A recent comprehensive assessment of women’s economic rights across African nations reveals a varied landscape of progress and persistent challenges. While some countries have made significant strides, Chad finds itself positioned in the lower half of the continental ranking.

Chad, specifically, is ranked 36th among 54 African economies, achieving a score of 51.40 out of a possible 100 points. This places the nation directly behind Burundi, which secured the 35th spot with 52.68 points, and just ahead of Botswana and Nigeria, both tied at 37th place with 51.10 points. This positioning firmly places Chad in the second half of the African continent’s performance index concerning women’s economic empowerment.

In stark contrast, Mauritius leads the continent with an impressive score of 82.30 points. Togo has demonstrated remarkable advancement, claiming the second position with 79.33 points, closely followed by Côte d’Ivoire in third with 78.25 points. Zambia and South Africa also feature prominently among the top performers. These leading nations have largely attributed their success to robust legislative reforms encompassing critical areas such as mobility, employment, marital rights, and entrepreneurial opportunities for women.

With its score of 51.40 points, Chad lags considerably behind both the average African and global scores, which hover around 67 points out of 100. Despite this, a notable improvement has been observed in the realm of security, following the implementation of legislation designed to combat sexual harassment in public spaces.

However, several significant deficiencies continue to hamper progress. These include restricted access to credit, inadequate protection against workplace discrimination, limited parental rights, and insufficient recognition of property and inheritance rights for women. Such systemic weaknesses actively impede the economic participation of Chadian women, who constitute a majority of the active population, particularly within the agricultural and informal sectors.

The assessment further highlights a widespread issue across Africa: the considerable disparity between laws enacted to promote equality and their actual enforcement. Globally, it is estimated that only half of all laws intended to foster gender equality are effectively put into practice.

For Chad, this ranking serves as both a critical diagnosis of its current state and a clear imperative for immediate action. Strategic reforms focusing on strengthening property rights, enhancing access to financial resources, and bolstering protection against gender-based violence are crucial steps that could substantially improve the socio-economic standing of women and, consequently, foster more inclusive economic growth for the entire nation.