A cross cutting priority of the SFI Program was to deliver support focused on generating positive effects on women and girls. Activities designed to meet this goal straddled SFI’s components to strengthen the ecosystem for scaling the impact of social enterprises (Frontier Incubators) and to increase accessibility of private sector capital for social enterprises (primarily Frontier Brokers with contributions from Frontier Incubators). Frontier Innovators did not explicitly focus on gender, but several of the supported social enterprises delivered services and sold products that have a positive effect on women and girls (e.g., Koe Koe Tech and Mama’s Laef).
Three innovative approaches were applied to solutions that measured and prioritised increased awareness among and capacity of stakeholders (incubators, brokers, and capital providers and all associated social enterprises) in gender lens incubation and investing.
The SFI Program delivered support focused on generating positive effects on women and girls through Frontier Incubators and Frontier Brokers. Together these components increased awareness among and capacity of stakeholders.
While not integrated in the design or early implementation phases, applying a gender lens emerged as a key feature of the SFI Program, leading to the development of the capacity of stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region and influencing practice both within DFAT and among other donors and practitioners.
Collaborative partnerng can furthering the application of a gender lens in the region through commitments and providing platforms for collaboration and collective exploration and action.