Press Release No. : 16/2025
Date : 12 September 2025
Press Release No 16 – RBF Launches Gender Inclusive Finance Report
Governor and RBF Gender Champion Mr Ariff Ali and National Gender Champion, Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection, Ms Eseta Nadakuitavuki with the institutional representatives at the Launch of the Gender Inclusive Finance Report.
The successful launch of the Reserve Bank’s Gender Inclusive Finance Report on September 11, 2025, marks a significant milestone in Fiji’s journey toward building a more inclusive and equitable financial ecosystem. This landmark report provides a comprehensive assessment of the supply-side, regulatory and structural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to and participation in formal financial services.
Developed through a strategic collaboration between the Fletcher Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion (FLPFI) at Tufts University, USA and the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) the study draws on insights from a survey of 18 financial institutions, service providers, accelerators and government agencies. It sheds light on persistent gaps in women’s financial inclusion including underrepresentation in financial services, limited awareness, insufficient data on women owned businesses and regulatory and infrastructural constraints.
Despite these challenges the report highlights encouraging progress. Female account ownership rose from 52% in 2014 to 82% in 2022, narrowing the gender gap from 16% to 10%. Among female youths, account ownership increased from 59% to 65%, reducing the gender gap from 12% to 7% over the same period. Additionally 30.2% of MSMEs are women-owned, with a further 13.2% jointly owned by women and men. While the gap in savings accounts has narrowed significantly, loan accounts for women remain nearly half those of men signalling the need for targeted interventions.
In his remarks, Governor Ali emphasised the urgency of action stating “the launch of the Gender Inclusive Finance Report and sharing of its findings, marks a significant milestone in our Gender journey toward a more inclusive financial system. This report is not just a publication but a call to action. It reflects our collective commitment as gender champions to ensuring that every Fijian regardless of gender has equitable access to financial services and opportunities.” He underscored the importance of collaboration and partnership among all stakeholders stressing that gender-inclusive finance must not remain a niche issue it is central to sustainable economic development, poverty reduction, and social equity.
Commending the launch, National Gender Champion and Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection, Ms Eseta Nadakuitavuki, remarked:
“This report is not only a milestone for the financial sector but also a critical step in our national efforts toward equality and empowerment. It provides valuable evidence on the barriers women face in accessing finance while highlighting opportunities for innovation and reform. It is an essential tool to guide our collective efforts across government, the private sector and civil society.”
Ms Nadakuitavuki further noted that these efforts align closely with Fiji’s National Development Policy which prioritises inclusive and sustainable economic growth that leaves no one behind. The policy underscores the pivotal role of gender equality and financial inclusion in achieving national development goals, reinforcing the need to empower women as active participants in the economy.
Click Here to view the Gender Inclusive Finance Report.
RESERVE BANK OF FIJI
For further details, please contact:-
Communications Office
Telephone: (679) 3223 381 Email: info@rbf.gov.fj
Mr Mervin Singh – Manager Corporate Communications
Telephone: (679) 3223 229 Email: mervin@rbf.gov.fj