Economic Empowerment of Women
We work to remove the barriers that limit women’s participation in Pacific economies.
Economies grow faster with women’s full participation. However, discriminatory laws, social norms, and customary practices, as well as low control over assets, low levels of support and a lack of awareness about how to start a business are limiting the ability of Pacific women to engage in business activities to the same extent as men.
Women are economically disadvantaged in the Pacific region. Discriminatory laws, social norms, and customary practices, alongside low control over assets, low levels of support, and a lack of awareness about how to start a business limit Pacific women’s ability to engage in business activities to the same extent as men.
PSDI’s Economic Empowerment of Women works to clear pathways for women to enter the formal economy, focusing on:
- the creation of new businesses by women that generate economic activity in both urban centers and rural areas;
- the expansion of the formal labor market;
- increasing the representation of women in business leadership through the development of business leadership programs;
- higher business productivity, on which long-term growth depends;
- advocacy and research to improve understanding of the needs and challenges of women-owned businesses; and
- improving inclusive access to retirement and financial products.
These considerations inform all of PSDI’s work in developing policy frameworks, introducing legal reforms, mainstreaming gender into all programs, and evaluating pilot programs.
Economic Empowerment of Women and COVID-19
For more information on PSDI's Economic Empowerment of Women focus area and COVID-19, click here.
Economic Empowerment of Women at a glance
2 Leadership Matters
More women on SOE boards
Women’s leadership programs
National Action Plan for Women’s Economic Empowerment
Gender-Inclusive Private Sector Framework
Informal Sector Reports
Latest News
PSDI has supported the development of senior leadership development programs in Fiji, PNG, and Solomon Islands to prepare women leaders for senior executive and board leadership positions.
Vanuatu has a laid a strong policy foundation for an inclusive private sector that can harness the full potential of women and people with disabilities in driving economic growth, with the focus now on ensuring its effective implementation, according to a new assessment launched by PSDI.
Building an inclusive private sector that enables all Papua New Guineans, including women and people with disabilities, to participate fully in the economy is key to unlocking stronger growth, according to a new assessment launched by PSDI.
Through the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership for Governance, PSDI and the Government of Australia supported women leaders from Solomon Islands to complete the inaugural Solomon Islands SOE Directors Development Pilot Program.
Key Publications
