On this International Women’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the incredible women I have met in the past year. Be it young Waad in Syria who opened a shop despite losing her eyesight in the war, or Kateryna in Ukraine who clears landmines, women around the world are not merely enduring hardship, they are leading their communities through it. From driving tractors to launching businesses and negotiating peace deals, their resilience and determination are driving recovery efforts to rebuild lives, livelihoods and societies. 

Yet, for all their strength, women bear a disproportionate burden of crises. Women and children account for more than 75 percent of those displaced by conflicts and disasters, while more than 70 percent of women in crisis have experienced gender-based violence. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys. 

These are not just statistics, they are an urgent call to action.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a commitment by the global community to ensure equal rights for women. In 1995, world leaders recognized that sustainable development, peace and security could not be achieved without women. Yet, three decades later, progress remains painfully slow. If current trends continue, it will take 286 years to close the gender gap.

This is unacceptable. Crises and conflicts exacerbate existing inequalities, making it even harder for women to claim their rights and shape their futures. But there is another reality we must acknowledge; when women are empowered, crisis recovery is faster, inclusive and sustainable.

Women’s inclusion the foundation for early recovery

Ensuring women are included in early recovery accelerates progress, builds resilience and prevents future crises. In Sudan,  war has displaced over 11 million people since 2023, and 24 million face acute hunger. UNDP-supported women-led community kitchens have served life-saving meals to more than 113,000 people. 

These kitchens have not only tackled food insecurity but also strengthened social cohesion between displaced and host communities. Women earned incomes, developed leadership skills and laid the ground for long-term peace.

In Syria, the Women on Action networks are locally led initiatives that have mobilized women responders to deliver emergency relief, psychosocial support and programmes to prevent gender-based violence. Their work following the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye and Syria demonstrated that when women lead, recovery efforts are more effective and inclusive.

Women as peacebuilders and entrepreneurs

Beyond immediate recovery efforts, investing in women’s agency must be a continuous process. Women’s leadership in decision-making spaces, from peace negotiations to economic reconstruction, must be a priority. 

Studies have demonstrated how peace agreements involving women have higher rates of implementation and last longer. In Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, women have played key roles in insider mediation, bridging divides and brokering lasting peace deals to bring years of conflicts to an end.

Meanwhile, in Jamaica, women entrepreneurs are driving economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Many farmers, including women, lost their livelihoods as crops and livestock suffered extensive damage. Through financial support and business training supported by UNDP, they rebuilt their enterprises while also strengthening disaster preparedness. 

Moving beyond traditional roles

While it is crucial to recognize women’s leadership in crisis response, we must not confine them to caregiving and community-building roles. True equality means ensuring women have an equal stake in political and economic decision-making. This requires bold investments in education, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, where women remain underrepresented. 

In an increasingly digital and technology-driven world, equipping women with these skills is essential for their full participation in the economy and society. Diverse perspectives in STEM can lead to more innovative solutions to global challenges, including crisis prevention and response. As a part of an initiative to prevent violent extremism in Central Asia, programmes to promote women's participation in STEM in Kazakhstan are not only leading to solutions for climate action but also removing systemic barriers to women’s participation in political processes.

Women are not just victims of crises, they are also the architects of recovery. As we mark International Women’s Day, the message is clear: equality is not a secondary concern in crisis response, it is the foundation of resilience, recovery and peace. When we invest in women, we invest in a more stable, secure and prosperous world for all.