SEDPI highlights resilience of women nano-entrepreneurs in Mindanao at World Bank–Ateneo Forum

In celebration of Women’s Month, the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt), in collaboration with the World Bank and the Australian Embassy, hosted a landmark forum on “Women Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion” at Ateneo de Manila University. A key highlight of the event was the presentation of a field-based study by Vincent Rapisura, President of SEDPI, which showcased the resilience of women nano-entrepreneurs in Mindanao.

Funded by the World Bank and Australian Aid, the SEDPI study spotlighted nanoenterprises—the smallest, informal businesses with asset sizes ranging from ₱3,000 to ₱150,000. Predominantly owned and operated by women, these micro-businesses are often unregistered and driven by necessity rather than opportunity. Though frequently overlooked in policy discourse, they play a vital role in sustaining community-level economies, particularly in under-resourced areas.

Drawing on longitudinal data and focus group discussions from Regions XI and XIII, Rapisura’s study revealed how these women navigate a cycle of crises—pandemics, typhoons, price shocks—while managing both entrepreneurial and domestic responsibilities. The findings underscored that non-credit-based interventions, such as savings and community-based insurance, prove more effective than conventional microloans in fostering resilience.

Rapisura also highlighted the significance of indigenous financial mechanisms like Damayan and SEDPI’s KaTambayayong program, which provide rapid, culturally relevant support often more effective than mainstream insurance products. His recommendations included subsidized childcare, stronger social safety nets, flexible micro-housing loans, and innovative savings instruments—all framed within a gender-sensitive lens.

The forum echoed this call for inclusive and localized financial inclusion. Dr Liliana Sousa of the World Bank presented data on gender disparities in access to finance, while Mr Conrad De Jesus from Investing in Women spoke on gender-lens investing in Southeast Asia. Mr Daniel Simpson of the Australian Embassy reaffirmed Australia’s support for women’s economic empowerment in the region.

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr Zafar Mustafaoglu, Country Director of the World Bank, and Dr Roberto Martin Galang, Dean of the Ateneo John Gokongwei School of Management. The event affirmed Ateneo de Manila University's commitment to promoting social entrepreneurship and gender equity through academic partnerships and evidence-based policy engagement.

This article, was originally written by Mariel Vincent Rapisura and published by Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI). 
https://sedpi.com/en/sedpi-highlights-women-nano-entrepreneurs-resilien…