Equalizing Gender Representation Scorecard of 2019
The Gender Balance Index (GBI) 2019 report presents a sobering picture of gender diversity in senior positions within central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and public pension funds globally. The index, which weighs scores by the size of institutions' corresponding economies and assets under management, highlights the significant underrepresentation of women in these critical economic institutions.
The report reveals that women make up a small minority in senior leadership roles, often comprising less than 30–40% of executive positions. This underrepresentation is evident across various regions, with systemic gender imbalances driven by cultural, institutional, and structural barriers.
While interventions and policy efforts to improve gender balance have increased, results remain uneven across different countries and types of institutions. For instance, North America shows the most improvement with a central bank GBI index of 36%, an 11-percentage-point increase. Europe follows closely with a central bank GBI index of 38%, a three-percentage-point improvement. Conversely, Asia has the lowest regional central bank GBI index score at 9%. Out of 173 central banks globally, only 14 are headed by women.
The gender diversity in central banks has improved by six percentage points since 2018, with a GBI score of 25%. However, this improvement is relatively slow, and the overall picture remains heavily unbalanced. Sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds also reflect a similar gender gap in their boards and senior management, with scores of 17% and 41% respectively.
A score of 100% would be awarded to a perfectly gender-balanced institution. The GBI report, now in its sixth year, serves as a call to action, drawing attention to the disappointing picture of gender diversity in public financial institutions through a comprehensive and methodical analysis. The study is available for complimentary download, providing a valuable resource for those seeking to promote gender parity in these crucial economic institutions.
The report underscores the need for continued efforts to address gender imbalances and improve gender diversity in central banks, sovereign funds, and public pension funds. With persistent gender imbalance at senior levels, it is clear that deep-rooted barriers to gender parity remain in these critical economic institutions.
[1] Source: Gender Balance Index 2019 Report [3] Source: World Bank Group [4] Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- The Gender Balance Index (GBI) 2019 report, in its sixth year, aims to address the persistent gender imbalances through a comprehensive analysis, drawing attention to the disappointing picture of gender diversity in public financial institutions.
- While women make up a small minority, comprising less than 30–40% of executive positions in central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and public pension funds, there is evidence of uneven results in improving gender balance across different countries and types of institutions.
- A score of 100% would be awarded to a perfectly gender-balanced institution, but the report shows that out of 173 central banks globally, only 14 are headed by women, and central bank gender diversity has improved by six percentage points since 2018 but remains relatively slow.
- To promote gender parity in these crucial economic institutions, efforts in AI, finance, business, and investment must consider the importance of diversity in decision-making, drawing on substantial data and analysis to uncover systemic gender imbalances and develop effective strategies to overcome them.
