Gender and Investment Climate Reform Assessment : Pacific Regional Executive Summary

This report profiles 52 business
women, representing countries where IFC works across the
Pacific region, in 30 case studies. Women in the report
share lessons in starting their businesses, and describe the
obstacles and opportunities they encountered in their
pursuit of growth. By revealing their future plans, the
women provide inspiration for current and future business
women of the Pacific to pursue greater entrepreneurial
ventures. In the Pacific region, women's ability to
access and control income, and exert decision making power
is yet to be fully realized. The Gender and Investment
Climate Reform Assessments for Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu examines
this issue by analyzing the constraints women in business
face and provides recommendations for IFC to incorporate
into its investment climate reform programs to reduce the
gender specific obstacles.