'Gender gap costs Africa billions'

Sub-Saharan Africa's economies lose a combined average of $95-billion (about R1.4-trillion) a year because women have fewer job opportunities than men, the U N Development Programme said, urging greater equality to help nations boost growth.

"If gender gaps can be closed in labour markets, education, health and other areas, then poverty and hunger eradication can be achieved," UNDP administrator Helen Clark said yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya, at the launch of the annual Africa Human Development Report.

African women make 70c for each dollar earned by men, said the report.

It noted a 0.75% drop in the human development index for every 1% increase in gender inequality.

"Closing the gender gap would not only set Africa on a double-digit economic growth track, but it would also significantly contribute to meeting its development goals," said UNDP Africa director Abdoulaye Mar Dieye.