亚开行-增强增长能力：支持萨摩亚妇女在农业综合企业中发挥领导作用（英）

NO.313

SEPTEMBER2024

ADBBRIEFS

KEYPOINTS

•Thoughconstrainedby

unequallandrights,limitedaccesstoandcontrol

overcredit,andprevailingsocialnormsandgenderstereotypes,withtherightsupport,womeninSamoacanbecomeagribusinessleaders,drivinginclusiveeconomicdevelopment.

•Thecoronavirusdisease

(COVID-19)pandemic

severelyimpactedSamoa’s

economy,employment,andlivelihoods.Womenwere

disproportionatelyaffected,reportingreducedworkhoursandlowerincome.

•TheSamoaAgribusinessSupportprojectprovidedfinancialandbusiness

developmentsupportto

26women-owned-and-

managedbusinessesfortheirequipmentprocurement

andmarketingactivities.

•Expandingtheoperationsofwomen-owned-and-ledagribusinessesrequires

tailoredsupport.Broadereffortsareneededto

addresswomen’sneedsinagribusiness;improvecompliancestandards;

andenhancesupportfor

women-ledmicro,small,andmedium-sizedenterprisesintheinformalsector.

ISBN978-92-9270-877-1(print)ISBN978-92-9270-878-8(PDF)

ISSN2071-7202(print)ISSN2218-2675(PDF)

PublicationStockNo.BRF240427

DOI:

/10.22617

/BRF240427

EmpoweringGrowth:

SupportingWomeninSamoatoLeadtheWayinAgribusiness

IngridFitzgerald

FormerSeniorGenderand

SocialDevelopmentOfficer

ClimateChangeandSustainable

DevelopmentDepartment(CCSD)AsianDevelopmentBank(ADB)

AletaMoriartyConsultant

CCSD,ADB

RachelMaryAnneA.BasasGenderOfficer

CCSD,ADB

MalikaShagazatova

SeniorSocialDevelopmentSpecialist(GenderandDevelopment)

CCSD,ADB

INTRODUCTION

Women’sleadershiphasbeenalong-standingtraditioninSamoa.Despitelowerlevelsofformalworkforceparticipation,higherunpaidcareworkload,andconcentration

invulnerableinformalemployment,womeninSamoahavebecomethetrailblazers

withintheirfamiliesandincommunitydevelopment.Theyplayaleadingroleinfamilybusinesses,publicandprivatesectororganizations,andcivilsociety.In2019,womenheld43%ofseniormanagementpositionsandcomprised23.7%ofdirectorsonthe

boardsofpublicbodies.In2021,womenheldone-thirdofdirectorpositions.1

Ofthemicrobusinessesthatconstitute74%offormallyregisteredmicro,small,

andmedium-sizedenterprises(MSMEs)inSamoa,35%areownedorledbywomen,and37%ofsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(SMEs)areownedorledbywomen.2

ThisbriefunderscoresthepivotalrolethatwomeninSamoaplayinagribusiness,despiteoftenbeingoverlookedinformaleconomicstatistics.ThroughtheSamoaAgribusinessSupportProject,women-owned-and-ledagribusinesseswereableto

accessmuch-neededcreditandtechnicalassistance,helpingthemtoexpandoperations,improvemarketaccess,andwithstandeconomicshocks.Byfocusingonenhancing

Note:Inthispublication,“$”referstoUnitedStatesdollars.

1GovernmentofSamoa,MinistryforPublicEnterprises.2019.

CollaboratingwiththeSamoaInstitute

ofDirectorstoEncourageGreaterParticipationbyWomeninBoardDirectorships

;PacificPrivateSectorDevelopmentInitiative.2021.

LeadershipMatters–BenchmarkingWomeninLeadershipinthePacific

.

2SMEFinanceForum.

FormalMSMEFinanceGap

(accessed20March2024).

2

ADBBRIEFSNO.313

WomeninSamoatraditionallyheld

statuswithinthefamilyasfeagaiga

(covenants),aprestigiousstatusthat

remainsastheirculturalreferencepointiftheystayintheirownvillagesalltheirlives.Itisrecognizedandenduring.

