This evidence review from the Work and Opportunities for Women helpdesk examines how different international financial institutions frame and approach work on women's economic empowerment, and what that has meant in practice. It sets out what is effective in women's economic empowerment programming and the challenges that commonly arise.

The review makes recommendations on how the World Bank and other international financial institutions can achieve transformative outcomes in women's economic opportunities and employment, covering resourcing, the use of evidence and data, policy engagement, and building an understanding of country and context-level dynamics. It is written for staff engaging with these institutions on gender.