Jayapura, Jubi – The Central Papua Provincial Government is stepping up efforts to strengthen women’s participation in the local economy by equipping church women with skills to develop and manage micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative was highlighted during a capacity-building workshop for church women on MSME management organized by the Central Papua Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning Agency (DP3AKB) in Nabire on Wednesday.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Governor Meki Nawipa, Regional Secretariat Assistant for General Administration Victor Fun said the provincial government remains committed to inclusive development that ensures women have greater opportunities to contribute to the region’s economic growth.
He noted that women have long played a vital role in supporting household incomes through businesses ranging from food production and handicrafts to trading and agriculture. However, many MSME operators continue to face challenges, including business management, financial record-keeping, access to capital, product marketing, packaging, and the use of digital technology.
“This workshop is expected to provide church women with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their businesses more professionally and competitively,” Fun said.
He said participants are expected to improve their understanding of financial management, production cost calculations, pricing strategies, and business marketing.
According to Fun, the workshop also forms part of the provincial government’s gender mainstreaming (PUG) policy, which aims to ensure women have equal access to opportunities and benefits from regional development.
He added that strengthening the capacity of church women is particularly important in Central Papua, where churches play a significant social role within local communities. Church women’s groups, he said, can become key partners in promoting family economic independence and strengthening community resilience.
“The success of this training will not be measured simply by the completion of the workshop, but by how participants apply what they have learned in their businesses. The Central Papua Provincial Government also hopes relevant agencies will provide ongoing assistance, from business licensing to financing and market access,” he said.
Fun also called on provincial agencies to strengthen coordination in supporting women’s empowerment and MSME development to ensure government programs deliver tangible benefits to local communities. (*)
