Policymakers must move beyond simple cash transfers to address the structural constraints imposed by gender-based violence (GBV). When violence restricts a woman's movement, it effectively severs her link to the labor market. Traditional unemployment benefits often fail here because they assume the survivor can physically access a job site. To fix this, the state should integrate mobile-friendly micro-grants with localized digital economy training. This allows women to earn income from safe, domestic environments while they navigate legal or healing processes.
Spatial planning is another lever. Many survivors live in townships where transport costs eat up any meager profit from informal trading. By subsidizing safe, gender-responsive transit or establishing community-based commercial hubs, the government can reduce the physical cost of working. These hubs should provide childcare alongside market access. Without these supports, the cost of safety becomes a tax on a woman's potential earnings.
Finally, we need to rethink credit scoring. Survivors often lack traditional collateral due to economic dislocation. Implementing alternative credit-building mechanisms that recognize informal cash flows can help these women bypass traditional banking barriers. We must treat economic agency not as a reward for stability, but as a tool to build it.
