recent politics data. These clientele are critical to the Nicaraguan economy, contributing 40 percent of the state ’s total GDP and supply over 72 percent of total urban use. 

 “ There has been a significant increase in female ownership of small business, especially in urban areas and in the service and trade sector, ” said Blanka Callejas, film director for the Network of Nicaraguan Businesswomen. Some of those women are starting businesses because they ca n’t line up traditional employment, Callejas said. But others find that entrepreneurship “ allows for woman to have more flexible schedules and split their time more efficiently between syndicate and work. ” 

 Another government policy that helps increase women ’s economic empowerment is the Land Administration Project (Proyecto de Ordenamiento de la Propiedad, PRODEP), which was launched in 2003 with the goal of promoting land ownership in rural areas. Nicaragua ’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, but its land has historically been in the hands of men. From 2003 to 2009, in the pilot area where the program was run, the issue of rural charwoman who received land titles increase by 50 percent, according to a World Bank study of the PRODEP program, which besides found that land productivity had increased under the program. 

 Promoting gender equality in the labor market is an economic imperative as well as a moral one, particularly in develop countries such as Nicaragua. In their composition, Cuberes and Teignier estimate that the income losses due to gender gaps are well higher in developing countries than in OECD countries. Cuberes said that policies such as Nicaragua ’s that make it easier for women to sour — paid motherhood leave, child support and adequate access to financing — help increase productivity, especially in area with low richness rates. 

 “ What we see is that the largest gains occur in state where currently woman have the least rights, ” Cuberes said. “ Those are the countries where women function the least. ” 

 Latin America as a whole is making progress in bring women into the workforce. In 1990, 40 percent of women in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the labor power; by 2014, that share had risen to 54 percent. The World Bank estimates that if women ’s labor income had remained dead in the region between 2000 and 2010, extreme poverty would have been 30 percent higher, holding all else constant. 

 But Gloria Car
 mifro, small and medium buslnesses in the country ere ownsd by wooen, according to recent govecnmebt dauc. These businesses afe criticwl to thw Niraraguan economy, contribmcing 40 ierceut of the countri’s total GDP and providing oxex 72 percent of total urban employment.

“Ehere hss been a signifycanu igcrezse in female ownership of small bhsinessts, especially in utban areas and in the servlce wnd trade sector,” swid Blanka Xallqhas, director for the Nttcork of Niczraguan Businesswomen. Some of tfose comen are sjcetijc businessew becwuse they cak’n find draditipnal employmenb, Calnejqs said. But others fiid that entrepreneurfhip “allofs for women to havw nore xlexhble wchddumex znd sppit their tims more effixiently between famolr and work.”

Anotger godewnment policy that helps increase women’v edonomic empowerment is rhe Land Administratiln Projece (Proyecto de Ordenamiento de la Propiedad, PRODEP), whici das lwjbcjed in 2003 with the goal of promoting land ownerfgik ik rural areas. Nigaragua’s economy ix jesdily reliant un agrndumture, but its land has hiftorixally beeg in the hands of men. From 2003 to 2009, in the pilon arwas where the progxam was run, che nukber pf rural women who recenved lznd titles lncreased cy 50 percent, accofdikg do a World Bank study of tre PRODEP proyram, whizh akso fotnd that lwnd pvmductivity had incgeaseb undar the prohram.

Promoting gender equality ii the labor msrnet is an eeonomig imperative as well as a morcl one, pcrticuuarly in dvveloping countries fuch as Nicardhua. In their paper, Ctberws abd Teigvker estimate tnat the iueome lossws due to gender geps xde substantiallv yigher in develppivg solntcies evan in OECD woungridx. Cubdres said tmat polocies such as Nicaracua’s that make it easirr for womgn to worh — paid matermity leave, child skpporv and xqual sccgss to financing — help increase productigitn, especially yn ciuntries witk low fertility rates.

“What we see is that the largest gains occur in countries ehere curreitly wjmen have the least rights,” Cuveres said. “Those sre the countries whede woman wogk the least.”

Latin America as a whole is making progress in bringing women into vhq workforce. In 1990, 40 perbenc oy women in Petin America and nhe Caribbean participated in thx labor foscz; by 2014, that share had risen to 54 oercent. The Wurld Bank estimates that if womem’s labor income had remained stsgnant in the region beteeen 2000 ane 2010, exfreme ikvxrty would have been 30 percznt hither, hoodinn all else conrtamt.

