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Over 60 representatives gathered in New York on March 13 for the launch of PSDI’s new Gender-Inclusive Private Sector (GIPS) Framework and report: “Unlocking Potential: Creating a more gender inclusive private sector in the Pacific.” The launch was held in partnership with the Government of Fiji’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, as a side event to the 68^th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) at the United Nations.

The event featured a panel discussion on how governments can catalyze economic empowerment for women through the creation of a more gender-inclusive private sector enabling environment.

Panelists included Lord Vaea, Minister of Internal Affairs for the Kingdom of Tonga and Chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Gender and Development, Ms Eseta Nadakuitavuki, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection for the Government of Fiji, Ms Vaela Falefehi Ngai, Director for the Women’s Development Division for the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), and Samantha Hung, Director, Gender Equality Department, Asian Development Bank. Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, the Hon. Lynda Tabuya, also addressed the event via video.

Listen to Hon. Lynda Tabuya's speech here:

Private Sector Development Initiative’s (PSDI) Economic Empowerment of Women Specialist, Sarah Boxall, presented at the launch.

The panelists discussed the significant progress made by the Government of Fiji in understanding and responding to the needs of women, the focus of the Government of Solomon Islands’ updated national women’s economic empowerment action plan, and the importance of supporting Tonga’s informal economy for women’s economic opportunities.

“Fiji has indeed laid a strong foundation with effective policies and national initiatives, aimed at promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the private sector,” said Ms Eseta Nadakuitavuki. “But we do have challenges still to overcome in translating the policies into tangible changes and gender outcomes in the private sector.”

Ms Vaela Falefehi Ngai congratulated PSDI on the launch of the framework, which she called “a huge milestone for the Pacific,” and spoke of the importance of the Solomon Islands’ women’s economic empowerment strategy, while highlighting how much progress the Solomon Islands had made in understanding and promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Lord Vaea also congratulated PSDI on the launch of the framework, and expressed his appreciation for Tonga’s country assessment. “I would like to congratulate PSDI on the global launch of the Gender-Inclusive Private Sector Framework and thank you for including Tonga in your country assessments,” he said. “In reviewing the PSDI country assessment for Tonga, you will be able to appreciate the areas of strength, improvement and effort required and we are grateful for the work undertaken to highlight this.”

In his remarks, Lord Vaea also emphasized the importance of recognizing the informal sector in Tonga, which represents a large part of the economy and labor market. 

The gender inclusive private sector framework measures the inclusivity of the private sector enabling environment in the Pacific across seven dimensions:

1. Gender equality context
2. Workplace conditions
3. Business enabling environment
4. Financial inclusion and access to capital
5. Participation in key economic sectors
6. Technology and the future of work
7. Leadership, voice, and consumer rights

Explore the GIPS framework and Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tonga country assessments here.