2015/PPWE2/007b Agenda Item: 3.1 Summary Record of the First Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy Meeting 2015 Purpose: Information Submitted by: PPWE Chair Forum Doc. No.: 2015/SOM2/SCE/019 Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy Meeting Manila, Philippines 16 September 2015
Summary Report PPWE1 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea May 3-5 2015 Representatives from 10 APEC member economies, including Australia, People s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, the United States, and Viet Nam, met in Port Moresby, PNG on May 03-05, 2015 for the first of two APEC 2015 Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE) meetings. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Emmeline Verzosa of the Philippine Commission on Women. A summary of the two-day discussion is as follows: Opening Session: PPWE Chair Ms Verzosa thanked Papua New Guinea for graciously hosting the 1 st PPWE meeting in 2015 and welcomed the delegates who were present. She gave a background on the foundation of PPWE and the 5 pillars to advance women s economic empowerment. The Chair shared the APEC 2015 priorities under the theme Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World. In this regard, she remarked that for growth to have a transformative effect on an economy and people, it needs to be inclusive, meaning all citizen women and men, young and old, indigenous, migrant workers, persons with disabilities and of diverse group contribute to as well the benefit from growth. Further, the Chair stressed that inclusive growth translates to creating jobs, integrating the population into the economic and social mainstream, and reducing poverty hence, no one should be left behind. In line with the APEC 2015 priorities, the Chair remarked that the 2015 APEC Women and the Economy this September will have the theme Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Growth. Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado will be the over-all Chair. The Chair gave a rundown of the PPWE agenda and activities for the next 2 days. Followed by the remarks of the Chair, Mr. Richard Yakam, Papua New Guinea s Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Trade and Industry conveyed the appreciation of Papua New Guinea to the Philippines for holding the PPWE in Port Moresby. In addressing gender issues, Papua New Guinea has improved significantly in terms of women s access to financial services especially in microfinance and mobile banking as it has significantly grown and extended toward remote areas, as well as in politics where there are initiatives on legislative reform to guarantee women s equal participation in policy-making. Though Mr. Yakam recognized the progress made in some areas, he acknowledged that there is little or no progress in others. While efforts have been made in promoting women s empowerment and gender equality, work has to continue (both within individual member economies and through APEC). Mr. Yakam noted that advancing women empowerment is through an agreed a set of (gender-based) indicators. Page 1 of 8
Agenda Items: The Chair sought approval from the body to change the sequence of the agenda of the meeting during Day 1 because some the delegates were only due to arrive in the afternoon. The Chair proposed to begin with the reporting on projects, to be followed by the discussion on the PPWE Terms of Reference, Work Plan, and Strategic Plan. The body supported this proposal. Members Economies report on completed, on-going and proposed projects under PPWE: Australia: Assisting Women-owned SMEs Access the Global Markets Japan: 50 Leading Companies for Women in APEC Japan: Good Practices of Women s Entrepreneurship in the Process of Disaster Reconstruction Chinese Taipei: Innovation for Women and Economic Development- Facilitating Women s Livelihood Development and Resilience with ICTs United States and Philippines: Healthy Women and Healthy Economies United States: Women s Entrepreneurship in APEC (WE-APEC) Network On-going self-funded project (until June 2015) Completed Completed On-going Approved in principle by BMC Self-funded project Workshop 23-24 June 2015 in Singapore Australia reported on their self-funded project Assisting Women-owned SMEs Access the Global Markets, which aims to increase women s participation in regional and global markets through networking, peer-to-peer exchange, and skills and capacity-building. The project is a series of workshops for public and private sector participants to identify ways to create an enabling environment for women to not just participate but compete in the global market. In Phase 1, participants identified barriers and enabler for women-owned SMEs, from both the institutional-side (i.e. government rules and regulations; quality government services) and on the women s-side (i.e. skills, access to information, ICT knowledge). The project, which originated from the APEC SME Working Group, will have in-country follow ups for Phase 2. The Philippines shared the outcomes of the recently concluded roundtable discussion on the Gender Responsive Economic Action for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women Project) in the ICT Platform, which aims to improve ICT systems to help women participate in the global market. This public-private project continues with an identification and assessment of the information and communication needs of current and would-be women entrepreneurs and exporters. Chinese Taipei reported on the multi-year project entitled Innovation for Women and Economic Development Facilitating Women s Livelihood Development and Resilience with ICTs, which targets women who want to move up the value chain through innovation especially in ICT. Another SMEWG and PPWE collaboration, the Page 2 of 8
