Outcome VUT_D_2.1

Inclusive, effective and representative marketplace groups are created and grow, contributing to gender, social and economic advancement, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence and expanded economic opportunities

In this reporting year, this outcome was achieved through the growth and creation of four new inclusive, effective, and representative Market Vendors Associations (MVAs) for Mele Maat, Emua, Beverly Hills and Marobe markets. 96 women market vendors registered in these four new Associations. While Northern Islands Market Vendors Association (NIMVA), for the first time in 2021 since NIMVA was established in 2014, recorded a decrease in membership number, both with renewed and new members, mainly due to the impact of COVID-19 protocols enforced by the Municipal council, Silae Vanua Market Vendors Association (SVMVA), on the other hand, exponentially grew its membership from 96 members in 2020 to 839 (828 F) in 2021. All 6 Market Vendors Associations (Northern Islands MVA, Silae Vanua MVA, Marobe MVA, Beverly Hills MVA, Muangoro MVA and Naraatel MVA) have a total of 3,084 members. It should be noted that Marobe Market had an elected MVA in 2015, however, by 2017 the MVA was ineffective and not functioning (and consequently reporting under this outcome, since then, does not include statistics for Marobe market), so a newly formed MVA was elected in 2021, including registration of new members. Additionally, four new MVA constitutions for the four markets (Marobe, Mele Maat, Emua and Beverly Hills) were developed and completed, while the MVA constitutions for Port Vila and Luganville markets were reviewed and revised to fit the current context. These MVA constitutions will guide and enable the executive members of these MVAs to be accountable to their members and represent them effectively without any bias or favoritism and hopefully, in return, their members will have improved their livelihoods and have access to services that would expand their economic opportunities. The creation of MVAs and the growth of MVA membership were made possible through active membership drive by the executive of the MVAs, and from successfully participating in and completing 'Getting Started' workshop and MVA awareness and training which were supported financially and technically by UN Women. Among the challenges faced by MVAs in 2021, are the Annual General meetings that were not possible to be conducted for Silae Vanua MVA and Northern Islands MVA, due to the limitation and shortfall of their MVA constitutions. These will now be addressed in 2022 through the completion of the review of the two constitutions of these MVAs.

Inclusive, effective and representative marketplace groups are created and grow, contributing to gender, social and economic advancement, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence and expanded economic opportunities

The involvement with market vendor associations (MVAs) offer women market vendors, under the Markets for Change project, the opportunities to lead MVAs, participate in decision-making, engage in South-to-South exchange, access learning opportunities, and advocate for effective market that enable economic empowerment. All six market vendors associations (MVAs) in Vanuatu continue to be inclusive, effective, and representative under the leadership of strong women leaders. In the six MVAs, all President positions have been taken up by women. Moreover, in all six MVAs, women fill 100% of the executive and leadership roles. This strong leadership presence of women in the MVAs are ensuring that the voice of women are heard and magnified at all levels, and that workplace barriers causes by gender biases are removed. The MVAs have demonstrated good governance, transparency and increasing accountability through effective operations and management. In 2022 three of the MVAs held their Annual General Meetings and also held general eletions from members, resulting in the election of all-women-led executive committees The six MVAs also revised their constitutions,which have been all been adopted. The new constitutions has given the women leaders greater confidence to plan, organize, negotiate, and implement activities. These activities include those which open up social and economic opportunities for market vendors to actively participate in. Increasingly, more and more market vendors are able to claim their rights through active participation the MVAs. Membership is at an all-time high for Vanuatu MVAs at 4,716 (4,635 F, 81 M) i.e 98% women. UN Women provides technical and financial support to the Markets for Change project.