Layane Alhorr

The views expressed in the Let’s Talk Development blog are solely those of the author(s). Societal norms, childcare responsibilities, and safety concerns often form “glass walls” that limit women’s ability to move and seek work opportunities. Recent evidence from France, for example, found that 14% of the residualized wage gap between men and women can be explained by differences in commuting-time preferences.

Skip to main content This report explores the challenges women entrepreneurs currently face and offers actionable recommendations for global stakeholders. Released for International Women’s Day 2025, the comprehensive report draws on responses from 2,870 women running businesses across 96 low and middle income countries, and highlights the common challenges and opportunities they face, with a particular focus on the role of technology.