project will launch the e-learning toolkits (developed over three workshops) at the final phase of the project: Empowering Women through ICT for Inclusive Growth workshop on September 16 in Manila at the sidelines of the Women and the Economy. Invitation letters have been sent. Republic of Korea shared it has a project on smart technologies also designed to encourage and mainstream ICT. The Chair invited Chinese Taipei, Republic of Korea and Australia to explore possible synergies among their respective projects, and to avoid duplication of efforts. Japan reported on three projects: o 50 Leading Companies for Women in APEC The project looked into the executive performance and leadership, proactive recruitment of women, capacity building for women in marketing, accounting, management and planning programs as well as sharing best practices across APEC economies. It advocated support for local communities and support for local entrepreneurs. Several economies raised the concern on how to measure good practices. Japan informed the body that the process differs in each economy. The Philippines share their criteria in choosing companies included the number of women employees, the number of women in the board, and policies that are favorable to women such as wages and women s needs in the job. o Good Practices of Women s Entrepreneurship in the Process of Disaster Reconstruction Building on the Sendai Action Framework, the workshop identified good practices and policies that advance and sustain women s entrepreneurship in disaster-hit areas. Examples include the need for technical support, gender-sensitive services, access to finance, capacitybuilding for management skills, and local ownership. o Japan reported on the progress of The Individual Action Plan (IAP) for the Enhancement of the Ratio of Women s Representation in Leadership. Ten economies have submitted their IAPs to date. The annual report is in progress, and there will be midterm report in 2017 and final report in 2020. The United States reported on the Women s Entrepreneurship in APEC Network a network of networks- will be launched in June 2015. The Network is envisioned to be a platform where women can connect with each other, with suppliers, with support services (e.g. business associations and governments), etc. The United States and the Philippines discussed the joint initiative entitled Healthy Women, Healthy Economies that aims to enhance women's economic participation by improving women s health. The initial objective of developing a checklist of indicators will now be developed into a toolkit that will guide economies in addressing women s health issues that limit their economic participation. The toolkit is intended for government and other relevant stakeholders. The United States also shared its initiative on Women in Transportation, which originally was set up to increase women s recruitment and leadership in a traditionally male-dominated sector. The objectives have been expanded to include promoting Page 3 of 8
accessible, safe, and women-friendly modes of transportation as well as transportation routes. An example of an APEC gender mainstreaming in another fora, this initiative will be discussed at the Transportation Working Group Meeting in May and the Transportation Ministerial Meeting (TMM) in October 2015. Outcome Documents: Members economies updated and approved the following documents: Terms of Reference (TOR) Work Plan 2015 Guide on Gender Criteria for APEC Project Proposals (Appendix I) Strategic Plan 2015-2018 (Approved in principle). The implementation Schedule (matrix) is still open to economies to submit additional inputs or comments (by 1 June 2015) Terms of Reference (TOR): During the SCE 1 meeting in Clark, Philippines, the PPWE Chair proposed the holding of at least two PPWE meetings annually. The SCE Chair agreed to the proposal and endorsed that the TOR be amended accordingly to allow the holding of up to two PPWE meetings each year, if necessary. In this regard, economies agreed to update and revise the TOR. The following agreements were made: o The TOR reflects the holding of at least two PPWE meetings annually, if necessary. o Noting the current APEC structure and project assessment process, which include a Gender Focal Point in the APEC Secretariat tasked to review the submitted concept notes according to the APEC gender criteria, the meeting decided to remove the item on the Project Assessment Standing Committee (PASC) in the TOR. The Chair also noted that economies can also use the gender criteria when proposing their respective concept notes, and can review other economies submissions. o Members agreed to remove item 6 in the TOR referring to the Project Assessment Standing Committee (PASC). o Insert Australia s proposal on item 2 PPWE s eight tasks: sub-6: Proactively engage with and disseminate information to key members of PPWE including private sector members and APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), especially the host economy ABAC member to be selected to be PPWE Women and the Economy advisor, as well as other relevant stakeholders, including international organizations, to advance women s economic empowerment in APEC. o New Zealand suggested including a diagram on PPWE stakeholder engagement, relationship with each other, and work delineation. Australia suggested that this diagram be a separate stand-alone document such that the TOR can be approved soonest and need not be hinged on the completion of this diagram. The Chair requested volunteers to prepare this diagram. o The body approved the TOR. Page 4 of 8
