Source >>><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nby Isabelle Gurney<\/a>February 7, 2022![\"Skaila](\"https:\/\/devpolicy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Skaila-Samuel-coffee-farmer_CARE-PNG-810x519.png\")
Skaila Samuel, representative of the Ward Development Committee and coffee farmer, carries a bag of coffee in Simbari, Eastern Highlands, PNG (CARE PNG)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/devpolicy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Portrait-IGurney-150x150.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWritten by Isabelle Gurney<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nA new Australian Aid report, \u2018From Participation to Power<\/a>\u2019, draws on nearly 10 years of the Australian government\u2019s Pacific Women<\/a> program \u2013 one of the largest, sustained aid commitments to gender equality in the world \u2013 to investigate what works to build women\u2019s economic empowerment in the Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIts key message is that women\u2019s economic participation does not automatically<\/em> lead to empowerment and economic equality with men. For economic development initiatives to meaningfully advance the \u2018empowerment\u2019 element of women\u2019s economic empowerment, it is critical to address gendered power dynamics. This includes the distribution of resources, violence prevention, women\u2019s time and care responsibilities, and opportunities for collective action and mutual support building.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMainstream development discourse has regularly portrayed women\u2019s economic participation as an automatic \u2018win\/win\u2019 for economic development and women\u2019s empowerment. However, this has not always been the experience of Pacific Women partners. Increased income does not necessarily reduce the risks<\/a> faced by women, and women may face criticism, increased restrictions on their mobility, and violence as they undertake \u2018non-traditional\u2019 activities outside of the home. The non-financial dynamics of women\u2019s empowerment, such as leading, influencing and organising are also crucial as many women will not feel that they are entitled to equality with men.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe report highlights how Pacific-led programs have strategically addressed gender inequality as a component of economic growth initiatives. By deliberately considering gender dynamics and meaningfully pursuing women\u2019s empowerment, these programs have reduced poverty and increased the economic opportunities and wellbeing of individuals, households, businesses and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report\u2019s findings are summarised into seven lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Use Pacific-centred, women-led approaches
<\/strong>Women\u2019s economic empowerment programs and interventions must be appropriate and relevant to the ways in which women operate economically. Women are typically not consulted in the formation of economic policy and industrial strategies. However, women have specific economic priorities, strengths and needs based on their contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Deliberately address gender stereotypes
<\/strong>Women may face criticism, increased restrictions on their mobility, and violence as they undertake \u2018non-traditional\u2019 activities outside of the home and because they are disrupting what is considered acceptable behaviour for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Take steps to support women to be safe from violence
<\/strong>If women are to equally participate in and benefit from the financial economy, they need to be supported and safe from men\u2019s violence. Violence reinforces gender inequality and manifests as: controlling behaviour; economic violence; sexual, physical and emotional violence; and denial of bodily autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Collective action and cooperation are key
<\/strong>Collectives support members to increase productivity, protect their income and improve their working conditions. Critically, women\u2019s participation in collectives also facilitates women\u2019s safety, leadership and collective voice to advocate for their economic needs and priorities, and for their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Encourage a more equal division of labour between women and men
<\/strong>Reducing and redistributing women\u2019s unpaid care and household work requires commitment for change in multiple areas, including the provision of affordable childcare, gender-responsive infrastructure investment, child-friendly education and workplaces, recognising care as work, and increasing the contribution of men and boys to care work, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n6. Plan to reach the most marginalised
<\/strong>Planning and designing for the most visible and most vocal in society risks failure to reach the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society. When economic development initiatives aim to \u2018leave no one behind\u2019, then they must consider the reality of the lives of women and girls in the Pacific, where poverty rates are high, businesses are small, and employment opportunities are low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Ensure employment practices are both safe and fair
<\/strong>For employment to enhance women\u2019s empowerment it must be secure and involve decent working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDownload the full report \u2018<\/em>From Participation to Power: Women\u2019s Economic Empowerment in the Pacific<\/a>\u2019.<\/em>Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nRelated posts:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n- Women\u2019s economic empowerment: lessons from Fiji<\/a><\/li>
- ODA funding for gender equality is on the rise, but is it enough?<\/a><\/li>
- Women\u2019s economic empowerment: five lessons from the field<\/a><\/li>
