Addressing Gendered Economic Inequality in Ukraine: A Policy Brief

By: Maria Herr

Author Bio

Hi everyone, my name is Maria Herr, and I am an undergraduate student at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in International Economics. This year, I am studying abroad in Cusco, Peru, after a previous semester in Belfast at Queen’s University, where I explored the relationship between economic development, conflict recovery, and social inclusion.

My academic and international experiences have deepened my interest in how post-conflict economies can rebuild in ways that empower women and sustain long-term peace. I am especially drawn to the question of how economic policy, often treated as a technical or gender-neutral field, can be reimagined to center women’s economic participation and leadership. After graduation, I hope to work in economic policy and development, designing programs that create equitable access to employment, education, and finance for women in post-conflict settings.

To me, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda represents both a framework for policy and a personal conviction. It insists that women are not merely victims of war, but essential actors in building peace and prosperity. I see WPS as a bridge between my studies in economics and my passion for gender equity; it challenges us to embed women’s economic empowerment into the architecture of peacebuilding, from fiscal policy and trade to reconstruction and governance.