A McKinsey internal project examining factors to advance women’s equality in Africa and reach gender parity within 140 years. The case involves analyzing the multidimensional nature of gender inequality (at work and in society), generating tangible solutions across education, business, culture, and laws, and addressing specific challenges in women’s entrepreneurship and labor force participation.
Key Insights:
- Gender inequality is multidimensional—requiring analysis across social, political, economic, and career dimensions
- Economic incentive is significant: $300B-$1T GDP potential over 5 years justifies investment in women’s equality
- Solutions must span four pillars: education, business/entrepreneurship, cultural change, and legal frameworks
- Quantitative rigor matters: candidates should calculate specific targets (e.g., 70M additional women needed in labor force)
- Contextualization elevates responses: connecting solutions to underlying drivers (stereotypes, access barriers, education gaps) demonstrates deeper thinking
- The case rewards both breadth (7-8 ideas) and depth (contextualizing why each solution works)