Women play a key role in Pacific economies. They however operate largely in the fragmented informal sector where the lack of organisation, management, quality orientation, and access to markets jeopardize their capacity to grow and develop their businesses; in turn undermining the region's potential to use trade as a driver of growth, employment and poverty reduction.The purpose of the partnership is to provide businesswomen with the capacity to capitalise on potential opportunities to participate in formal markets, and as a result increase the economic benefits businesswomen in the Pacific region derive from their participation in trade. This is expected to contribute to improved livelihoods and poverty reduction for Pacific women and their communities.To tap into the currently underserved hospitality industry, the partnership will organise women smallholder farmers into associations to supply produce for local tourism, through local tourism outlets (hotels, restaurants, and the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association) to address the current irregularity of supply, the high costs of procurement of produce from outside the Espiritu Santo island, and environmental considerations.The partnership will implement a project developed with the support of Pacific Island Trade & Invest (PT&I) building on their existing initiatives in the region, and will also approach Carnival Cruises.

International Trade Centre (ITC) Australian Government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, Vanuatu Government of Vanuatu Associations of women smallholder farmers in Espiritu Santo island, Vanuatu Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association