Gender Equality

Five Farms, Six Billion Lives At the heart of global food security lies an apparent contradiction. While industrial agriculture dominates headlines and policy discussions, 608 million family farms scattered across the developing world quietly produce 35% of the planet’s food on just 12% of agricultural land123. These smallholder farmers, working plots smaller than most suburban backyards, support approximately 3 billion people45 - nearly 40% of humanity. Their story reveals both the remarkable resilience of traditional farming systems and the urgent need for transformation as planetary boundaries strain under agricultural pressure. ...

The Stark Geography of Energy Poverty Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as the epicenter of global energy inequity, housing 80% of the world’s electricity-poor population—600 million people living predominantly in rural areas where grid extension remains economically prohibitive12. The region’s 43% electricity access rate masks devastating disparities between urban areas achieving 81% access and rural communities languishing at 34%, a gap that widened during the pandemic as population growth outpaced electrification efforts34. ...

A History of the Gap and How We Measure It The gender pay gap has deep historical roots in the gendered division of labor and societal norms regarding women’s participation in the workforce. To begin with, equal pay legislation has been implemented in many countries—with the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention dating back to 1951—yet implementation gaps and structural barriers have limited progress1. During its tracking period since 2006, the World Economic Forum has found that while some improvement has occurred, the pace of change remains frustratingly slow2. The global gender gap score in 2023 stood at 68.4% closed, representing only marginal improvement from 68.1% in 20222. Examining the constant sample of 102 countries covered continuously from 2006 to 2023 reveals that the gap stands at 68.6% closed, demonstrating the persistent nature of this inequality2. ...

Setting the Stage for Change The concept of reduced working time opens an opportunity to reimagine economic systems that respect both human needs and environmental thresholds. Shorter working hours could simultaneously support social welfare while reducing environmental pressures, contributing to an economic model that operates within the safe and just space between meeting human needs and respecting planetary boundaries. ...

The Doughnut Dilemma: Why Education Matters The Doughnut Economics framework paints a picture of development within two crucial boundaries: meeting essential societal needs without overstepping our planet’s limits1. In this picture, education is not just a fundamental right but also the engine that drives societal progress. ...