Women and girls across the world are experiencing the greatest social, health, and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly in developing nations, the virus has intensified existing gender inequalities and exacerbated serious issues in employment, domestic care, safety, education and health. Despite playing critical roles within their communities as primary family caregivers, household managers, and essential agricultural and health workers, women lack formal leadership roles and are typically left out of policy and decision-making. Now more than ever, we must call on leaders to prioritize women and girls by creating gender-sensitive, inclusive policies as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.