Gender norms and their associated power dynamics are shaped during childhood through a complex interplay of factors. Understanding these factors and intentionally investing in opportunities that promote gender equality and empowerment early in life could have a transformative impact on gender lens investing. In this first report, we explore how implementing an intentional child lens as an investment consideration can bring a new perspective to investments made with a gender lens. It can help uncover opportunities that weren’t visible before and can help identify problem areas, risks and potential unintended negative consequences that were invisible without the intention of a child lens. These insights, supported by UNICEF, represent a start to the conversation – an expansion of ideas of what might be possible for integrating gender lens and child lens investing to drive transformational change for a more gender just future. We invite you to use these ideas as a starting point and join us in imagining what else is possible.
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