participation in economic policy formulation and implementation and ensuring equal access to benefits and opportunities in trade and entrepreneurship, wage employment and control of productive resources. Post 2004, the Government of Zimbabwe pursued a number of gender responsive economic policies and programmes. The main ones were: (i) the Zimbabwe Economic Development Strategy (ZEDS) (2007 – 2010); (ii) STERP I and STERP II (2009 – 2010) (iii) Mid Term Plan (MTP) (2011 – 2015); (iv) Gender-Responsive Economic Policy Management Initiative (GERPMI); and (v) the Broad Based Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework (BBWEEF). These actions have yielded mixed results as follows:  Poverty: Zimbabwe is no exception to the global increase in poverty levels where women are poorer than men. 68% of female headed households in Zimbabwe live under the Total Consumption Poverty Line according to a 2010 UNDP Report.  Trade and industry: Although there is generally lack of statistics, reports indicate limited participation of women in the formal trade sector  Employment: Statistics show the limited access to decent jobs by women o According to the 2011 Labour Force Survey (LFS), the total employment to population ratio is lower for females (72.3%) compared to males (83.9%). o 70% of agriculture labour, characterised by lowest wages, is provided by women. The share of women in wage or paid employment in the non agricultural sector in relation to total wage employment in the non agricultural sector was 24%. o Real income of women is three times less than that of men, and women have a higher structural unemployment rate of 70% compared to 56% for men. o The Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey 2010-11 shows that 37 percent of women, as compared to 62 percent of men, are formally employed.  Control and access to resources: Latest statistics on the Land Reform Programme from the University of Zimbabwe revealed that women constitute 18% of beneficiaries under A1 and 12 % under A2 falling far short of the gender parity ideal. Zimbabwe recognises that economic growth programmes that target women (Womenomics) make good economics. As such, the economic empowerment of women has become a key priority for the Government of Zimbabwe to achieve sustainable economic growth. In the Medium Term Economic Recovery Plan (MTP) the government expressly commits to advancing the participation of women. It is through this commitment that the BBWEEF which sets out strategies and targets for economic growth through empowering women in various sectors was launched. Notable progress towards women’s economic empowerment include among others:  Establishment of a Women’s Fund supported by Treasury.  Development and implementation of Women’s Savings and Lending Schemes by various development agencies.  Launch of Women in Business platforms and Women’s Associations in key economic sectors and nurturing of partnerships between these platforms and the Government. 5