However,thisstatuschangeswhen

womenmarryandchoosetolivewith

theirhusbands’families—thesewomenareknownasnofotanewhooften

experienceunequalstatusandrightsintheiradoptedcommunities.*Thisisimportantwhenapplyingagenderlenstotheexperienceofwomenclients

supportedbytheSamoaAgribusinessSupportproject,especiallyregardinglandownership.

*UNWomen.2018.

Weareequal,weareimportant,saynofotanewomenofSamoa

.

women’sparticipationintheagriculturesector,theprojectnot

onlyboostedeconomicresiliencebutalsochallengedtraditionalgendernorms,empoweringwomentotakeonleadershiprolesinanindustrycrucialtoSamoa’sfuture.

Womenplayvariousrolesinagriculture,includingunpaidlabor,

managementandsupporttofamily-ownedbusinesses,subsistence

farmingandmarketing,andqualitycontrolandcomplianceinexportbusinesses.Yetwomenarelesslikelyviewedasfarmersinofficial

statisticsandreportingandaremorelikelyidentifiedas“unemployed,”althoughtheyareundertakingunpaidagriculturework.Womenalso

arenotwell-representednoraretheirrolesandcontributionsfairly

acknowledgedinmakingdecisionsinagriculturework.Unequalrightstoland(especiallywhenagribusinessesarerunontheirhusband’s

traditionalland),lowerlevelsofaccesstoandcontrolovercredit,andprevailingsocialnormsandgenderstereotypesthatassumemenarefarmersandwomenaretheirhelpers,continuetoconstrainwomen’sparticipationandleadershipinagriculture.3

Thecoronavirusdisease(COVID-19)pandemicseverelyimpactedSamoa’seconomy,employment,andlivelihoods,withsignificant

effectsonwomen’seconomicparticipationandleadershipinthe

agriculturesector.Whilebothmenandwomenhadlosttheirjobsandincome,womenweremuchmorelikelytoreportworkingfewerhours,andreceivinglessincomefromemployment,farmingand

fishing,andotherfamilybusinesses.4AccordingtoareportfromtheInternationalLabourOrganization,about56%ofSamoan

businesseswereseverelyimpactedbythepandemic.5

AUNsocioeconomicimpactassessmentofthepandemicin

Samoareportedthat9%ofemployeesintheagriculturesector

losttheirlivelihoodsbecauseoftheeconomicslowdown;and

38%ofpeopleworkingintheagricultureandlivestocksectorsaidtheyhadfearoflosingtheirincome.6Ruralhouseholdsalsoreliedsignificantlyondomesticfarmingtoreduceexpenditure.

ADB’sSamoaAgribusinessSupport(SABS)projectprovided

supporttoagribusinessestoenablethemtoaccesscreditand

helpthemgrowandscaleup(Box1).Forsomebusinesses,

accesstofinancealsohelpedthemtoweathertheimpactofthepandemicandeconomicdownturn.

Box1:Women-Owned-and-LedBusinesses

AccordingtotheInternationalFinanceCorporation,women-owned-and-ledbusinessesincludethosethatare

•atleast51%ownedbyawomanorwomen;or

•atleast20%ownedbyawomanorwomen,and

(i)atleastledbyonewomanasCEO,COO,president,orvicepresident;and

(ii)atleastcomprising30%womenintheirboardofdirectors,whereaboardexists.a

AgribusinessessupportedbytheSamoaAgribusinessSupport

(SABS)projectincludebusinessesthataresolelyownedormanagedbywomen,includingbusinessesledbyamotheranddaughtersor

sisters,aswellasbusinessesthatarejointlyownedandmanagedbyahusband-and-wifepartnership.Somelargerbusinesseshavewomeninseniorleadershippositions.Womenareprimarilyresponsiblefor

administrativeandfinancialmanagementanddecision-makinginjointlyownedbusinesses,whilemenareresponsibleforphysicaloperationandmaintenance.Itisnotalwayspossibletoascertainbusinessownershipintheabsenceofdocumentedshareholdingcompositioninajointlyownedbusiness.Forthepurposesoftheproject,bothwomen-ownedandjointlyownedbusinesseswherewomenplayakeyroleinleadingandmanagingthebusinessarethereforeconsidered“women-owned”or“women-led.”

