Gender-sensitive reform of the complex policy, legal, institutional, and regulatory conditions that govern business activities has the potential to positively impact women’s economic empowerment, support the fight against poverty and contribute to business and macro- economic performance. Yet to date there has been a lack of research providing insights into good practices and lessons learned in gender-sensitive Business Environment Reform (BER) and how BER can help women’s economic empowerment. This research conducted on behalf of the Business Environment Working Group (BEWG) of the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) seeks to close this gap through addressing the following questions:

• What are the factors in the business environment that have a direct and specific impact on women-owned and managed enterprises and the employment of women?
• What are the related lessons learned from previous and existing programmes of how DCED members can identify, measure and manage gender in business environment reform (BER) programmes?