Fiji Launches Care Catalyst for Women in Childcare Entrepreneurship

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) officially launched the Care Catalyst: Micro Business Women's Childcare Incubation Programme on December 14, 2023, in collaboration with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) and the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC).

This thorough six-month training program seeks to assist prospective female entrepreneurs who want to start and run their own child daycare services. Recognizing the disproportionate burden of unpaid care labour on women, the program will provide participants with critical skills, information, and chances for expanded access to financing, supporting long-term and profitable initiatives. The effort is complementary to ESCAP's Catalyzing Women's Entrepreneurship (CWE) program, which is supported by Global Affairs Canada.

Fijian women now perform 73% of unpaid home work, accounting for 34% of the working force. The Care Catalyst initiative not only solves this imbalance, but it also helps to enhance early childhood education. The project, which is expected to have an influence on Fiji's economy and society, provides working parents, particularly women, with inexpensive and high-quality childcare services.

The program, which is open to 15 enthusiastic participants, targets women from underprivileged areas who have limited access to business training. The top three candidates will get US$1000 startup grants, increasing the likelihood of sustainable childcare enterprises in Fiji. This project is a critical step in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, empowering women, and advancing gender equality in the Asia-Pacific region.