AIIB recognizes the central role infrastructure can play in improving women’s lives. The delivery of affordable, convenient, and reliable infrastructure can strengthen women’s access to economic, political, and social opportunities, as well as essential education and healthcare services. Increased engagement of women in infrastructure planning, labor force participation and associated use of services can also strengthen the quality and efficiency of projects as well as increase return on investment. At a minimum, infrastructure projects need to be delivered in ways which mitigate risks to women, including from pre-existing gender inequalities and exclusions. 

AIIB has clear corporate commitments in its policies and strategies regarding gender, particularly the Corporate Strategy for 2021-2030 and the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), and these commitments are also reflected in the Bank’s Sector Strategies. The Operational Policy on Financing (OPF) and the Corporate Strategy set out AIIB’s client-driven business model and highlight client engagement in infrastructure projects as an entry point for gender and other considerations to be developed.  

AIIB’s vision, as expressed in its ESF, acknowledges the importance of gender equality in sustainable economic development. Gender considerations are required to be addressed in AIIB’s investments using both ‘do no harm’ and ‘do better’ approaches in one policy framework. Accordingly, AIIB advises and supports its clients so that: (i) adverse gender impacts and risks are identified and addressed in AIIB-supported investments; and (ii) infrastructure benefits are accessible to all, and equal opportunities and development benefits are explored and designed to maximize project benefits for women, where practicable. The OPF requires technical due diligence to support the achievement of project development objectives, and capture of gender-related outcomes in the project’s results framework wherever practicable. 

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In 2021, the AIIB undertook a major revision of the ESF, which significantly raised the bar on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social inclusion. Clearer definitions and descriptions in the ESF in these areas enabled better client and stakeholder operationalization of the Bank’s gender vision and expectations while ‘front-loading’ gender into project due diligence during inception, analysis, and design phases, rather than through a separate process. Project specific actions emerge as part of binding project environmental and social management plans (ESMPs), but also in the form of dedicated project-specific GAPs where specific gender risks and opportunities are material.

AIIB’s first Gender Action Plan (GAP) (2024) supports Bank staff and clients to integrate the Bank’s gender commitments within infrastructure investments in a consistent, high-quality manner. It does this by consolidating corporate commitments made through AIIB’s Operational Policy on Financing (OPF) and the Corporate Strategy, Sector Strategies and ESF—and then sets out the systematic approach the Bank takes to identify and achieve impact and outcomes for gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the project cycle. The GAP is a living framework that will be fine-tuned and adapted as lessons are learned about what approaches have been successful in different contexts, and how they have intersected with the sustainability, efficiency, and resilience of projects.

AIIB will continue its close dialogue with Members and clients, as well as CSOs and other development partners, on how to eliminate barriers when financing infrastructure projects and maximize benefits for all.