东盟-加强东盟国家妇女农业创业（英）-2021-88页_2mb

Summary of Strengthening Women's Entrepreneurship in Agriculture in ASEAN Countries

Core Content

This report, published by the OECD in collaboration with ASEAN, focuses on the challenges faced by women in rural areas of ASEAN countries in terms of entrepreneurship and employment within the agricultural sector. It highlights the importance of addressing gender gaps to achieve more inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

Main Objectives

• To analyze the current state of women's participation in the agricultural labor market and entrepreneurship in ASEAN.
• To identify the key barriers that prevent rural women from accessing quality jobs and starting businesses.
• To propose a comprehensive policy strategy to support women's economic empowerment in agriculture.
• To align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 (ending poverty) and Goal 5 (gender equality and women's empowerment).

Key Findings

• Rural Women's Role: A significant proportion of ASEAN women live in rural areas and are heavily involved in agriculture. On average, 45% of working-age women (15–64 years) reside in rural areas, with the share reaching 50% if Singapore is excluded.
• Self-Employment: Rural women are more likely to be self-employed than urban women, but this is also due to limited formal employment opportunities in rural regions.
• Country Variations: The share of rural women in working age varies significantly across ASEAN countries, from 21% in Brunei Darussalam to 76% in Cambodia. In Lao PDR, 70% of female employment is in agriculture, compared to 45% in Myanmar and 41% in Viet Nam.
• Impact of the Pandemic: The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated existing challenges, particularly for rural women. School closures and increased domestic responsibilities have reduced their time for economic activities. Additionally, women have less access to savings and credit, and the pandemic has led to a drop in remittances. There has also been an increase in gender-based violence.

Major Challenges

• Gender Discrimination: Persistent gender biases limit women's access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making roles.
• Unpaid Care Work: Women spend more time on unpaid domestic and care activities, which hampers their ability to engage in paid work or entrepreneurial activities.
• Lack of Training: Many rural women lack access to training programs tailored to their needs, which are essential for developing entrepreneurial skills.
• Access to Credit and Financial Services: Women have limited access to formal financial services, including credit and microfinance.
• Social Norms: Discriminatory norms and lack of awareness about opportunities hinder women's participation in agriculture and business.

Policy Recommendations

• Gender-Sensitive Education and Training: Develop and implement training programs that address the specific needs and constraints of women in agriculture.
• Support for Unpaid Work: Invest in public infrastructure such as childcare centers, water and energy facilities, and promote social protection policies to reduce the burden of unpaid care work.
• Enhanced Voice and Representation: Encourage women's participation in decision-making processes and collective actions, which can lead to better project outcomes and policy alignment.
• Access to Credit and Financial Inclusion: Improve access to financial services and support mechanisms for women entrepreneurs.
• Use of Technology: Promote the use of ICT and other enabling technologies to support women's empowerment and business development.

Case Studies

The report includes 11 case studies from various ASEAN countries, showcasing successful local initiatives that have addressed gender barriers in agriculture and entrepreneurship. These include:

1. Market opportunities for smallholder farmers in Pa-O, Shan State, Myanmar
2. Women-Led Business Start Up, Viet Nam
3. The Programme for Girls and Women Smart Farm Start Ups, Thailand
4. Power to the Poor (P2P), Lao PDR
5. Women Farmers Champion, Cambodia
6. Co-operative marketing of seaweeds in Quinluban Island, Palawan, Philippines
7. Women to Women Empowerment through ICT, Malaysia
8. Fisherfolk Enterprise, Women-Led Social Enterprise, Thailand
9. Science-based Livelihood Intervention to Empower Women, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines
10. Women's Financial Inclusion, Indonesia
11. Improved Group Revolving Fund, Cambodia

Supporting Organizations and Initiatives

• The report was developed with support from ACCMSME, ACW, SOM-AMAF, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
• It is informed by the OECD Gender Initiative and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.
• It draws on the OECD's 2013 and 2015 Recommendations on Gender Equality.
• Financial support was provided by Canada through the COPAS project.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of prioritizing the inclusion of women in rural areas in the ASEAN policy agenda. By addressing structural barriers and promoting inclusive policies, ASEAN can enhance the economic prospects of women in agriculture and contribute to broader gender equality and sustainable development goals.