APEC Study Center of Canada

2024 ASCCC – Lima, Peru

Inclusive Financing for Women Entrepreneurs: Promoting a Gender-Responsive Approach to Financial Inclusion

Access to finance remains a persistent obstacle to the inclusive development and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the APEC region. This challenge particularly impacts women entrepreneurs in the informal sector, and it restricts the capacity and potential of their businesses to scale up and grow. This paper asserts that a key component for access to finance is to make financing options appear tangible, attainable, and applicable for informal women entrepreneurs and their businesses. Efforts to promote financial inclusion must incorporate a gender-responsive approach, that not only acknowledges the distinct needs of women entrepreneurs in APEC economies but seeks to meet them at their level of knowledge, awareness, and capacity to encourage the adoption of various forms of financing.

Drawing on two APEC-related projects implemented by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, including the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership, the paper examines three enablers of access to finance: 

    (i) Knowledge of financing options
    (ii) Perceptions of personal ability in accessing finance
    (iii) The importance of networks and mentorship opportunities 

The paper provides recommendations for gender-responsive financial inclusion programs for informal women entrepreneurs in APEC economies, offering a roadmap for transition from the informal to formal economy for consideration by relevant APEC bodies.

Read the full paper here. 

2023 ASCCC – Berkeley, CA, USA

Project Implementation in International Development: Enhancing Inclusive MSME Capacity Building in the APEC Region

Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, Canada has pursued a trade diversification strategy focused on inclusive economic growth for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) led by women, youth and other marginalized groups. 

This study examines how international development interventions can enhance trade capacity building, by examining the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s initiative, the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership (ACGBP), which aims to enhance the capacity of MSMEs in emerging APEC economies. The project incorporates Canadian best practices, including research, consultations, gender analysis, and mentorship programs for women entrepreneurs in collaboration with local partners. Through a gender-inclusive approach and collaboration with local partners and international forums like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ACGBP demonstrates the effectiveness of inclusive capacity-building efforts. 

The study highlights the crucial role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in bridging policy gaps and fostering an environment conducive to gender-responsive and socially inclusive economic policies. This research offers valuable insights for international development practitioners and APEC member economies striving to align their international assistance priorities with APEC best practices, fostering MSME growth and improving organizational capacity for international development implementors.

2025 – Jeju, Korea 

Topics: 
•    Advancing Discussion on the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP)
•    Building Supply Chain Resilience
•    Digital Innovation and AI
•    Addressing Climate Change and Sustainable Growth
•    Promoting Inclusive Prosperity

2024 – Lima, Peru

Topics: 
•    Trade and investment for inclusive and interconnected growth
•    Innovation and digitalization to promote transition to the formal and global economy
•    Sustainable growth for resilient development

2023 – Berkeley, CA, USA 

Topics:
•    Trade Dynamics
•    Inclusion and Resilience
•    Sustainability and Environment

2022 – Phuket, Thailand 

Topics: 
•    Post COVID and Future Directions
•    Connectivity and Future Technology
•    Trade, Investment, and Regional Economic Integration

As the designated APEC Study Centre of Canada, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is the regional center for excellence in APEC related trade & development issues and policy.

APF Canada manages several networks with relations to APEC where further research and programming are developed: 

APEC Business Advisory Council, Canadian Secretariat 

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada serves as the secretariat for Canada's APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), a private sector body consisting of up to three business leaders from each APEC economy. The Council provides recommendations and advice to APEC Leaders and officials on the business sector’s priorities and concerns within the region.

Canadian National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada serves as the secretariat for Canada’s National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (CANCPEC). CANCPEC is one of 25 member committees in the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), a non-profit international organization committed to the promotion of co-operation and dialogue to promote economic development in the Asia Pacific. 

APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership  

The APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership (ACGBP) in which APF Canada has collaborated with the Government of Canada and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat since 2016, is a capacity-building project designed to address key challenges faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in APEC developing economies. It has helped innovative entrepreneurs scale up their businesses, improve business management practices, and access resources and connections with a focus on sustainable, inclusive growth and poverty reduction, particularly among women- and youth-led businesses.

Phase II of the project introduced policy leadership activities, which will address gender equality at the system level by improving policy actors’ readiness to implement gender-responsive and inclusive MSME policies and programming.