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.