Bank Indonesia launches gender-responsive economic program for women

Bank Indonesia, in collaboration with Women’s World Banking and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, has launched a study titled ‘Towards a Gender-Responsive Inclusive Business Model: Lessons from Subsistence Groups in Indonesia.’ The initiative aims to strengthen the economy of women within subsistence business groups through gender-responsive inclusive economic and financial programs.

Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia Filianingsih Hendarta stated that the program is designed to reach groups that are difficult to access through formal financial services by using a group-based approach to build togetherness, trust, and independence. The study, which examined nine Bank Indonesia-supported groups in DKI Jakarta, Bangka Belitung, Central Sulawesi, and Bali, recommends focusing on access, participation, control, and benefits for women.

Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi noted that domestic and care work are significant factors limiting women's economic space. The study suggests a three-stage empowerment process: preparation based on equality principles, implementation that encourages female leadership and digital technology use, and monitoring that explicitly measures impact from a gender perspective.