Investing in Women

Businesses and economies in Southeast Asia face significant barriers to achieving their full potential for inclusive and sustainable development due to persistent gender inequality. Many women lack the same opportunities as men to participate fully in the economy, which not only affects their personal and familial well-being but also hinders national growth. Recognizing this critical challenge, Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, was established to work directly with partners on the ground to dismantle these barriers. Our partners, which include business leaders, investors, and policymakers, are often looking for effective, evidence-based strategies to foster gender equality. We provide them with the tools, partnerships, and innovative approaches needed to create real change, demonstrating that investing in women is not just a social imperative but also a smart economic strategy that benefits everyone. By working to build more resilient economies and more equitable societies, we help our partners in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar advance women’s economic empowerment.

Our approach is collaborative and multifaceted, designed to address the systemic nature of gender inequality. For our partners in the private sector, we know that changing workplace cultures is essential. That's why we support Business Coalitions that work with influential companies to implement more equitable policies and practices, ultimately impacting over a million employees. For impact investors, the challenge is often identifying and funding women-led businesses. We address this by directly investing in women's SMEs and working with market-building partners to normalize gender lens investing, significantly increasing the flow of capital to female entrepreneurs. We also understand that lasting change requires supportive policies. Therefore, we collaborate with local institutions to build a strong evidence base and advocate for policy reforms that support women's economic participation, particularly in the care economy. Through targeted campaigns and by fostering communities of practice, we empower local leaders and organizations to drive widespread change, ensuring that women can thrive in the workplace and succeed in business.