 why girls and women  why is catapult investing in girls and women  because equality for girls and women makes a better planet for everyone to some people it s about rights to others it s about smart economics either way we cannot see progress in our world without addressing gender equality because there are so many organizations are already doing brilliant work for girls and women they just need funding they have the expertise the cultural understanding and they ve scoped solutions for big changes they just need funds need more convincing that investing in girls and women is worth it  these should help  the world bank development report 2012  gender equality is smart economics misallocating women s skills and talent comes at a high and rising economic cost read it here  the world bank development report 2012 women deliver s focus on five women s health and the mdgs   investing in women will produce farreaching economic and social benefits healthier better educated women are more productive economically and are critical to ensuring healthy children strong families and communities and productive nations read it here  women deliver s focus on five women s health and the mdgs  the world health organization s women and health report 2009  genderbased inequalities for example in education income and employment limit the ability of girls and women to protect their health read it here  the world health organization s women and health report 2009 