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Investing in Women initiative (Viet Nam)
Viet Nam
17/11/2014
31/07/2023
Keywords
Access to employment; Entrepreneurialism
Project description
The Investing in Women initiative is an innovative, long term approach to improving women's economic participation as employees and as entrepreneurs, and influencing the private and public sector environment to promote women's economic empowerment. The initiative works directly with the private sector and focuses on formal businesses. The overall goal is to contribute to women's economic empowerment in South East Asia with the understanding that this will contribute to continued inclusive economic growth in the region. Investing in Women intends to do this by achieving the following four outcomes: 1) more businesses achieve gender equality in their workplaces; 2) increased Impact Investment into women's small and medium enterprises; 3) removing policy and regulatory barriers to women's economic empowerment; and 4) public attitudes are more supportive of women's economic empowerment. The program operates in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar, from 2016-19 with a contract imple
Primary thematic area
Secondary thematic areas
Regulatory & legal frameworks
Financial services; Business development; Skills training; Unions & fair employment; Trade & access to markets; Gender training, research & mainstreaming
Project details
Umbrella programme
Aus4Equality
Accountable Org(s)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Funding Org(s)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Implementing/
Partner Org(s)
Vietnam Business Coalition for Women's Empowerment; Economic Dividends for Gender Equality; Value for Women; Asian Venture Philanthropy Network; GenderSmart Investing Summit; Impact Investment Summit; Athena Global Alliance; SEAF; Patamar Capital; Root Capital; Capital 4 Development Partners; Magdalene; ECUE; WISE; Institute for Social Development Studies; Care International; Oxfam
Project contact
Australia - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
+61 2 6261 1111
iati.support@dfat.gov.au
R.G. Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent, Barton ACT 0221, Australia
Funding (USD)
Committed
Spent
$
9,457,550
$
10,301,100
Project website
https://investinginwomen.asia/
https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/se-asia-investing-in-women-design.pdf
https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/vietnam-appr-2018-19.pdf
D-Portal link
Project evaluation
Evaluation source
N/A
Evaluation methodology
Mixed
Programme targets
Objectives:
Increase gender equality: More businessses achieve gender equality in their workplace.
Increase investment in SMEs: Intentional impact investment in women entrepreneurs increases.
Support women's voices: Achieve positive shifts in gender norms that support women's economic participation.
Key evaluation questions (each KEQ has its further sub-questions), sourced from 'Investing in Women Initiative Design Document':
1. How effective has Investing in Women been in contributing to women�s economic empowerment in South East Asia?
2. What relevant changes have occurred nationally and regionally, did Investing in Women contribute to these?
3. What is the likely legacy of our work and sustainability of the benefits?
4. How well are we working with the private sector towards women�s economic empowerment in SEA?
5. How well are our management and governance arrangements supporting the performance of Investing in Women?
Results achieved
DFAT Vietnam Aid Program Performance Report 2018-19: Entering its second year of full implementation in Vietnam, the Investing in Women initiative deepened its engagement on workplace gender equality. A key focus was sustained support to the Government of Vietnam in assessment and advice on pro-equality revisions to the Labour Code. Using the initiative�s gender and labour law expertise, and in partnership with Vietnamese economists, social policy experts and UN Women, Australia helped demonstrate the merits of international standards for reforms that optimise equality in the workforce, strengthen anti-sexual harassment provisions, and expand paternity entitlements. Key policy messages were reinforced by a civil society partnership to engage with working women about the current conditions and protections available to them under law. In May 2019, the National Assembly agreed to remove the list of 77 prohibited occupations for women from the Labour Code. Progress is also largely on track in promoting workplace gender equality through the private sector, although still embryonic in scale. Five companies achieved Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) certification in 2018-19, with three more on track to complete certification in the second half of 2019. The certification will help to accelerate
policies and practices to support greater workplace gender equality. In Vietnam, three new companies received funding for gender-lens impact investment (now totalling five companies, and worth $3.4 million), increasing financing for women-owned/led enterprises.
Targets met?
Objectives:
Increase gender equality: More businessses achieve gender equality in their workplace.
Increase investment in SMEs: Intentional impact investment in women entrepreneurs increases.
Support women's voices: Achieve positive shifts in gender norms that support women's economic participation.
Key evaluation questions (each KEQ has its further sub-questions), sourced from 'Investing in Women Initiative Design Document':
1. How effective has Investing in Women been in contributing to women�s economic empowerment in South East Asia?
2. What relevant changes have occurred nationally and regionally, did Investing in Women contribute to these?
3. What is the likely legacy of our work and sustainability of the benefits?
4. How well are we working with the private sector towards women�s economic empowerment in SEA?
5. How well are our management and governance arrangements supporting the performance of Investing in Women?
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