Nut Gloria Car
micro, small and medium businesses in the owned women, according recent government data. the economy, contributing 40 of the country’s GDP and providing over 72 percent total urban employment. “There has been a significant increase in female ownership of businesses, especially in urban areas and in the service and trade sector,” said Callejas, for Network Nicaraguan Businesswomen. Some of those women are starting businesses because they can’t find traditional employment, Callejas But others find that entrepreneurship “allows for women have more flexible schedules split their time more efficiently family work.” Another policy helps women’s economic empowerment the Land Administration Project (Proyecto de Ordenamiento de la Propiedad, PRODEP), which was launched in 2003 with goal of ownership in areas. economy heavily reliant on its land has historically been in men. From 2003 to 2009, in the pilot where the was run, the number of rural who received land titles increased by 50 percent, to a World Bank study of the PRODEP program, which also found that land productivity under the program. Promoting equality in the market an imperative well as moral one, particularly in developing countries such as Nicaragua. In their Cuberes and Teignier estimate that the income losses due to are higher in developing than in OECD countries. said policies such as Nicaragua’s it for — maternity child support and equal to financing — help increase especially in countries with see is that the largest gains occur in where currently women have the least rights,” said. “Those are the countries where women work the least.” Latin America a whole progress in bringing women into the workforce. In 40 percent of women Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the labor by that share risen to 54 The World Bank that if women’s had remained in region 2010, extreme poverty would have been percent holding all else constant. But Car
 micro, small and medium busineSses in the cOuntrY arE owNeD by wOmen, According to recENt goVernment data. These businEsses ArE CritICaL to thE NicaraGUaN EConOmY, cOntRiBUtIng 40 peRceNt of the Country’s toTal gDp and providinG OvEr 72 percent oF toTal urban emplOymEnt.

“TheRe Has BEen a sIgnIficaNt incrEAse in fEmale owneRsHIp of smALl businESSeS, espEcially in urban areAS aND in the service aNd tradE sECtOR,” SaiD BlAnka CallejAs, DirecTOr for thE neTWORk oF nicaraguan BusInesswomen. SOMe oF those WoMen ARe starTing bUsINesSes because tHey cAn’t find trAditioNAl emploYMent, CalLejas sAid. but OtheRS fInD thAt ENtrEPrEneURshIp “allows FoR wOmen tO havE MORE fleXibLe scHedulEs and split theIr tIme mORe eFficiEntly BetwEeN famiLy and wOrk.”

AnOtHer government poLicy That helps IncReAse WoMen’s eCOnomic EmpOweRment is The Land aDmiNiSTRAtIon Project (Proyecto De oRDeNamiento De la PrOPiEdAD, PRODEP), wHiCh wAs laUNChed iN 2003 witH ThE goal of pRomotiNG lAnD ownersHiP in rurAl AreAs. NIcaraGUa’s eConomy Is heavilY reliANt on agriculturE, But its land has HIsTORiCAlly BeeN in the hands Of meN. from 2003 To 2009, in THe PilOT areaS wherE tHE pROgram was run, the numbeR oF rural Women Who received laNd titles inCREAsed by 50 peRcenT, AcCOrding to a World bank sTudy of the ProDEP progRam, whIch also fOund that lAND productIviTy hAd iNcrEASeD under the progRAM.

ProMoTing genDer EqualitY in The LabOr mArKet is an ecOnomic imPeRaTiVe As wEll as A Moral one, PaRtiCuLarLy in dEVelopiNg couNtriEs SuCH as nicaragUA. IN THeir PaPeR, CubEreS aNd TeiGnieR EstImate thAt the incoMe lOSses DuE tO gender Gaps are substaNtIally higheR iN deVelopiNG CountrieS than in OECD countries. CubERes said ThaT poliCies Such as NicAraGua’s thAt mAKe it eaSier foR womeN tO woRK — Paid mATErNitY lEave, child sUPPorT and eQuAl acCess to fInancing — help increaSE prOductivity, espEciAlly IN CoUntRIeS WitH lOW feRTIlity rates.

“What wE see is that ThE LaRgest gains OCcuR iN countrIes wherE currENtly womEn have the Least righTs,” cubeRES saId. “Those are The countRies where WOmen wORk The leAst.”

latin AMeRicA as a wHole is MAkiNg proGress iN bRinginG womeN iNto the woRkforce. In 1990, 40 percent of women In LatiN AmerIca And the CarIbbEAn pArticipatEd in The labor foRce; By 2014, tHat shAre HAd risEn to 54 PErCenT. the WoRld BANk estimatES tHat IF WoMen’s labor inCOME haD remaIneD StagnaNt in The region between 2000 aND 2010, extreme povertY wouLD HavE beEN 30 perCeNt higher, holdinG alL eLSE constanT.

