Papua New Guinea - IFC

Preface and Acknowledgements
Gender and Investment Climate Reform Assessment Papua New Guinea
This Report is the result of collaboration between the Australian Agency
for International Development (AusAID) and the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
The Report has been produced for:
• The Government of Papua New Guinea, primarily the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce
and Industry to make recommendations for reform actions for Government to further enable
women in Papua New Guinea to participate effectively in the country’s economic development.
• The International Finance Corporation: to inform its Papua New Guinea Regulatory Simplification
and Investment Policy and Promotion Program and ensure that gender issues are incorporated in the
Program’s design and implementation.
• AusAID: to assist development programs to mainstream gender and to enable women to benefit
equitably from improvements in the business climate.
Research for the Report was primarily carried out during a mission to Papua New Guinea from March
14–20, 2009. The mission team, led by Sonali Hedditch (IFC), included Clare Manuel (The Law &
Development Partnership), Vijaya Nagarajan (AusAID consultant), Tamara Haig (AusAID consultant)
and supported by locally based experts William Boas (economist) and Florence Willie (lawyer). Kristie
Drucza (AusAID) and Anna Hutchens (AusAID consultant) undertook useful preparatory research from
October 27–31, 2008.
The authors wish to thank all the individuals who provided us with helpful information and were
available for interviews during the in-country research. They include Papua New Guinea Government’s
various ministries and departments, including Dame Carol Kidu, the PNG Investment Promotion
Agency, donors, the Chamber of Commerce, Business Women Associations, Gini Goada, PNG
Microfinance, and banking institutions. We also thank the National Council of Women for its valuable
insights into the overall position of women in Papua New Guinea’s society. We are especially grateful
to the IFC office, and notably Anna Manega, for the exceptional organization and support she
provided during the mission.
Finally, we wish to thank the wonderful women entrepreneurs who took the time to share their stories
and challenges during the Women in Business Forum in Port Moresby, and in one-on-one interviews in
Port Moresby and Mount Hagen.
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