The United Nation’s call for accelerated progress towards investment in women this International Women’s Day highlights an important issue: women entrepreneurs in our region continue to be invisible in the formal economy and financial system. If we are to truly ‘count her in’, the first vital step is for investors to see the potential and value of women entrepreneurs,and the financial sector to provide access to fair and safe loans for eligible people.

One of the core themes for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreaktheBias. Biases can be both conscious and unconscious and Good Return works to break down both within the financial sector, so women can succeed in business.

The innovation and resilience of entrepreneurs is proving to be key to driving Fiji’s come-back from a pandemic-induced economic crisis.

A new generation of young Fijian women like Payal Paddy are breaking down gender barriers to build their own businesses. They’ll be doing this with the support of a new partnership between Good Return and the Market Development Facility, an Australian Government initiative implemented by Palladium. The partners have a mission to develop sustainable and accessible financial products for women-led MSMEs in Fiji.

Ms. Meas Sarom is an entrepreneur at heart - always seeking further opportunities to build her business and create opportunities for her community around her. Thanks to the partnership between Cambodian microfinance institution Chamroeun and Good Return’s Impact Investment fund, women like Meas can access finance and technical support to build a sustainable business model and drive a women-led local economy.

Good Return and The Good Business Foundation announce a three year partnership to reduce inequality, by investing in an inclusive recovery across the Asia Pacific.

Meet Aulia, a young agribusiness entrepreneur, who is determined to build opportunity for women in her community.

After struggling to access formal banking, Aminah is now building her farming business thanks to a loan and training from our Indonesian partner CROWDE.

Giving women an active role in the economy is not just an act of empowerment, but a crucial part of economic growth.