Advancing Women’s Leadership in the Health Sector

Advancing Women’s Leadership in the Health Sector

Women are the main providers of care in the health and social sectors, yet they are frequently underrepresented in leadership and management positions. A growing body of research, including recent research from HRH2030 in Jordan, highlights the barriers and enablers to women’s career progression in these sectors. However, less is known about the specific approaches that work to move women up the career ladder to leadership positions.

To move beyond identifying reasons for gender imbalances at the top, HRH2030 is analyzing successful efforts to advance women’s leadership in the health and social sectors in low- and middle-income countries. The team will develop a comparative, multi-country study on enabling environments for female leadership and specific measures to increase the number of women in leadership. Then, HRH2030 will evaluate the impact that a measurable increase of women in leadership positions in these sectors has had on policies or programs. Findings could inform human resources development planning and demonstrate the value of women leaders in the health and social sectors.