Pacific and women-led menstrual health enterprises are disrupting traditional investment power dynamics in a world where investors typically call the shots. As co-designers in the Pacific Trade Finance Vehicle (TFV) for Menstrual Health Enterprises (TFV 1.0), together with Cameron Neil, the Red Hat Impact team and Criterion Institute, they dared to flip the script and transform local businesses from spectators to co-creators. This approach stood out not only for its innovative approach to addressing menstrual health challenges in the Pacific but also for its transformative impact on investor-enterprise relationships. With Anne-Shirley Korave and Queenpads PNG now exporting their products to other Pacific countries, it further validates the vehicle's groundbreaking approach to empowering women-led enterprises and addressing crucial social needs through thoughtfully structured financial mechanisms. Key to the success of TFV 1.0 was shifting power dynamics and encouraging Pacific Menstrual Health Enterprises (PMHEs) to "step into their power", positioning them as valued partners capable of co-creating the vehicle's structure alongside investors. This empowerment of local enterprises represented a significant departure from traditional investment models and was hailed as an award winning standout accomplishment. The appeal of this gender-lens and blended finance vehicle to the private sector was evident in its remarkably swift subscription, with investor demand exceeding available capital and the vehicle becoming fully subscribed within just 24 hours of launch. Such enthusiastic reception underscores the growing appetite for innovative financial instruments that combine social impact with economic viability. As we continue our fundraising efforts for TFV2.0, QueenPads celebration of their first export is a timely reminder, that whilst demand led systems change can take time, it can be successful and challenge the dominant paradigm that only large and expensive projects are worthy of investment. #genderlens #impactinvesting #demandled #womenled
FIRST Export of Queenpads offshores!💥👏🎉🌏🇸🇧 A huge milestone for us! We look forward to extend more Menstrual care through our products across our region and beyond 💜💚 Tagio Tumas #KalekoSteifreeSolomons for trusting PNG made products 🇵🇬 for Queens in the Solomons 🤝 #Queenpads #PNGmade #ForAllQueens #ForPacificQueens #ForSIQueens
Looking forward to getting TFV 2.0 up and running so we can see more of these success stories.
Red Hat Impact great having yous on our journey!