Gender Responsive Economic Actions - Transformation of Women

Results achieved as of the end of project (February 2014) include: (1) enhanced profile of the Philippine Commission on Women as an innovator in advancing women’s economic empowerment (WEE) having presented the project results in the Philippine Government Cabinet cluster meetings and in regional conferences in ASEAN ADB and APEC as well as internationally and in the UN; (2) improved policy framework for women’s economic empowerment both at national and subnational levels of government; (3) Other national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) have adopted specific WEE measures and dedicated budget that have led to improved responsiveness to women’s economic needs and improved services for women especially those working in the informal sector; (4) increased leveraging of government resources in support of gender and development and women’s economic empowerment (WEE). Partnership with the private sector notably the Echosi Foundation also greatly contributed to help women micro entrepreneurs enhance their products access higher end markets and grow their business. In total the project assisted 13 780 women micro-entrepreneurs (WMEs) in 204 WME groups across 45 local government units to have increased access to public and private sector programs and services thus expanding their market access opportunities. In the last two years of the project WMEs recorded additional sales totaling CAN$125 000. By project end 1 021 WMEs (or 7% of total assisted) had registered their businesses. 1 246 WMEs (or 9% of total assisted) had access to social protection and occupational safety and health. These results have contributed to creating positive changes in WMEs’ lives i.e. in increased community participation improved gender relations in the households surveyed.