About the Program
Investing in Women: Women In Inclusive Sustainable Economic Recovery (IW) is a multi-country Australian Government initiative in Southeast Asia that seeks to accelerate women’s economic empowerment through increased and equitable opportunities in the private sector, contributing to inclusive, sustainable economic recovery and growth in targeted countries.
Building on the results, partnerships, learnings and credibility established under the first eight years of the program, IW’s new phase will extend and deepen Australia’s contribution to supporting women in the region and advancing gender equality through continuing to influence an ecosystem of policymakers, business leaders, capital providers and women’s economic empowerment actors.
Positioning women at the centre of economic resilience and recovery and accelerating their economic empowerment is critical to achieving a wide range of objectives pertaining to sustainable development in Southeast Asia. As the region recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, gender-sensitive economic recovery strategies will be critical to prevent further deterioration in women’s economic empowerment indicators seen during COVID-19. Focus on an inclusive recovery seeks to harness the productivity, skills, capacity, talent, innovation, and leadership that women offer, and realise the benefits of women’s economic empowerment for themselves, their families, and their communities.
IW continues the ambitious agenda of advancing women’s economic empowerment through:
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Workplace Gender Equality – we support business coalitions that work with influential businesses on shifting workplace cultures, practices, and policy barriers to achieve workplace gender equality;
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Enabling Policy Reforms – we support locally identified policy reform agendas to encourage private sector participation in the care economy;
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Influencing Gender Norms – we support locally driven campaigns that positively shift gender norms that inhibit women’s economic participation; and
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Gender Lens Investing – we work to increase access to capital by women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through partnering with capital providers, increase demand for gender lens investing strategies and product, and catalyse the supply of financial instruments available to growth-oriented small businesses led by women.
In collaboration with corporations and business leaders, policy stakeholders, capital providers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, we are working with those who are driving change for women’s economic equality in our region.
IW supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda and the leveraging of private sector investments to achieve the Goals. The SDGs recognise that gender equality is not only an essential human right, but a necessary foundation for peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable societies.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has contracted Abt Associates Australia to implement IW. Abt Associates Australia is a mission-driven, global leader in research, evaluation, and implementing programs in health, social and environmental policy and international development.
IW’s new phase is anticipated to be up to AUD 80 million in value, initially for four years (from January 2023 to June 2027), with an option to extend for a further six years. Initial countries of focus will be at least Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with some activities engaging at a regional level.
Further information about IW can be found on www.investinginwomen.asia