- Making the AIFFP work for gender equality<\/a><\/li>
- Bank accounts do help women in PNG<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Empowerment<\/a>Gender equality<\/a>Pacific<\/a>Women<\/a>Womens economic empowerment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"09 FEBRUARY 2022 : 1H7TJ Source >>> by Isabelle GurneyFebruary 7, 2022Skaila Samuel, representative of the Ward Development …
Skaila Samuel, representative of the Ward Development Committee and coffee farmer, carries a bag of coffee in Simbari, Eastern Highlands, PNG (CARE PNG)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWritten by Isabelle Gurney<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A new Australian Aid report, \u2018From Participation to Power<\/a>\u2019, draws on nearly 10 years of the Australian government\u2019s Pacific Women<\/a> program \u2013 one of the largest, sustained aid commitments to gender equality in the world \u2013 to investigate what works to build women\u2019s economic empowerment in the Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its key message is that women\u2019s economic participation does not automatically<\/em> lead to empowerment and economic equality with men. For economic development initiatives to meaningfully advance the \u2018empowerment\u2019 element of women\u2019s economic empowerment, it is critical to address gendered power dynamics. This includes the distribution of resources, violence prevention, women\u2019s time and care responsibilities, and opportunities for collective action and mutual support building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mainstream development discourse has regularly portrayed women\u2019s economic participation as an automatic \u2018win\/win\u2019 for economic development and women\u2019s empowerment. However, this has not always been the experience of Pacific Women partners. Increased income does not necessarily reduce the risks<\/a> faced by women, and women may face criticism, increased restrictions on their mobility, and violence as they undertake \u2018non-traditional\u2019 activities outside of the home. The non-financial dynamics of women\u2019s empowerment, such as leading, influencing and organising are also crucial as many women will not feel that they are entitled to equality with men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report highlights how Pacific-led programs have strategically addressed gender inequality as a component of economic growth initiatives. By deliberately considering gender dynamics and meaningfully pursuing women\u2019s empowerment, these programs have reduced poverty and increased the economic opportunities and wellbeing of individuals, households, businesses and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report\u2019s findings are summarised into seven lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Use Pacific-centred, women-led approaches 2. Deliberately address gender stereotypes 3. Take steps to support women to be safe from violence 4. Collective action and cooperation are key 5. Encourage a more equal division of labour between women and men 6. Plan to reach the most marginalised 7. Ensure employment practices are both safe and fair Download the full report \u2018<\/em>From Participation to Power: Women\u2019s Economic Empowerment in the Pacific<\/a>\u2019.<\/em>Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Empowerment<\/a>Gender equality<\/a>Pacific<\/a>Women<\/a>Womens economic empowerment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 09 FEBRUARY 2022 : 1H7TJ Source >>> by Isabelle GurneyFebruary 7, 2022Skaila Samuel, representative of the Ward Development …
<\/strong>Women\u2019s economic empowerment programs and interventions must be appropriate and relevant to the ways in which women operate economically. Women are typically not consulted in the formation of economic policy and industrial strategies. However, women have specific economic priorities, strengths and needs based on their contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Women may face criticism, increased restrictions on their mobility, and violence as they undertake \u2018non-traditional\u2019 activities outside of the home and because they are disrupting what is considered acceptable behaviour for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>If women are to equally participate in and benefit from the financial economy, they need to be supported and safe from men\u2019s violence. Violence reinforces gender inequality and manifests as: controlling behaviour; economic violence; sexual, physical and emotional violence; and denial of bodily autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Collectives support members to increase productivity, protect their income and improve their working conditions. Critically, women\u2019s participation in collectives also facilitates women\u2019s safety, leadership and collective voice to advocate for their economic needs and priorities, and for their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Reducing and redistributing women\u2019s unpaid care and household work requires commitment for change in multiple areas, including the provision of affordable childcare, gender-responsive infrastructure investment, child-friendly education and workplaces, recognising care as work, and increasing the contribution of men and boys to care work, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Planning and designing for the most visible and most vocal in society risks failure to reach the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society. When economic development initiatives aim to \u2018leave no one behind\u2019, then they must consider the reality of the lives of women and girls in the Pacific, where poverty rates are high, businesses are small, and employment opportunities are low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>For employment to enhance women\u2019s empowerment it must be secure and involve decent working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRelated posts:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n