E/2010/27 E/CN.6/2010/11 for work, public works programmes and employment of last resort programmes in order to create jobs. There is need to ensure that these efforts create jobs for women, include appropriate training and provide childcare facilities. They should also focus on female-dominated sectors of the economy so as to counterbalance employment generated in the infrastructural sector. Investment in the social sector not only promotes women’s empowerment but also makes economic sense. Evidence suggests that projects which focus on early-childhood development and home-based care have a stronger positive impact on employment, income and pro-poor growth than infrastructural projects. 13. As the crisis is expected to result in an increase in poverty, in particular for women, the necessary actions should target poor households, particularly in rural areas. These actions can include provision of access to affordable housing, free health services and vocational training and government-backed loans with low interest rates. Measures such as cash transfers, the provision of cheap fertilizers, microcredit schemes, establishment of women’s cooperatives and promotion of women’s entrepreneurial activities also aim to tackle women’s poverty. Microcredit schemes with no collateral and low interest have been successful in increasing women’s access to credit. Poverty alleviation policies cannot achieve their goals, however, if they do not focus on rights, capacity-building and the empowerment of women. Cash transfer programmes, for example, should also provide training opportunities and temporary employment for women. Particular attention should be paid to alleviating the burden of unpaid work of female-headed households with a view to increasing their opportunities for participation in the labour market. 14. Women continue to be largely absent from decision-making positions, in particular in the economic and financial sectors, with implications for the allocation of resources. Yet, women in leadership positions can serve as role models for empowering young women to seek opportunities in all sectors and levels of the labour market. Quotas have been effective in both the public and private sectors in addressing the underrepresentation of women in political and economic decision-making roles, for example, as members of boards of directors of trading companies. Further measures are needed to ensure the effective implementation of quotas and other temporary special measures to increase women’s participation in decision-making. 15. Strong measures are needed to eliminate stereotypical attitudes regarding the role of women and men in society, which limit women’s participation in the labour market. The role of families in early gender socialization remains critical in the elimination of gender stereotypes. In addition, opportunities should be sought to enhance the role of the media in providing a more balanced and realistic portrayal of women, including in leadership positions. 16. Labour market studies and expert meetings can serve to assist a better understanding of the impact of the crisis on women and develop gendersensitive responses. The availability of good and reliable data disaggregated by sex and age supports the formulation of gender-sensitive policy responses to the crisis. 17. Partnerships among various stakeholders have been instrumental in the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Coordination and 10-30576 49