ECA/ADB Symposium on Gender Issues: Statement by K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa

Abstract

This Statement delivered by K.Y. Amoako Executive Secretary, ECA at the ECA/ADB Symposium on Gender Issues. Mr. Amoako, on his remarks highlighted that, The empirical evidence on the positive economic returns that result from gender balance is overwhelming. Supporting a stronger role for African women will boost the economy, reduce fertility, improve child survival and slow the population explosion. These are all proven ways to help achieve and maintain family stability and national development. A significant amount of the work that women perform (especially in subsistence production, informal employment, domestic and reproductive work) tends to be "invisible". Although progress has been made in some countries to include subsistence production in the System of National Accounts (SNA), much of women's unpaid domestic work is still not counted. We have developed a guidebook for integrating household production into national poverty reduction policies in Africa. This guidebook is envisaged to assist statisticians and policy analysts to integrate household production into national accounts.