CEO=chiefexecutiveofficer,COO=chiefoperatingofficer.

aInternationalFinanceCorporation(IFC).

IFC’sDefinitionsofTargeted

Sectors

(accessed30November2023).

Sources:IFC(2023);andauthors.

3FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNationsandthePacificCommunity.2019.

CountryGenderAssessmentofAgricultureandtheRuralSectorinSamoa

.

4UNWomen.2020.

SurveysshowthatCOVID-19hasgenderedeffectsinAsiaandthePacific.

29April.

5InternationalLabourOrganization.2020.

ImpactofCOVID-19onEmploymentandBusinessinthePacific:FindingsoftheRapidAssessment(RA)inFijiandSamoa.

6UnitedNations,Samoa.2021.SamoaCovid-19Socio-EconomicImpactAssessment:KeyFindings.August.

3

EmpoweringGrowth:SupportingWomeninSamoatoLeadtheWayinAgribusiness

ABOUTTHEPROJECT

TheSABSprojectwasfundedbytheAsianDevelopment

Bank(ADB)andtheGovernmentofAustralia.Theproject

supportedthecommercialproductionandexportofagricultureandvalue-addedagricultureproducts.Theprojecthad

threemainobjectives:(i)improvedaccesstofinancefor

registered,commercial,andsemicommercialagribusinesses;

(ii)businesssupporttoagribusinessestobuildtheircapacity;and(iii)effectiveprojectmanagement.Thetotalvalueoftheprojectwas$5.75million—$5millionwascontributedbyADBand$0.75millionbytheAustralianDepartmentofForeign

AffairsandTrade.TheMinistryofFinancewastheexecuting

agency.Theprojectcommencedin2014,initiallyforseven

Box2:GenderActionPlan

Theproject’s

genderactionplan

aimedtoensurewomen-owned-and-ledagribusinessesweresupportedthroughaccesstocreditandbusinesssupportservices.Outreachtowomen-owned-and-led

agribusinesses—togetherwithcapacitybuildingforcommercialbankstogivedueconsiderationtofinancingproposalsfromthesebusinesses—aimedtoincreasetheiraccesstofinance.Business

supportservicesandcapacitydevelopmentwereprovidedtowomen-owned-and-ledbusinessestohelpthempreparefor

accessingfinance.Genderawarenesstrainingconductedin2021and2023forprojectstakeholdersandclientsalsosupported

women-owned-and-ledbusinesses.

Theprojectprovidedfinancialandbusinessdevelopment

supportto26women-owned-and-ledbusinesses.Thisincluded11women-ownedbusinessesand15jointlyownedbusinesses,

exceedingthetargetssetintheinitialgenderactionplan.The

projectalsoconductedoutreachandcapacity-buildinginitiativestobuildthefinancialmanagementskillsofwomen-owned-and-ledbusinesses.Thesupportprovidedbytheprojectenabled

women-owned-and-ledbusinessestogrow,becomeviable,andsurvivethepandemicandeconomicdownturn.

Sources:ADB.2014.SamoaAgriBusinessSupportProject:GenderActionPlan;andSABSprojectreports.

years,andclosedinJanuary2024.TheprojectwascategorizedeffectivegendermainstreaminginADB’sgendercategorizationsystem(Box2).

SUPPORTTOWOMEN-OWNED-AND-LEDBUSINESSES

TheSABSprojectpartneredwithfourcommercialbanksin

Samoatoprovideloansto34businessessinceitsinceptionin

2014.Theprojectprovided50%partialcashcollateralforthefirstloan,whichhadincreasedto80%afterthereviewmission.Italsoprovidedsupplementaryseedcapitalatzerointerestrate,limitedto25%oftotalsubprojectcostsor$0.1millionperagribusiness.

InApril2023,asurveywasconductedamongbusinessesreceivingsupportfromSABS.Thesampleincluded(i)30of34businessesthathadreceivedloans(excludingfourbusinesses—twohad

closedandtwowerenew)and(ii)21of26businessesthathadreceivedbusinesssupport(excludingfivebusinesses—onehadclosed,threewerenotabletocompletetheapplication,andonedeclinedtobeinterviewed).

