Our work

Equal access to economic opportunity is integral to sustainable market development. When individuals are unable to make the best use of their skills and talents because they were born in a remote or climate change affected area, or because of their disadvantaged background or their gender, market outcomes are negatively affected. However, if people are given a chance to succeed, they are more likely to pursue education, participate in the workforce and invest or engage in activities that lead to economic growth and prosperity.  

This is recognised in the Bank’s Strategic and Capital Framework (SCF) 2021-2025 which underlines the importance of equality of opportunity in shaping transition in our countries of operations, in addition to the other two cross-cutting themes of green and digital. While EBRD’s first Economic Inclusion Strategy 2017-21  targeted inequalities that arise from gender and inherent characteristics (e.g. place of birth, socio-economic background), our new Equality of Opportunity Strategy (EOS) 2021-25 is designed based on the recognition that characteristics that lead to inequality of opportunity can change throughout a person’s life. These are shaped by external events such as long-term stressors and shocks, as well as by changing social norms, biases and legal frameworks. These characteristics overlap and intersect across factors such as gender, place of birth or residence, age, disability, skills types and levels, displacement, sexual orientation and identity, as well as life events triggered by other external factors.

The EOS (2021-25) opens up new areas for the EBRD’s investments that more closely reflect the specific challenges that its clients and policy partners face, thereby achieving a more targeted and relevant impact. Specifically, we provide an operational response along three expanded focus areas of 

• broadening skills, employment and sustainable livelihoods;
• building inclusive and gender-responsive financial systems and business environments; and 
• creating inclusive and gender-responsive services and public goods.

With a stronger emphasis on systemic impact, ranging from the individual to the way a company operates, to the market and institutional level.