Partnerships for Sustainable Business Practices: UN Women Participates in UN Private Sector Open House
Date:
Photos compliments UN RCO Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
Diamond, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 31, 2025: Closing out Women’s Month, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean joined forces with UN agency partners to host the inaugural United Nations-Private Sector Open House, under the theme:
“Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: A Focus on St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Private Sector Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.”
This landmark event brought together private sector representatives ranging from micro-businesses to established enterprises, students, and educators to explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rhema Lewis, UN Women Project Coordination Analyst for the Global Affairs Canada funded-Build Back Equal Project (BBE), outlined UN Women’s current focus in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which include – (i) strengthening access to finance for women entrepreneurs, (ii) enhancing business competitiveness through training and leadership development and (iii) fostering networking opportunities to increase market access.
The Private Sector as a Key Partner in Sustainable Development
In his keynote address, Mr. Kenroy Roach, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, underscored the critical role of the private sector in achieving the SDGs. Reflecting on past crises, he remarked:
“The promise of the private sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is not conceptual—we have seen it firsthand. During the La Soufrière volcanic eruptions almost four years ago, in the midst of a global pandemic, the government and private sector mobilised rapidly, ensuring swift, coordinated, and effective relief efforts.”
The Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technology, emphasised the impact of globalisation on the local economy and urged the private sector to collaborate with UN agencies and the government to mitigate rising costs rather than passing them on to consumers. He called on businesses to view the SDGs as a long-term investment, particularly as the country faces increasing climate-related challenges.
Strengthening Business Resilience & Gender-Inclusive Growth
Hosted by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, UN Women joined with the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Global Compact Network Caribbean at the Open House to foster strategic partnerships for sustainable business practices and SDGs-aligned financing.
Representatives from each UN agency shared insights on their contributions to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighting partnership opportunities with the private sector for sustainable impact.
L-R: Emma Hansen - UNDRR Associate Officer for Early Warning Systems, Rhema Lewis - UN Women Build Back Equal Project Coordination Analyst, Philcol Jeffers - UNFPA Youth & Gender Specialist, and Kyana Bowen - UN Global Compact Network Caribbean Executive Director.
The UN Women Project Coordination Analyst commended the private sector for their resilience in building businesses, often starting without formal support systems. Ms. Lewis noted that investing in women’s businesses had beneficial outcomes far beyond the business’s profits:
“Women reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families and communities, driving improvements in health, education, and overall quality of life.”
The UN Women officer also spotlighted successful outcomes for some of the women-owned MSMEs UN Women works with. One such example was a result of the BBE Project facilitating their participation in the Equality Village Entrepreneurial Marketplace during the UN Women SIDS Gender Equality Forum whereby participating Vincentian entrepreneurs established regional partnerships. She further urged representatives of financial institutions present, to consider innovative financing models to support micro-businesses and emerging entrepreneurs.
Private Sector Leadership in Sustainable Business Practices
The event also featured inspiring presentations from leading private sector companies that have integrated sustainable business practices into their operations.
Kimon Baptiste, Founder and Creative Director of Kimmystic.Clo, spoke about her company’s longstanding partnership with UN Women, which has provided access to international markets, training, and resources to further integrate sustainability into fashion.
Ms. Baptiste issued a powerful call to action:
“At the end of the day, we all have choices. As business owners, every decision we make either contributes to the problem or helps create the solution. Sustainability isn’t about perfection—it’s about commitment and progress. We may not have all the answers, but if each of us makes small, intentional changes, they add up to something greater than we could ever imagine.”
Mr. Vaibhav Garg, representing Canouan Estate, shared the company’s experience as the only business in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to sign on to the UN Global Compact Network Caribbean. He highlighted their commitment to sustainability, responsible tourism, and community integration.
