Gender, Economic Growth and Poverty

This volume looks at the extent to which macro-planning and major poverty alleviation programmes of the Asia-Pacific region concretely benefit women, and thus provides a regional perspective on the interrelationships of gender, economic growth and poverty. These essays focus on issues related to the interlinkages between macroeconomic patterns and gender and poverty situations, major approaches to gender issues and poverty alleviation, and new possibilities to promote gender equity and reduce poverty. Drawing on experiences of different approaches in the Asia-Pacific region the discussions aim to evaluate the extent to which these approaches have benefited or harmed the poor, and their impact on a range of activities crucial to socio-economic development. Of central concern is the formulation and implementation of development programmes that are responsive to the needs and realities of women in poverty groups, the types of adjustment or new approaches to be designed and factors responsible for success and failures. By examining programmes which can be said to have "worked", the essays in this volume also lay the ground for a discussion on possible strategies for the future.