Gender Mainstreaming: A Critical Imperative

Investing in women is not only one of the most effective ways to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals; it is also crucial for fostering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economies.

To achieve gender equality, it is essential to mainstream a genderperspective into the internal and external operations of companies, organizations, and other institutions.

As part of this process, gender equality must be integrated into all processes, decisions, and structuresof an organization, from product and service design to organizational culture and resource allocation. It is not just about adding a label; it's about changing the way we understand and interact with the world.

Integrating a gender perspective is not solely an ethical obligation. It's an effective business strategy with significant financial returns:

• According to the World Bank, closing the gender gap could increase global GDP by more than 20%.
• Research conducted by the International ⁠Labour Organization shows that diverse teams make better decisions 87%of the time.
• Women-led companies outperformedall-male executive teams by 63%(Boston Consulting Group).
• Since 2018, the gender lens investing market has grown exponentially, surpassing $20 billionin assets under management (Project Sage 4.0).

During the GLI Latam 2025 Forum, the Pro Mujer Gender Knowledge Lab (GKL)led a series of sessions focused on gender mainstreaming. The GKL provides consulting and technical assistance to companies, governments, multilateral finance institutions, and organizations from all sectors to mainstream gender into their strategies and operations.

During the GLI⁠ Forum, the GKL facilitated workshops, masterclasses, and practical sessions on:

• Detecting and Correcting Gender Biasin the Investment Process
• Designing Institutional Strategieswith a Gender Perspective
• Measuring Impact with a Gender Lens

The GKL has worked with over 270 organizations in 18 countriesand provided training to more than 7,200 individuals, proof that equality is a tangible competitive advantage.

It is crucial to incorporate a gender perspective into the entire ecosystem, as the challenges faced by women aren't limited to a single sector. For example, it is impossible to discuss financial inclusion without also considering caregiving. It is impossible to design inclusive, impactful products without considering who they exclude. Gender inequality cannot be siloed. It must be mainstreamed throughout organizational culture, investments, talent management, solutions, and multisectoral partnerships.

"The GLI Forum Latam 2025 served as a reminder that the commitment to gender equality is stronger than ever. Equality cannot be seen as a fad: it must be the driver behind every decision, every investment, and every partnership," said Tomás González, Global Gender Manager at Pro Mujer.