Research: Vanuatu still below Pacific average in women’s business leadership
November 3, 2024 10:04 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
Despite that the proportion of women in some business leadership positions is growing, Vanuatu remains below the Pacific regional average for most positions in 2024.
From 2021 to 2024, the proportion of women directors in Vanuatu rose from 18% to 20% and the proportion of CEOs rose from 15% to 18%. Notably, however, women in board chair positions fell from 8% to 0%, and women deputy chairs fell from 25% to 18%.
These were revealed in a new report from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). Leadership Matters 2024: Benchmarking Women in Business Leadership in the Pacific, tracks advancements in women’s representation as board directors, board chairs, deputy board chairs, and chief executive officers across 14 Pacific countries.
This research was undertaken together with the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA) to better understand the constraints for women operating businesses in Vanuatu.
A workshop was held recently to discuss the findings of the research. The workshop gathered representatives from civil society, business and the government.
Participants agreed that they must step out of their silos and work together if they are serious about helping women in business.
According to a statement, the workshop discussed PSDI’s research findings on women’s participation in Vanuatu’s private sector, including in the tourism sector, as entrepreneurs.
“For this research and the report, we spoke to more than 200 women in Vanuatu’s private sector across six provinces, including women operating formal, registered businesses and small businesses in the informal sector,” said report author and PSDI Economic Empowerment of Women Expert, Sarah Boxall.
“Those conversations uncovered several key findings about the main barriers that women experience in the private sector including challenges accessing finance and training opportunities, in addition to many promising strategies and recommendations that can help women overcome these challenges. These findings echo those of research conducted over 10 years ago, suggesting limited progress despite ongoing programs to support women’s entrepreneurship in Vanuatu.”
In response to these and other challenges, the DWA is developing the national action plan on women’s economic empowerment, which is Strategic Area 2 of the National Gender Equality Policy 2020-2030.
The workshop aimed to help inform aspects of the strategy by providing participants with a forum for sharing the challenges facing women entrepreneurs and the opportunities that can unlock sustainable growth of the country’s private sector.
The event featured a panel, with the theme of Empowering women entrepreneurs in Vanuatu: Navigating challenges and seizing opportunities for growth. Panelists discussed the challenges facing women entrepreneurs and business leaders and the opportunities to achieve more balanced leadership and unlock sustainable growth of the country’s private sector.
“This workshop is testament to the commitment of so many people across government and the private sector to change the status quo and improve women’s economic empowerment and business leadership in Vanuatu,” said Emily Fisher, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Vanuatu.
“PSDI is working with the Department of Women’s Affairs to support the analysis and planning needed to tackle the barriers and seize the opportunities for women’s economic participation and to engage in business, but there do remain significant challenges.”
PSDI is an ADB technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand. It supports ADB’s 14 Pacific DMCs to improve the enabling environment for business and to achieve inclusive, private sector-led economic growth, including through reforms designed to enhance the economic empowerment of women.
