Workplace Gender Equality
Enabling Policy Reforms
Uncover evidence-based insights to craft and implement policies addressing women’s economic challenges in Southeast Asia.
Campaigns and CoPs
Explore campaigns and Communities of Practice (CoP) that support the broader adoption of gender-progressive attitudes and behaviours.
Gender Lens Investing
Learn how gender lens investment strategies and products help maximise investment potential for women-owned and -led businesses.
Established in 2016, Investing in Women (IW) tackles one of the most critical social and economic issues of our time: gender equality.
An Australian Government-funded initiative, Investing in Women works with business leaders, investors, and policymakers to remove barriers to women’s full economic participation.
In Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing and transforming economies, gender inequality stands as a significant barrier to more sustainable and inclusive development. While progress has been made, gender gaps remain, including in economic participation.
Investing in Women (IW) supports our partners in Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam to advance women’s economic empowerment – building more resilient economies and more equitable societies.
Women’s economic equality is not only fundamental to gender equality but key to business competitiveness and productivity. The evidence clearly shows that investing in women—unlocking their skills, talent, innovation and leadership—benefits not only the women themselves but also their families, communities, workplaces and nations.
IW supports women to participate fully as employees and entrepreneurs by reducing or removing structural barriers. Together with our partners, IW works to place women at the forefront of economic development.
Our Impact (2016-2023)
IW has been tackling women’s economic equality with the support of the Australian Government since 2016. Our Activity Completion Report for this period highlights key accomplishments, including:
Established business coalitions and local partnerships that improve workplace gender equality in the private sector in Southeast Asia. During these seven years, our partners enlisted 128 major businesses, representing over 1 million employees, to implement more equitable workplace policies and practices.
Invested AUD 15.4 million through 10 investment partners. This investment helped catalyse AUD 290 million of additional capital to bridge the finance gap for women entrepreneurs.
Worked with market building partners to mainstream gender lens investing in the investment community, contributing to a 3.4x increase in the number, and a 7x increase in the value of deals made with a gender lens, with a growing set of approaches to continue this trajectory.
Supported local partners to deliver targeted advocacy campaigns, reaching over 350 million people across Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
OF PROGRAM INNOVATION
FUNDED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT (IN AUD)
COMPANIES COMMITTED TO WGE
EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED
ADDITIONAL CAPITAL LEVERAGED
IN ONLINE REACH
Investing in Women – An initiative of the Australian Government
Inspire and Learn
Leveraging Technology for Gender-Responsive Aged Care Solutions
New Partnership to Professionalise Caregiving in Vietnam
Unlocking the potential of quality part-time work for women’s economic equality
Latest Knowledge Resources
Future Demand for Care in Indonesia, the Philippines & Vietnam
This report explores the future demand for care in Southeast Asia, focusing on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
When Women Invest: Investor Profiles from Southeast Asia
This case study highlights how private capital fund managers active in Southeast Asia are incorporating gender into their investment decision-making and investment management processes
Private Sector’s Guide to Advancing Women’s Economic Equality: Strategies from the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan
This fact sheet outlines some of the key strategies from the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, that businesses can adopt to advance women’s economic equality.