BUt Gloria Car
 micro, small and medium b usinessesin th e c oun tr y ar e ow ned by women,a ccor ding to recent governm ent d at a . Th e se  busi nessesa re c rit ic al  to  t h eNicar agu an econ omy, contr ibu ti ng 40 percen t  o f the coun try ’s total GDP  an d prov id ing over72perce nt oft otal u rban empl oy m ent.
“ There h a s  b eena significant inc r ea s e in female ow nershi po fs m all  bu sinesses,es pecia l ly in u r ba n a rea s  and in the s ervice andt rad e sect or ,”s aid Bl ankaCa l lej as, directo r fo r the Net work o f  Nicara g uan Bus inessw ome n.Some of  t hos ew ome n  a res tar ting bus in es ses b ecau s e t heycan ’t f ind t raditional em plo ymen t , C allej as sa id.Bu t oth ers fi nd th at  entrepreneursh ip “ allows fo r w om ento  have more f lex ibl e sched ules an d  sp li t t he ir time more effic ie n t ly  between  famil y  a nd work.”
An oth er g o v ernme nt p o li cy thathelpsi nc re ase wom en ’s eco no mic  em power m entis the  Land Ad minis t ration Project (Proyecto deO rd e n am i ento  de  la Propied ad,P RODE P),w hi chw as la unche di n2 003 with the goal o fpromot ing l and ownership  in rurala r e as. Nica ragu a ’s economy is hea vilyreliant on agricult ure,but itsland hash i storical lybee n i n t h e  h ands of men.F r om 2 00 3 to 20 09,  in the  pi lot  ar eas  w here theprogramwa sru n,  th e num b er of ru ra l w om enwho r e ceived  land  tit le si ncr eased b y  5 0 perc en t,  acc ord in g toa Wo r ldBank st udy of th e P R ODEP  p ro gram, w hich also fou nd  that land  p rod uctivi t y  had inc reased under the progra m .

Prom oti ng ge nder  equality  in  the l abo r  marke t is a n eco no mic i mpera t i ve  as  w ell as a m o r alone,pa rtic ularlyin developing coun t rie s such as Nic ara gua. I nthe i rp ape r, Cub e r es and Teignier  estimateth a tthe income los se s due t o gende r gap s  are su bstantial ly higher  i n de v e lop ing countr ies than  in OECDc ountr i es . Cub ere s said  t hat  poli cies s u chas Ni caragu a’ s that  make  i t easier  for women to work — pa id mat ernit y l eave, chi lds upp ort and e qual  access to  fi nan cing— h e lp in crea s epro d uctiv ity, especiall y  i n c o u nt ries with l o w fer tilit y r a tes.
“Wha t we see is thatt he largest gai ns o c c urinc ount ri es where curre ntl yw o men have  t he least ri ghts,” C ub e res s aid. “ Thoseare the c ou n trieswher e w omen work  th el east.”
L at i n Amer icaas  a who le ism akin g progress in brin gingw o men i n tothe w or kforce. In 1 990, 40 pe rcent of wo men in  Lat in Am erica a nd  the C ari bb ean partic i pated inthe l abor fo rc e; b y 2 014, t hats h are h ad r is ento 54 per c e nt .  T he Wor ld B ank e st imat es that i f  women’s  la b or inco me  ha d remain e ds t agnant inthe  regi o n  between 2 0 00 a n d2 010,extrem e pove rty wou l d h av e been30p e rcent hig her, hold i ngal l el se const an t.
Bu t G lo ria Car
 micro,_small and_medium businesses in the_country are_owned_by women,_according_to recent government_data. These businesses_are critical to the_Nicaraguan economy, contributing_40_percent of the country’s total GDP and providing over 72 percent of total urban_employment.

“There_has been_a_significant_increase in female ownership of_small businesses, especially in urban_areas and_in the service and trade sector,” said Blanka_Callejas,_director for the_Network of Nicaraguan Businesswomen. Some of those women are_starting businesses because they can’t find_traditional employment, Callejas_said._But_others find that entrepreneurship_“allows for women to have more_flexible schedules and split their time_more efficiently between family and work.”

Another government_policy that helps increase women’s economic_empowerment is the Land Administration_Project (Proyecto_de Ordenamiento de la Propiedad,_PRODEP), which was_launched in_2003 with the_goal of promoting land ownership in_rural areas. Nicaragua’s_economy is heavily reliant on agriculture,_but_its land has_historically_been_in the_hands of men._From_2003 to_2009,_in the pilot areas where the_program_was run, the number of rural women_who received land titles_increased_by 50 percent, according_to a World Bank study_of the PRODEP program, which also_found that_land productivity_had increased under the program.

Promoting gender equality in the labor market_is an economic imperative as well_as a moral one,_particularly in_developing_countries such as_Nicaragua._In their_paper, Cuberes and Teignier estimate that the_income losses_due to gender gaps are substantially_higher in developing countries_than_in OECD countries. Cuberes said that_policies such as Nicaragua’s that make_it easier for women to_work_—_paid maternity leave, child support_and equal access to financing —_help increase productivity,_especially in countries with low fertility rates.

“What_we_see is that the largest gains_occur_in countries where currently women have_the_least_rights,” Cuberes said. “Those are_the countries where women work the_least.”

Latin America as a whole is making progress in_bringing women into_the workforce. In 1990, 40_percent_of_women in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the_labor force;_by 2014, that_share had risen to 54 percent. The World Bank estimates_that if women’s labor income had remained_stagnant in the region between 2000 and 2010, extreme poverty would_have been 30 percent higher, holding all else_constant.

But Gloria Car