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;
- the enrichment of business leadership through the participation of women who bring different skills and perspectives;
- higher business productivity, on which long-term growth depends; and
- the improvement of women’s confidence and autonomy to contribute to their communities.
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
Women and Business
More women on SOE boards
Leadership potential realized
Latest News
PSDI and DWA hosted an event in Port Vila, Vanuatu to launch Leadership Matters 2024 and inform aspects of DWA’s national action plan on women
The proportion of women in business leadership in Solomon Islands has seen a significant increase, according to speakers at an event held in Honiara last night to mark the launch of a new report from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).
PSDI’s Economic Empowerment of Women and Financing Growth teams were in Suva, Fiji last week to support the Pacific Islands Investment Forum (PIIF) Women in Super workshop.
PSDI has worked in partnership with local and international partners to shine a spotlight on the digital gender divide in the Pacific and call on governments to invest in affordable internet access and digital education to help bridge the gap.
Key Publications
