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Gender and the Multilateral Development Banks: From WID to GAD to Retroliberal WID

Author

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  • Adrian Robert Bazbauers

    (Adrian Robert Bazbauers is the corresponding author (a.bazbauers@unsw.edu.au) and is affiliated with UNSW Canberra, School of Business, Canberra, Australia.)

  • Nadeen Madkour

    (Nadeen Madkour is also affiliated with UNSW Canberra, School of Business, Canberra, Australia.)

Abstract

Multilateral development bank (MDB) engagement with ‘gender’ is controversial in review and uneven in practice. The authors analyse 1,928 gender-focused projects financed by the World Bank and regional development banks between 1967 and 2021. We propose three eras into which MDB gender engagement divides and argues that isomorphic pressures have aligned their approaches. The article concludes that gender is not an investment priority and projects have conceptually narrowed over time to focus on private entrepreneurship at the expense of addressing systemic gendered inequalities. This is significant for what the MDB finance signals to investors the feasibility of development projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrian Robert Bazbauers & Nadeen Madkour, 2024. "Gender and the Multilateral Development Banks: From WID to GAD to Retroliberal WID," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 24(2), pages 165-184, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:24:y:2024:i:2:p:165-184
    DOI: 10.1177/14649934231210100
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    References listed on IDEAS

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