IMF’s significant progress on Gender Equality confirmed through higher level EDGE certification

F.P. Report

Washington, DC: September 15, 2022: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is proud to announce it has progressed to the EDGE Move level – the second of three certification levels – of EDGE Certification. EDGE is the leading assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity in the workplace, worldwide. This certification recognizes the IMF’s significant improvements in gender representation across all levels of its workforce and commitment and progress in monitoring, benchmarking, and achieving workplace gender equality. The IMF initially became EDGE certified at the EDGE Assess level in 2017 and secured a recertification at the same level in 2019. Today, almost 40 percent of the IMF’s senior leadership team are women.

“I am most pleased and proud of the progress the Fund has made toward a more equitable workplace,” said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. “This recognition of our internal commitment to gender equality comes on the heels of the Executive Board’s recent approval of the Fund’s first gender strategy aimed at integrating gender in the IMF’s core activities. The EDGE Move certification could not have been timelier, reinforcing the evidence and IMF’s belief that reducing gender disparities goes hand-in-hand with higher economic growth, greater economic stability and resilience, and lower income inequality. More work still lies ahead.”

The IMF promotes the full participation of women in the workforce globally. This empowers women and makes sound economic sense. The IMF believes it is equally important that women are fully represented in the institution’s own staffing. Since 2019, the share of women at the IMF’s top management has risen from 25 percent to 37 percent in 2022. At the Executive Board, the share of female Executive Directors has improved from 8 percent in 2019 to 17 percent in 2022. The Fund has made big progress in attracting and retaining top female talent and is committed to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion more broadly, beyond gender. The IMF’s efforts in this regard are reported in the biennial Diversity & Inclusion Reports.

“The assessment and independent certification process affirms that IMF is making progress on its workplace gender equity journey. Having reached the second of three levels of EDGE Certification, it is showcasing progress toward a more gender equitable workplace. The EDGE Move certification, along with IMF’s new Gender Strategy, demonstrates a strong and relevant commitment to gender equity and DE&I as a driver of sustainable economic growth and opportunity, not only for the organization itself but also for its 190 member countries,” Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation said.

About the IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 190 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.

Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 190 countries that make up its near-global membership.

About EDGE Certification

EDGE is the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. EDGE Certification involves a rigorous third-party review of representation across the pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of an organization’s culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistical data is analysed, policies and practices are reviewed and employees’ experiences of career development opportunities in the current workplace are accounted for. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an action plan is formulated, and firm commitments towards its implementation.

EDGE Certification meets organizations where they are in their gender balance journey (EDGE) and in their intersectional equity journey (EDGEplus) through its three levels of certification: Assess, Move and Lead. A certification at the EDGE Assess level recognizes commitment, one at the EDGE Move level showcases progress and a certification at the EDGE Lead level celebrates success in fostering gender equitable workplaces. An EDGEplus certification further recognizing its commitment to analyzing intersectional issues between gender and one or several of the following additional dimensions: gender identity, race/ethnicity, LGBTQI+, working with a disability, nationality and age.

EDGE Certification is built around the independent third-party certification of data and information and is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact granted by one of the EDGE accredited independent third-party certification bodies – SGS, Intertek or FloCert, it remains valid for a period of two years. EDGE’s current customer base consists of over 200 large organizations in 50 countries across five continents, representing 30 different industries.