Catalyzing Innovation for Women Entrepreneurs

ESCAP and partners conducted research to better understand these entrepreneurs’ unique needs. The resulting report is based on direct data from 328 women microfinance borrowers in Fiji, Samoa and Cambodia. It focuses on the new realities facing women micro-entrepreneurs, and offers timely solutions for financial service providers to most effectively support them. The study included three main research questions covering the challenges women business owners face, what financial service improvements would better fit their needs, and how they’ve been impacted by and adapted to the pandemic. By partnering with the local lending institutions South Pacific Business Development and Chamroeun Microfinance Plc., the study was able to focus on women entrepreneurs currently engaged in microfinance loans to generate applicable solutions for the industry.