PPWE Work Plan 2015: The Chair shared to the body the Proposed Work Plan for 2015 which was presented to the SCE Chair in the SCE 1 meeting in Clark, Philippines. The Work Plan responds to Leaders, Ministers, SOM, SCE priorities and decision and also takes into consideration ABAC recommendations. It focuses on the eight objectives for the Philippines hosting of APEC WE which is in line to the implementation of the Framework for the Integration of Women in the APEC agenda and promotion of women s economic empowerment through the five Priority Pillars: Access to capital and assets; Access to markets; Skills, capacity building, and health; Leadership, voice, and agency; and Innovation and technology) Australia proposed to remove the reference to the 1999 framework and replace it with the PPWE s five pillars as the work plan s framework. The Philippines clarified that the 5 points enumerated in the 1 st part of the work plan are in line with the Philippine Hosting priorities in 2015 as well as with the PPWE. These are the goals set by the Women and the Economy 2015. Several economies suggested minor revisions to the language used in parts of the work plan. The Philippines suggested that there should be an advocacy or endorsement on the continuity of the work plan. The workplan was endorsed. Guide Gender Criteria for APEC Project Proposal (Appendix I): Members reviewed the Guide on Gender Criteria for APEC Project Proposal following the request made by BMC in 2014 to update and revise the document accordingly. As agreed during the discussion on the TOR, the Chair reiterated the removal of the PASC reference considering that it has never been formed. Instead, the Chair acknowledged the designation of a Gender Focal Point by the APEC Secretariat who will coordinate within PMU to assist the PPWE PD in assessing the proposals submitted to APEC. Members agreed to incorporate APEC s commitment to promoting women s economic empowerment through the five PPWE pillars. The United States said that the Gender Criteria must not only be about including women in the project but also about women s participation in the project. The Philippines shared the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines for Project Development, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation as an additional reference to analyze projects. Strategic Plan 2015-2018: Approved in principle The Chair provided a short background on the history of the Strategic Plan drafting. She mentioned the comments received from several APEC economies until late 2014. The body agreed that Strategic Plan s timeframe is from 2015 to 2018. Page 5 of 8
Economies proposed additional language or edits to the draft, such as the inclusion of a reference to the PPWE s work on transitioning women from the informal economy to the formal economy through capacity building. The body discussed and updated the Strategic Plan s matrix of Implementation schedule. Members agreed on the first part of the document. The implementation schedule still needs to be endorsed by the members. By PPWE 2 meeting in September, economies should discuss how the Strategic Plan will be implemented. In this regard, the Chair asked economies for volunteers to work on the items on advancing women s economic participation through the 5 priority pillars. o PNG volunteered to work on increased access to capital. o New Zealand, China and PNG and the Philippines. committed to work on technology and innovation. o The Philippines also volunteered to work skills, capacity building and health. The 2015-2018 Strategic Plan is focused on 3 objectives with corresponding outcomes and key performance indicators: o Strengthen the integration of gender responsive policies and programs across APEC fora (women s increased engagement and advancement across APEC economies is tracked, measurable and communicated and PPWE s data framework guides and facilitates gender-sensitive policy dialogue and reform and sector specific responses in key APEC documents (including Strategic and Work Plans, Independent Assessments and responses, Ministerial statements); o Advance women s economic participation through five priority pillars; implementation of the five pillars (Access to capital and assets; Access to markets, Skills, capacity building, and health; Leadership, voice, and agency; Innovation and technology); and o Strengthen the foundation and operating structure of the PPWE and the Women and the Economy Forum (PPWE will generate and facilitate knowledge, learning and expertise on gender issues and women s economic empowerment across APEC, both in meetings and intersessionally; PPWE will provide information regarding gender responsive programming and policies to APEC fora working towards an APEC framework on gender mainstreaming; PPWE has effective mechanisms and practices to leverage its members expertise, resources, and existing networks and shares periodic updates and experiences in terms of implementing the PPWE strategic plan). The body approved in principle the PPWE Strategic Plan, for onward submission to the SCE. Draft Joint Statement of the 2015 Women and Economy Forum: Revisions and suggestions were made in the draft statement. Some substantive suggestions include the following: o To include a paragraph on the 5 pillars of women economic empowerment o To have an annex for the cross-fora collaboration work and another for current PPWE initiatives Page 6 of 8
