Conference Agenda

Co-organizers: UNDP, together with UNDESA and University of Johannesburg.

The 2021/2022 Human Development Report titled “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping Our Future in a Transforming World” revealed that human development index went in reverse for two years straight with a sharp decline in HDI values, impacting women living in poverty the most. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) reveals a global stagnation at 0.465 for the past three years with all regions experiencing a reversal in gender equality either in 2020 or 2021.

With less than a decade to 2030, countries are also witnessing multiple crises, from climate change to socio-economic downturn. The cumulative effects of elevated levels of debt-servicing, regressive tax systems, illicit financial flows, economic impacts of the pandemic, increased climate-related emergencies, and inflation in food and fuel prices, all disproportionately affect women. Gender inequality continues to prevail because structures that generate inequality remain unchanged. While existing tax and fiscal policies continue to have explicit and implicit gender biases and discriminatory practices, countries will not achieve gender equal economies. Tax reforms present a window of opportunity to build forward better for gender-equal economies.

Given this background, the session aims to present the recent study commissioned by UNDP and done in partnership with the University of Johannesburg on gender issues in tax systems of 20 African countries; and discuss with feminist economists how academics and their research in collaboration with multilateral institutions and governments can influence and transform tax and fiscal policy and gender equality.

Objectives:

1. Present and discuss the results of the study on issues gender in tax systems in 20 African countries and discuss global and domestic tax reforms needed for gender responsive tax systems.

2. Discuss strategic approaches to influence tax and fiscal policy change to foster action by decision-makers at national and global levels.

3. Propose actionable solutions and recommendations to strengthen domestic resource mobilization to deliver on gender equality in the framework of the SDGs and SDG5.

The proposed session format is meant to be a two-hour interactive panel session that opens engagement opportunities with participants, deep dive on current research and policy recommendations, and walk away with some concrete ideas for next steps.

The session will be hybrid. All presenters will attend in person.