Ofthetotalbusinessesreceivingfinancialsupport,5(17%)were

solelywomen-ownedbusinesses,and13(43%)werejointly

owned.Women-owned-and-ledbusinessesthuscomprised

60%ofbusinessesthathadaccessedfinancethroughtheproject(Figure1).Ofthetotalloanvalueprovidedtothese30businesses,jointlyownedbusinessesaccountedfor52%,male-owned

businesses35%,andfemale-ownedbusinesses13%.Women-owned-and-ledbusinessesreceived65%oftheloanvaluetothese30businesses(Figure2).

Women-owned-and-ledagribusinessessupportedbythe

projectincludedbusinessesengagedinprimaryproductionandinsecondaryvalue-addedmanufacturing.Primaryproductionincludedcommercialplantersoftaroandvegetables,herbs

andflowersforlocalandexportsale,andpoultryandlivestock.Secondaryvalue-addedmanufacturingincludedcocoa,soap,

skincareproducts,biscuits,snackfoodsandjam,processing

ofturmerichealthdrinks,andmanagementofavegancafe.

Theagribusinessessupportedbytheprojectalsoprovided

employmentopportunitiesforwomen,supportedlocalmarketsandproducers,andgeneratedincomeforsuppliers.Thesurveyconductedin2023foundthattheprojecthashelpedincreaseemployment,especiallyforwomen.Acrossthebusinesses

supportedbytheproject,thenumberofemployeesincreasedfrom403priortoreceivingsupportfromSABSto503in2023.7Whiletheproportionofwomenemployedremainedsteadyat30%,thenumberofwomenemployedrosefrom117to168,anincreaseof44%.Whileallbusinessessawanincreaseinfemaleworkers,jointlyownedbusinessessawthegreatestincreaseinbothmaleandfemaleworkers.

7Agribusinessesreceivedsupportatdifferentstagesduringthelifeoftheproject,from2015to2023.

4

ADBBRIEFSNO.313

Figure1:BusinessesAccessingFinancebyOwnership

5(17%)

13(43%)

12(40%)

Female-ownedbusinesses

Male-ownedbusinesses

Jointlyownedbusinesses

Sources:SABSclientsurvey,April2023;SABSQuarterlyReport,June2023.

Figure2:ValueofLoansbyOwnership

$645,000(13%)

$1,695,750

(35%)

$2,489,000

(52%)

JointlyownedMaleownedFemaleowned

Sources:SABSclientsurvey,April2023;SABSQuarterlyReport,June2023.

Theprojectalsoprovidedbusinessdevelopmentandexpansionsupporttoagribusinessesonacost-sharingbasis:SABSprojectreimbursed80%ofthecostofbusinesssupportexpenses.The

businesssupportservicesprovidedwereindependentadvice

andsupportforbusinessplanning,financialmanagement,accesstomarkets,foodhygieneandsafety,accesstotechnology,and

overseasmarketingandengagement.Ofthe13agribusinessesthatreceivedbusinesssupportservices,6werewomen-ownedand2werejointlyowned,atotalof61%.Fourteenbusinessesthatreceivedbusinesssupportalsoqualifiedforloans:ofthesebusinesses,onewaswoman-owned,andeightwerejointly

owned,atotalof64%.TheApril2023surveyfoundthatsomewomen-owned-and-ledbusinessesthatreceivedbusiness

supportdidnotpursueapplyingforfinancebecauseofthe

uncertaintyregardingwhethertheycouldgeneratesufficientincometorepaytheirloans.

Asmallinnovationschemeprovidedsupportforsmallshort-termexpensesrelatedtotheoperationandexpansionofagribusinesses.Theinnovationfundsupportedresearchanddevelopment,designandpackagingofproducts,andattendanceatinternationaltradefairsandevents.

5

EmpoweringGrowth:SupportingWomeninSamoatoLeadtheWayinAgribusiness

Box3:Savai’iKoko

HusbandandwifeSaleimoa(Sale)andRosieVaairunSavai’iKoko,

whichprocessescocoabeansforexport,includingtoNewZealandforthechocolatierWhittaker’s.TheSamoaAgribusinessSupport(SABS)projectsupportedtheirbusinesstoincreaseproductionofdried

cocoabeansandcocoabutter,sourcingfromanexpandednetwork

oflocalsuppliersandintensifyingmanagementandharvesting.Savai’iKokobuyscocoafromsmallerfarmerswhocannotprocessthebeansthemselves.Theyinturnsellseedlingstothesamefarmerstohelp

enhancethequalityoftheircocoaplants.

