Giving Compass' Take:

• Sophie Partridge-Hicks explains how increased turbulence in women's employment and well-being has widened the global gender poverty gap during COVID-19.

• How is the global gender poverty gap susceptible to growth during times of crisis? Why is it so difficult make an equitable recovery? What are you doing to support women's programs throughout the global pandemic?

• Learn about one digital strategy to help limit the global gender poverty gap during coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to widen the poverty gap between men and women, according to new data from UN Women and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

In 2015, international leaders gathered at the UN headquarters to develop 17 Global Goals to end extreme poverty by 2030. While measures were taken to achieve Global Goal 5, which aims to achieve political, social, and economic equality for women, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely hindered women’s development around the world.

Studies have shown that women often bear the economic brunt of crises — women’s employment is 19% more at risk during crises, compared to men, putting women at heightened risk. Women also generally earn less and save less money, putting them at an immediate disadvantage.

Members of the informal workforces — including women, migrants, youth workers, and other vulnerable groups — are most susceptible to layoffs and job cuts. In the informal sector, workers also have far fewer social protections including health care, paid sick leave, or time off.

Women workers have generally suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis devastated hospitality and food service industry, which is often dominated by women in most countries.

What’s more, women from marginalized groups are globally overrepresented in personal care jobs and domestic work — jobs that require closer contact with others and can lead to exposure to the virus.

The effects of the pandemic will be long-lasting: UN Women and the UNDP found that a total of 247 million women and girls will be living on less than $1.90 a day in 2021.

Living in poverty will affect a woman’s access to health care, education, sanitation, and food — factors that will make it harder for women to achieve equality with men.

Read the full article about COVID-19 and the global gender poverty gap by Sophie Partridge-Hicks at Global Citizen.