International Women’s Day in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) was celebrated with a ‘Walk for Life” on Sunday 06th March and a market on Ela Beach on the 08th of March 2022.

The event featured key issues on Women’s Economic Empowerment, Impact of Climate Change on Women, including food security and climate mitigation and the progress towards ending gender-based violence with speeches and creative displays that recognised the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.

In PNG, with flagship events in Port Moresby and a national presence through satellite events and panels, that day was a platform to those shared experiences and promoted services and solutions to support women realise their potential.

The UN agencies in PNG took these proposed activities as an opportunity to show their expertise and creativity and there were also forums for the private sector, NCDC – Amazing Port Moresby, Active City, JICA, EU and The Australian National University (DFAT) and the government to share the products and services they have available to support women’s wellbeing and economic potential.

UNCDF Country Lead Mr. Jagdeep Dahiya while speaking at the event said that UNCDF firmly believed that women economic empowerment is the key for unlocking the true potential of the people of PNG.

“You women of PNG are the power behind a particular nation and you have to feel empowered every single day of the year. The road to empowerment is financial independence,” he said.
Mr. Dahiya also introduced UNCDF’s partners in financial services like Digicel (Cellmoni Wallet where you can transfer money between people using your mobile free of charge); MiBank (also has a mobile money and a dedicated pink account) and Mama Bank or Women’s Micro Bank Limited (WMBL) (dedicated only to women with using only your fingerprints to do banking.
WMBL’s Acting Marketing Manager Ms. Melisha H Sindiwan while speaking to the crowd at Ela Beach stressed the partnership that UNCDF has with them on the importance on opening an account using the new fingerprint system.

“If you come to the bank and you don’t know how to sign your signature, then you can access your funds through the fingerprint scanner, or you can do your deposits and withdrawals using only your fingerprint,” she said.

Mama Bank Access Points: is where you will find in markets so you can have access to a bank that basically means that WMBL’s products are for women who can have access to financial services.

The event ended with the presentation of the UNCDF sponsored awards for Fashion and Photography with Sheena Bawo as the winner of the Fashion competition taking away a sewing machine and an adjustable dress model while Jack Junias Yamoore taking a Canon Camera as the photography award.