TheSABSprojecthelpedthebusinesstoscaleupmorerapidly.

InnovationfundssupportedSaleandRosietolearnhowtomake

chocolate,enablingthemtoaccessnewmarketsinAustraliaand

Japan.Thesupportofferedbytheprojectgavethebusinessgreater

buyingpowerandthisenabledthemtobuymorecocoafromsmall

farmsuppliers.Thepriceofcocoabeansquadrupledfrom5to20tala,increasingtheincomeofthesesmallholderfarmers.

Thebusinessisapartnership.Rosieundertakesstrategicplanningandmarketing,andmanagesadministrationandexports,whileSaledoesthephysicallabor,workingalongsidethefarmers.Decisionsaremadejointly,andtogethertheymanageafamilyhotel,farm,andrestaurant,inadditiontothecocoaprocessingbusiness.Rosiesharedaboutthegenderstereotypesandmisconceptionsthatshehasexperienced

asajointbusinessowner:“Genderbiasisobviouswhenweattend

meetings…orjointlyfrontupinnegotiations.Alltheinformation

regardingthefinances,humanresources,publicrelationsandpublicityforexample,havebeenmyresponsibilities[and]specifictasks.Iknowitwellandcanarticulatethebusinesssituationwithappropriate

responses.Yetyouareneverlookedatnoraskedtocontribute,asifyouareonlytheretomake[up]thenumber[s].”

Thecoronavirusdiseasepandemicimpactedtheirworkforce,as

10stafflefttoworkinregionalseasonalemploymentschemes.

Morewomenwereemployedasaresult.Pre-pandemic,thebusinessemployed12menand6women,thoughnotallwereemployed

full-time.In2022,employeescomprised10womenand5men.Rosietrialedashiftingenderedrolesattheplantationtoensurethatfemaleworkersremainedemployedduringthepandemicperiod.Itturned

outtobeoneofthebestdecisionsshehasevermadeasthewomenoutperformedthemalefarmhandsbothoncompletionoftasks

andtimeliness.

Accessingcommercialfundingischallenging,underscoringthe

importanceoftheSABSproject.Forcommercialbanksthatsee

agricultureashigh-risk,theprojectprovidedabridgetoinvest

andhelpeddriveinterestratesdown.TheguaranteeprovidedbytheprojectallowedSavai’iKokotoscaleupmorequickly,andtosupportothersmall-scalefarmersuppliers.

Sources:One-on-oneinterviewswithP.T.ToelupeandRosieVaai,conductedfortheGAPStrategyandtheGenderAwarenessTraining2023;andinterviewwithstakeholdersconductedinAugust2022.

Theprojectalsoworkedwithlocalwomen’sbusiness

networks—WomeninBusinessDevelopmentIncorporated(WIBDI)andSamoaWomen’sAssociationofGrowers

(SWAG)—toraiseawarenessofandpromotewomen’saccesstofinance.Trainingonsupplychainlinkagesandfoodsafetystandardswasprovided.

Women-owned-and-ledbusinessesreportedthattheprojectcontributedtotheirbusiness,allowingthemtoprocure

equipment,undertakemarketingandpromotionalactivities,

andexpandtheiroperations(Box3).TheSABSprojectalso

providedtheopportunitytomeetandnetworkwithotherwomeninagribusiness.Abusinessownersaid,“[SABSenabledmeto

meet]otheramazingwomenentrepreneursintheagriculture

space,whichbroughtmemoreideas,encouragement,advice,and‘pressure’tokeepaimingtogrowandstayresilientinanindustrythatischallenging.”

