The UN Security Council has stressed the need to invest in the economic capacities of women for stable post-conflict recovery277 and to participate in economic decisionmaking at early stages of recovery processes278 as they are key stakeholders in this area. Without appropriate gender responsive policy and programmatic frameworks to target women in the economy, economic frameworks and interventions may not adequately promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. The Government of Liberia in 2007 conducted a Gender Needs Assessment on Women’s economic empowerment with a view developing strategies to transition from relief to development.279 The assessment emphasised the need for women to benefit on an equal basis with men in the reconstruction process and for the government to integrate gender responsive programming and targets into poverty reduction and economic growth processes. The African Gender Equality Index 2015280 and the Global Gender Report 2018 indicate persistent gender disparities in women’s economic participation and opportunities in Africa. For the most part, women comprise the poorer sections of populations and tend to be overly represented in the informal commercial, agricultural or production sector. According to the Africa Human Development Report 2016 gender disparities encompass access to economic assets, participation in the workplace, entrepreneurship opportunities, and use of and benefits from natural resources and the environment.281 The entrepreneurial spirit of African women is highly visible in the multitude of small-scale businesses that proliferate most countries’ informal economies. During the economic reconstruction phase, the status quo may require stronger government interventionist roles including protective laws and security reforms. There is potential nonetheless for women to renegotiate their status beyond narrow gender 277 UN Security Council ‘Building Peace Can Take a Generation, but Together We Can Get It Right’, Says Secretary-General in Security Council Debate on Mending War-torn States’ SC/10868 20 December 2012. Available at https://www.un.org/press/en/2012/sc10868.doc.htm 278 Resolution 1889 (2000) S/RES/1889 (2009) 279 Republic of Liberia ‘Toward Women’s Economic Empowerment: A Gender Needs Assessment Prepared by the World Bank’s Gender and Development Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Development (MOGAD) August 2007 280 Africa Development Bank ‘Africa Gender Equality Index 2015: Empowering African Women: An Agenda for Action 281 UNDP ‘Africa Human Development Report 2016: Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa’ UNDP, UN NY 92