Since Canada founded the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council in 2018, gender equality has been a focus area, with experts advising leaders of actions to advance gender equality. On the first day of the G7 summit, the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made girls’ education a flagship issue of the summit. He also said, the world should “build back… in a more gender neutral, and perhaps a more feminine way.” Do these commitments match with what is required for a gender equitable recovery from Covid-19?
The number of girls who may not return to school as a result of the pandemic range of 11 million by UNESCO, to 20 million by Malala Fund. Adolescent girls are at particular risk of dropping out of school in low-income countries. Researchers have also found evidence of the care burden shifting to adolescent girls during the pandemic, especially in taking care of younger siblings. Given this challenge, the U.K.’s government pledge at the G7 summit for £430 million (or $600 million) over five years to improve education, with a focus on girls, in some of the world's poorest countries, should therefore be welcomed.
This announcement came amid the U.K. government cutting their foreign aid spending, from the target of 0.7% of gross national income, to 0.5%. Just two months ago, an analysis by the Centre for Global Development estimates that the U.K. government’s 2021 spend on education is 40% less compared to the previous year. Yesterday’s announcement of £430 million will be spread across five years, which averages to be a commitment of £86 million per year. This means the additional spending will still be lower than the U.K.’s government spending in previous years, which averages £672 million. Moreover, many programmes that focus on other aspects of gender equality have been cut or stopped, including funding for women’s rights NGOs, and care for pregnant women and children.
The G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council 2021 published 14 recommendations on the first day of the G7 summit. Out of the 14 recommendations, one was about girls’ education, but the summit so far has not addressed the other priorities. Most of the summit’s focus has been about the Covid-19 pandemic and while the U.K. Prime Minister made a comment about building back in a “gender neutral” and “feminine” way, he has not explained what these terms mean. The summit leaders have also discussed climate change, but they have not addressed the Council’s recommendation on undertaking a gender-responsive approach to climate financing, investment and policies.
Gender equality has rightly been put on the agenda of the G7 summit, but commitments and actions are potentially falling short of what is required.