FINANCINGFORWOMEN-OWNED-AND-MANAGEDBUSINESSESINSAMOA

WomenareamongthemainbeneficiariesofmicrofinancinginitiativesinSamoa.8InadditiontotheSABSproject,several

schemesandproductsspecificallytargetwomen-led-and-managedbusinesses.TheSouthPacificBusinessDevelopmentnetwork

ofmicrofinanceorganizationsprovidesmicrocredittoMSMEs

togetherwithfinancialliteracytrainingandsupporttopreventhighloandefaultrates.TheSouthPacificBusinessDevelopmentservesmorethan19,000clients,90%ofthemarewomen-owned-and-ledMSMEs,andabout3%arewomen-owned-and-ledSMEs.

TheDevelopmentBankofSamoa,incollaborationwiththeMinistryofWomen,CommunityandSocialDevelopment,hasprovided

microfinancetosupportwomen’seconomicempowermentsince2006.Arevisedschemewaspilotedin2017targetingwomenandyoungpeople,includingthreeprogressivetiersoffinancing,

8UNESCAPandUNCDF.2020.

Micro,SmallandMedium-SizedEnterprises’AccesstoFinanceinSamoa.

6

ADBBRIEFSNO.313

Box4:SamoaCommercialBank—KnowingYourCustomers

About75%ofSamoaCommercialBank(SCB)staffarewomen.

Accordingtotheprojectclientsurvey,in2023,SCBprovidedfinancingfor16businesses,10ofwhichwerewomen-ledor-managed.SCB

takesahands-onapproach,visitingclientsbiannuallyorquarterly.

Thisenablesthemtoknowtheirclientsandidentifyproblemsearlyon.

Thedevelopmentloanschemeforlow-incomeloansisavailableto

familieswithlowincome,orwhohavelandbutneedcapital.About

90%oflow-incomeloanstargetwomen.TheSamoaVictimSupport

GroupreferswomenvictimsandsurvivorsofviolencetoworkwithSCBfortheirfinancingneeds.Asdepositsandfixeddepositscanbeused

ascollateral,landtitle(whichwomenarelesslikelytohavethanmen)

isnotrequiredtosecurealoan.Theschemehadexpandedfrom17clientsin2020to180clientsbyJuly2022,and130clientshadrepaidtheirloans.

TheimpactoftheCOVID-19pandemicwassignificant.According

toRuthPenaia,“Womenlosttheirjobs.Whentheylookedatother

options,theysawthatSCBwasprovidingaccesstofinance.Thebank

allowsrepeatloans,and40%ofclientsdorepeat.[The]SouthPacificBusinessDevelopmentofSamoahasshownthatwomenarebetteratmanagingandrepayingloans.”

Duringthepandemic,thebankappliedreliefmeasuresallowinggraceperiodsandinterest-onlyrepayments.Investmentinagriculturewasimportantduringthepandemicgiventheuncertaintyinthefood

supplychain.Amidtherelianceonshipments,whichweredelayedduringthepandemic,agribusinesseswereabletohelpsustainfoodsupplythroughlocalproduction,underscoringtheimportanceoffarminginSamoa.

“Samoanwomenarestrong.Womenplayanimportantroleinsociety.Womenhavethesupportoftheirfamilies.Womenhavetheautonomytoownandrunabusiness.It’sthewomenthatgetthingsdone.”

—TauiliiliRuthThomsenPenaia,seniormanager(Commercial),SamoaCommercialBank.

Source:Interviewwithstakeholders,August2022.

andone-on-onefollowupandsupport.ByJanuary2020,the

defaultratewaslessthan1%.TheSamoaBusinessHubprovides

microloanstoMSMEs.TheWomeninBusinessDevelopment

Incorporatedassistswomenandtheirfamiliesinparticipatingin

agriculturesupplychainsbutemphasizessavingsratherthancreditprovision(footnote8).

Whilewomenaremorereliableclientswithlowerdefault

ratesthanmen,theyaremorecautiousaboutaccessingcreditandgoingintodebt.Womenalsofacechallengesinsecuringacceptablecollateralforcommercialloans(footnote8).

Women-owned-and-ledSMEsrepresentabout50%ofsmaller

commercialcustomersofthe4commercialbanks,butlessthan20%oflargerborrowers.AshighlightedbytheMinistryofWomen,

CommunityandSocialDevelopment,thereisstillagapinthe

supportprovidedtowomen-owned-and-managedbusinesses

thatwouldenablethemtoscaleupfrommicroloanstoaccessingcommercialfinancing.9Despitethesechallenges,theSABSprojectwasabletosupportwomen-owned-and-ledagribusinessclients

toscaleuptosemicommercialandcommercialoperations.