o To add statements that will reflect the key recommendations from the publicprivate dialogue on women and the economy o To include a paragraph on the Women and the Economy Dashboard Implementation Plan o To add a paragraph to incorporate the work on SMEs o For PNG to add a paragraph on promoting fair-trade programs to support women The Chair asked economies to review the annexes on projects and cross-fora collaboration and check whether their projects and initiatives are all reflected. Members are encouraged to provide their inputs and revisions prior to the finalization of the Women and the Economy Statement in September 2015. APEC Women and the Economy Dashboard: The Policy Support Unit (PSU), represented by Mr. Carlos Kuriyama, reported on the Women and the Economy Dashboard. Mr Kuriyama reported that the Dashboard consists of around 80 indicators, classified in 5 PPWE pillars. The Dashboard intends to provide a snapshot of the status of women in APEC, measure the progress of women s participation in the economicrelated activities and women s inclusion in society. Some of the Conclusion are: o Conditions for women differ across APEC economies and priority areas; o Data helps to identify topics where capacity-building is needed (e.g. labor market legal framework, protection of women from domestic violence, conditions for career advancement); o Capacity-building scheme with champion economies for specific topics/areas could be useful; o Preparation of action plans could complement capacity-building efforts; o PPWE could organize capacity-building events for statistical government agencies to improve data availability in gender-related issues in the future and cover existing gaps; o Some indicators seem to be discontinued (e.g. Economist Intelligence Unit s Women s Economic Opportunities Index) and PPWE could discuss with relevant institutions to prepare periodically those indicators for APEC; and o PPWE may also wish to discuss: the obsolescence of certain indicators in the Dashboard (e.g. use of internet/mobile phone by gender) and adding new indicators in Dashboard noting their increased relevance (e.g. enrolment rates on childcare and pre-school programs). Members will submit comments to PSU/PD by June 15, 2015. Final version of the Dashboard should be ready before WEF meeting in September. US proposal for the Dashboard implementation: The United States reported on the next steps on the Dashboard, and presented the Women and the Economy Dashboard Implementation Plan. The United States underlined that to best measure the progress implicated by the Dashboard s indicators, as well as to continue to facilitate targeted and structured capacity-building opportunities, the PPWE will use a champion economy approach, Page 7 of 8
which will focus efforts around a prioritized subset of contributing factors and indicators ( Priority Areas ) from the Dashboard. This approach relies upon individual APEC economies and PPWE representatives to volunteer to champion, or coordinate, the PPWE and APEC s plan of action related to a specific contributing factor or indicator within the Dashboard. Member s economies will revise this proposal in their capitals. July 2015 is the deadline for economies to volunteer as champion economies. Some concerns and suggestions were raised by several economies on funding, data sources, and grouping or cooperation among economies on a specific indicator/area. APEC Women and the Economy Fora: The Philippines, Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado, Chair, APEC Women and the Economy Forum 2015, presented to the PPWE members a power point related to the next Women and the Economy Fora (16-18 September 2015, Manila). The APEC WE Chair shared that the over-all theme for this year is Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Growth. The Fora will focus on how women s economic participation has been a vital factor in creating and sustaining inclusive businesses for the economic growth of an economy. Supporting the theme are the three subthemes focusing on: (1) Women and Inclusive Business, (2) Women and the Global Value Chain, and (3) Women and Sustainable Development. Conclusion: On May 03, the PPWE member economies participated in the Opening of Craft Market and Displays by Papua New Guinea women. The PPWE formal discussions ended in the afternoon of 04 May whereas Usec. Nora K. Terrado, APEC Women and the Economy Chair, gave the Closing Remarks thanking Papua New Guinea for graciously hosting the meeting and the participants for their active participation in the meeting. She also invited everyone to the APEC WE Fora in September in Manila. The next day, 05 May, delegates were treated by the Papua New Guinea hosts to a technical tour of Maria Kopkop College, and the Small Business Development Training Center for Women. The next PPWE meeting will be on 16 September 2015 in Manila, the Philippines as part of the APEC 2015 Women and the Economy series of events. Page 8 of 8