The WECREATE Challenge is a joint initiative of the Australian and United States Governments, supported through the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Program.
This Challenge offers a platform for aspiring businesswomen to build their businesses, create new jobs for Papua New Guineans; and become role models for young women.
Through a strong social media campaign, and the support of Port Moresby’s Women’s Business Resource Centre, 115 women in PNG accepted the WECREATE challenge.
These women will participate in an ‘Extreme Build a Business Workshop’ that will run in January 2017, where they will receive business advice and mentoring from a team of experts.
25 of the most promising applicants will be selected to undergo a six-month business development program to help get their ideas off the ground.
There has been a lot of support from donor agencies, banks and women’s organisations.
The Women’s Business Resource Centre has been a key WECREATE partner providing women from all backgrounds access to information, and training on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, as well as assistance in navigating Papua New Guinea’s business landscape.
The Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), which runs the Women’s Business Resource Centre, said supporting women to become economically empowered had important flow-on effects.
CIPE Country Coordinator, Eli Webb stated that “Stronger women means stronger families, which means a stronger Papua New Guinea.”
