QBE is investing in diversity and inclusion efforts in Asia Pacific through its Premiums4Good program, which supports the Asia Development Bank’s innovative Gender Thematic Bond.

Despite major progress over the past half century, Asia and the Pacific is still home to around 40 per cent of the world’s population experiencing extreme poverty and gender inequalities between women and men remain very pronounced. 

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, female labour force participation rates in Asia and the Pacific were declining and the gender gap was widening—the only region in the world where this continued to occur.  

The business and economic case for urgently addressing gender gaps has become increasingly evident: it is estimated that $12 trillion could be added to gross domestic product by 2025 by narrowing gender gaps globally. 

COVID hits women hard

Within the region, COVID-19 has wiped away a disproportionately higher share of women’s jobs, widening gender gaps in labour market access and increasing women’s vulnerability to poverty.

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