PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC

EMPOWERMENT OF
WOMEN IN THE PACIFIC

Women are especially

burdened in the developing
world, with responsibility
for the home, the family,
and income generation.
Women can play an
essential role in building
the private sector and
achieving long-term
poverty reduction.

SPECIFIC ISSUES LIMIT WOMENS ROLES IN PRIVATE

SECTOR DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING:
A PREDOMINANCE OF
AGRICULTURE
BASED INFORMAL
BUSINESSES

LEGAL STRUCTURES
DISCOURAGING
WOMENS ENTRY INTO
THE FORMAL SECTOR

BUT WHERE THE

MALE HOLDS THE
LEGAL RIGHTS TO
THE LAND

LIMITED ACCESS
TO GOVERNMENT
GRANTS AND
SUPPORT

LESS THAN 5% OF
AGRICULTURAL LAND
IS HELD BY WOMEN
IN THE PACIFIC

LIMITED ACCESS
TO FORMAL LENDING
INSTITUTIONS

LIMITED
ACCESS
TO COURTS

LIMITED CAPACITY
TO ENTER BUSINESS
CONTRACTS

LIMITED ACCESS TO SOCIAL

SECURITY AND ANNUAL AND
MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS

LIMITED INCENTIVES TO SAVE

THROUGH BANKS DUE TO A
LACK OF ACCESS TO BRANCHES
AND BANKING SYSTEMS IN
RURAL AREAS

THE PRODUCTIVITY OF INFORMAL ACTIVITY IS LOW,

LEADING TO POVERTY IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR.

THESE BARRIERS TO WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN THE PRIVATE

SECTOR DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATE INTO UNMET ECONOMICAL POTENTIAL
ONLY 36% OF EMPLOYEES IN THE PACIFIC IN
NONAGRICULTURAL WAGE EMPLOYMENT ARE WOMEN
COMPARED TO 48% IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD
DEVELOPED WORLD
48%
PACIFIC
36%
Source: IDG Report 2012

IN SOLOMON
ISLANDS MORE
THAN 2X AS
MANY MEN
ARE IN PAID
EMPLOYMENT
THAN WOMEN

WOMENS ENTERPRENEURIAL
EARNINGS RESULT IN GREATER
POVERTY REDUCTION BECAUSE
THEY TEND TO INVEST PROFITS
INTO THEIR FAMILIES WELL BEING
Source: Jalbert 2000

ILO Work Country Program 2009

SCHOOL

PSDIS SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE WOMENS

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN THE PACIFIC
1. BUSINESS LAW REFORM
PROBLEM

GO

SOLUTION

D TA P E
E
R
T
N
E
VERNM

REGULATION, RED TAPE, AND

DISCRIMINATION DISCOURAGE
FORMAL BUSINESS

SIMPLIFIED, AUTOMATED BUSINESS

REGISTRATIONS TAKE OUT DISCRETION,
REDUCE LEGAL COSTS, ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION, AND TAKE LESS TIME
WRITTEN
RESOLUTION OF
THE BOARD

COMPANY MEETINGS NO LONGER REQUIRE

PERSONAL ATTENDANCE, ANNUAL REPORTING IS
AUTOMATED, AND UPDATES ARE EMAIL BASED

REDUCING THE TRIPLE

BURDEN ON WOMEN

INTRODUCTION OF SINGLE SHAREHOLDER

COMPANIES, REDUCING LIKELIHOOD OF
MALE INTERFERENCE, SEPARATING
LEGAL AND PERSONAL OWNERSHIP
AND REDUCING INFORMALITY

NO SPECIFIC
BUSINESS
STRUCTURES
GEARED TOWARD
WOMEN IN BUSINESS

BUSINESS
STRUCTURE

INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY
COMPANIES TO ALLOW FOR
COMMUNAL OWNERSHIP AND
MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES,
REDUCING POTENTIAL FOR FRAUD

2. ACCESS TO FINANCE
PROBLEM
LAND TITLE
DEED

COLLATERAL
OPTIONS

SOLUTION
COLLATERAL
OPTIONS

LOAN
APPLICATION

INTRODUCTION OF SECURED TRANSACTIONS

REFORMS TO SIMPLIFY ACCESS TO CREDIT
ENABLING USE OF E.G. TRACTORS, CROPS,
LIVESTOCK, AND CARS AS COLLATERAL

WITH MALES OWNING MOST

LAND, LOANS USING OTHER
COLLATERAL ARE DIFFICULT
FOR WOMEN TO OBTAIN

AUTOMATED REGISTRIES ALSO ELIMINATE

TIME TO PROCESS A LOAN AND REDUCE
COSTS AND POTENTIAL FOR DISCRIMINATION
LOAN APPROVAL TIME IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
PRE-REFORM

DRIVING
LICENSE
PASSPORT

BIRTH
CERTIFICATE

1 DAY

28 DAYS
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
ARE TOO STRICT AND
IMPRACTICAL TO OPEN A
BANK ACCOUNT

LETTER
FROM
CHIEF

POST-REFORM

SIMPLIFIED IDENTIFICATION
PROCEDURES SUCH AS
A LETTER FROM THE TRIBAL OR
CHURCH LEADER

MOBILE PHONE BANKING

AND POINT OF SALE MACHINES
PROVIDE BRANCHLESS
BANKING OPTIONS AND REDUCE
EXPOSURE TO RISK OF CRIME

BANK BRANCHES ARE TOO FAR

FROM RURAL POPULATIONS

3. SOE REFORM
PROBLEM

SOLUTION
ENCOURAGING GOVERNMENTS
THROUGH ADVOCACY TO CONSIDER
FEMALE BOARD REPRESENTATION

LACK OF FEMALE
REPRESENTATION ON BOARDS

DIRECTOR TRAINING PROGRAMS

TO PROMOTE WOMENS BUSINESS
SKILLS

RESULTS
PRELIMINARY DATA HAS BEEN COLLECTED, WHICH WILL
PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR MONITORING ENHANCEMENTS OF
WOMENS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN THE PACIFIC.

MORE WOMEN
OWNING AND
MANAGING
COMPANIES

SOLOMON ISLANDS

WOMEN ON BOARDS

840
780
720
660
600
May 2011

MORE WOMEN
WITH DEPOSIT
BANK ACCOUNTS

WOMEN SHAREHOLDERS

Jan 2012

Jun 2012

NATIONWIDE MICROBANK (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

CURRENTLY
MORE THAN

100,000

34% ARE
WOMEN

ACTIVE CLIENTS

30% OF SOE
DIRECTORS IN
THE PACIFIC
ARE WOMEN

Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office

Level 18, 1 Margaret Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel +61 2 8270 9444 Fax +61 2 8270 9445 psdi@adb.org

The Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative

(PSDI) is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank
and the Australian Agency for International Development.