Ofthefourpartnercommercialbanks(ANZBank,theNationalBankofSamoa,BankSouthPacific,andSamoaCommercial

Bank[SCB]),three(ANZ,BankSouthPacific,andSCB)werepredominantlylendingtowomen-ownedandjointlyownedbusinessesundertheproject.Notallbankstrackandreport

sex-disaggregateddata,althoughthisisapriorityundertheCentralBankofSamoa’sGenderEquality,Social,andDisabilityInclusion

policyadoptedinearly2022.

Womencompriseathirdtothree-fourthsofthecommercial

banks’staffandarewell-representedinleadershipandsenior

management.However,todate,onlySCBhasdevelopedspecific

productsforwomen-led-and-managedbusinesses.SCB’sSmall

DevelopmentLoanSchemeforLow-IncomeEarnersprovides

unsecuredloansatlowinterestratestolow-incomeandvulnerablehouseholds,includingvictimsandsurvivorsofviolencereferred

bytheSamoanVictimSupportGroup(Box4).TheseloansaresecuredbySCBshareholders(footnote8).

IMPACTOFTHECOVID-19PANDEMIC

TheCOVID-19pandemicsignificantlyimpactedagribusinesses

supportedbytheproject,particularlythosethatdependedon

overseasexportsandlocaltourismforthesaleoftheirproducts.

ByDecember2021,morethantwo-thirdsofSABSprojectclientsreporteddownsizingtoadjusttoreducedaccesstomarkets,whichalsoledtoareductioninemployment.Severalbusinessesceasedproductionaltogether.IntheApril2023survey,mostbusinesses

reportedthattheyhadexperiencedthepandemic’snegative

impacts,suchasborderclosures,disruptionsinshippingandsupplychains,andreduceddemandfromcustomers.Somereported

positiveimpactsofthepandemic,suchasincreaseddemandforlocallyproducedfooditemsforhospitals,restaurants,andhotels(localholidaymakers).Women-led-and-managedagribusinessesweremorelikelytoreportnegativeimpactsthanmale-owned

businesses,andsomestruggledtomaintaintheirbusinesswhilesupportinglong-termemployeesandsuppliers.SABSproject

9StakeholderConsultation:ProjectReviewMission.August2022.

7

EmpoweringGrowth:SupportingWomeninSamoatoLeadtheWayinAgribusiness

Box5:T.H.Plantation

SistersMaryandJenniferHowman,andtheirmotherTeuilaHowman,ownT.H.Plantation,asmallfamilybusinessthatproducestaro,

banana,andbreadfruitchipsforsnacks.T.H.Plantationhasbeen

aSABSprojectclientsince2015.Atthattime,fatherandhusband

TonyHowmansoughtSABSprojectassistancetohelpmechanize

andautomateproduction.Hisvisionforthebusinesswastoautomateandhisgoalwastoexport.Whenhepassedaway,thesistersand

theirmothercontinuedtomanagethebusiness.TheSABSprojectprovidedbusinesssupportandequipmentandhelpedthemsecurefinancingfromoneofthepartnerbanks.

Theirparentshadadifferentapproachtorunningthebusiness.

Whiletheirfatherwasfocusedonsettingagoalandmeetingitwithinatimeframe,theirmothergavegreaterprioritytoalsohavingasocialimpact,suchashelpingpeopleandthoseinneed.Thisincluded

buyingfromsmallfarmers,evenifthequalitywasnotasgood,

becausetheyneededthemoneyfortheirchildren.Accordingto

MaryandJenniferHowman,“Ourmotherandfatherwereverypoor.Whenyou’rethatpoor,youdon’tforgethowharditwas.”

TheCOVID-19pandemichitthebusinesshard.Salesdecreased

becauseoflockdownsandlossofoverseasorders.Theyhadtoreducestaffhourstopart-time,transitioningstafffromproductiontofarming.Thesisterssaid,“Ifwesink,ourfamiliessinkaswell.Ifwecanplant,

wecanfarmourown