breaking down barriers: promoting the economic empowerment of pacific women

7/28/2019 Breaking Down Barriers: Promoting the Economic Empowerment of Pacific Women

1/26

Sabine SpohnPacific Liaison and Coordination Office, Sydney

Breaking Down Barriers:Promoting the

Economic Empowerment

of Pacific Women


2/26

The Pacific Private Sector Development

Initiative Is a regional technical assistance facility operating

in 14 Pacific countries, co-financed by AusAID and

NZ Aid Programme Works with government and the private sector

Improves the business enabling environment

Has a sound foundation of analytical work

Gender mainstreaming in all supported activities


3/26

Pillars, 201319

Gender Mainstreaming

M&E & Knowledge Mgmt

Analytical Work/Strategic Mgt

PSDI

Core Pillars

A2F BLR SOE/PPP EEOW COMP

Cross-cuttingThemes


4/26


5/26

PSDI:

Economic empowerment of

Women in the Pacific


6/26


7/26

PSDI:

Economic empowerment of

Women in the Pacific


8/26


9/26

Case Study:

Company Law Reformin Solomon Islands


10/26

Timeline Company Haus

2006: ADB PSDI begins assistingthe Government

2009: Companies Act passes

2010: Companies Act

commences in July 2010: Electronic Registry goes

live in December

2013+: PSDI providing ongoingmentoring, technical assistanceand training

www.companyhaus.gov.sb/


11/26

How have these reforms

benefited women inSolomon Islands?


12/26

1. Average Time to Incorporate aBusiness


13/26

2. Cost of Registering a Business


14/26

3. No Discrimination in the Process

Not a discretionary process registrationscannot be rejected based on gender

No (male) co-signatory required

No (male) co-directors required


15/26

4. Increased Registered Female Shareholders

1 year after registry launch= +/- 600 (2011)

2 years after registry launch= +/- 867 (end 2012)


16/26

5. Women Directors

Since the reforms, 815 womendirectors have formally

registered companies


17/26


18/26


19/26

Case Study: Papua New Guinea

Mobile Phone Bankingwith Nationwide Microbank


20/26

Nationwide Microbank

Pilot project under ADB

Microfinance & Employment

Project

Wau Microbank established in

2004 Name changed to Nationwide

Microbank in 2008, and granted

full banking license

125,000 savings accounts holders

served through 12 branches


21/26


- MiCash

Pilot launched in West New BritainProvince in November 2011

Gradual roll out to other provincesfrom June 2012

Real-time link into core bankingsystem

Person-to-person payments,cash in/cash-out, airtime top up,bill pay

Agent network managed by OceanicCommunications Limited Airtimereseller


22/26


- MiCash

As of 15 April 2013:

12,000 active customers, thereof

61% in rural areas

77% new customers

34% female 136 points of access (agent / branch)


23/26

ADB Support for MiCash

Strategic advice on Nationwide Microbanks

positioning in branchless banking field

Product concept

Review of pilot program Product

development Development of audit and risk management

processes

Development of training materials for staff and

agents


24/26

How have these activities

benefited women inPapua New Guinea?


25/26

Most of the women previously had no accessto financial services

Market transactions can become cashless there is less security risk

Money can be stored safely and out of sightof husband and other family members

Women can decide whom to share financialinformation with


26/26

Thank you.

More information contact :

Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office

www.adb.org/offices/pacific/main

[email protected]

breaking down barriers: promoting the economic empowerment of pacific women

Documents