⬅ SECTORS
Despite their involvement in various sectors, women, youth, and people living with disabilities face barriers to accessing economic opportunities and decision-making power. Cultural norms, lack of support services, and exclusionary business practices further limit their participation in economic activities. GEDSI focuses on removing these barriers to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for economic growth.
Strongim Bisnis is working to create more inclusive economic opportunities by actively supporting Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Through targeted interventions and partnerships, the program helps remove barriers to participation, such as limited access to resources and decision-making. By promoting inclusiveness across sectors, Strongim Bisnis aims to build a more equitable economy that benefits everyone.
In the Solomon Islands, the National Youth Policy reveals a stark reality: 16,000 to 18,000 young people enter the job market each year, but only 4,000 new jobs were created in 2016-2017, meeting just 20-22% of their needs. Addressing this gap requires embracing inclusivity across all groups—regardless of age, gender, or disability—to build a stronger, more resilient, and equitable society.
Strongim Bisnis uses a twin-track approach which involves the program integrating GEDSI goals into various partnerships across the sectors Strongim Bisnis works in, while also having specific planned interventions targeting constraints disproportionately felt by, or unique to, women, youth, and people with disabilities in markets and employment.
Track 1 aims to integrate women, youth, and people with disabilities into sector value chains. The GEDSI team will:
Track 2 aims to tackle broader constraints affecting women, youth, and people living with disabilities beyond specific sector value chains.
In 2023, Strongim Bisnis partnered with Pasifiki HR and People with Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) to improve job prospects for people with disabilities in the Solomon Islands. This initiative involved launching a dedicated database to connect disabled jobseekers with local employers and internships. The partnership led to significant outcomes, including increased employment opportunities and improved workplace accessibility, demonstrating how targeted support can drive meaningful change for people with disabilities.
