Business Partnerships for Gender Equality: Caribbean Companies Lead the Way in Antigua & Barbuda and Saint Lucia
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UN Women Photos/Mar Echevarria
Across the Caribbean, women entrepreneurs and women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are driving economic transformation. Yet persistent gaps in access to finance, care support, and inclusive business ecosystems continue to limit their opportunities.
To respond to these challenges, the Joint SDG Fund Programme “Optimizing Innovative Finance for Underserved Groups to Build Resilience and Accelerate the SDGs in Antigua & Barbuda and Saint Lucia”—implemented by UN Women, UNDP and ITU—organized two National Forums on Business Partnerships for Gender Equality in Antigua and Barbuda and in Saint Lucia in November 2025, in close collaboration with national counterparts.
These fora brought together women leading businesses, financial institutions, civil society, and government representatives to highlight how inclusive business practices are shaping more resilient and equitable Caribbean economies.
UN Women Photos/Mar Echevarria
1. Gender Equality as Smart Business
Across both forums, a clear message emerged: promoting gender equality is not only the right thing to do, but also smart business.
As Karen Richardson, General Manager of the Caribbean Union Bank in Antigua, emphasized: “Pitching gender equality to your board means speaking their language. Talk about return on investment—women’s empowerment is not a buzzword; it’s a strategy.”
This perspective resonated with participants in both countries. With women influencing up to 80% of consumer purchasing decisions, companies that integrate gender-responsive design, leadership and marketing are more competitive.
UN Women Photos/Mar Echevarria
2. Caribbean Entrepreneurs Leading Change
Antigua & Barbuda: Building inclusive leadership and business ecosystems. Entrepreneurs and leaders shared how gender equality fuels their growth.
Marian Hesse, CIWiL Antigua & Barbuda, highlighted how networks empower women in leadership, particularly through mentorship and the FEMpreneur Fund.
Krisna St. Jean-Pierre, Founder of The Mill Academy, shared how her business grew “step by step,” reminding women entrepreneurs: “Start small. Grow steadily. And always pursue excellence.”
These insights reaffirmed that inclusive business leadership drives stronger workforces, communities and markets.
Saint Lucia: From inclusive workplaces to the care economy
In Saint Lucia, discussions centred on MSMEs, financial inclusion, and the emerging care economy.
3. Financial Inclusion
Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa, Executive Director of Helen’s Daughter highlighted their social-enterprise model that supports farmers—especially women—through partnerships with hotels, banks and community organisations: “Companies think we just want a cheque. But we bring value too—like farmers’ markets for hotel guests, or improved supply chains.”
Nichola Evans from Republic Bank EC Ltd noted: “Financial inclusion for women is restricted by invisible barriers. We must understand customers better—and build products that work for them.”
Shayne Felicien, General Manager at the St Lucia Co-operative Credit Union League, emphasised that cooperatives can reach underserved communities faster and more effectively than traditional banking.
4. Care as Economic Infrastructure
One of the most powerful messages from Saint Lucia’s forum came from the fireside conversation on the care economy, led by Janey Joseph, Director of the Division of Gender Affairs, Department of Labour and Gender Affairs.
The Care Impact Report and the national Knowledge, Attitude and Practices study conducted in Saint Lucia, show that care work is the silent foundation of the economy, yet women continue to shoulder most of the unpaid burden, and more employers are now recognizing that supporting care responsibilities directly increases productivity.
Sandals Grande St. Lucia demonstrated how large companies can lead by example, with on-site early childhood education centres, paternity leave and support for male caregivers, family-focused benefits, and an “employee first” culture that places staff well-being at the heart of business success.
As Della John, General Manager at Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, put it: “If you don’t care for your people, you can’t expect them to care for your customers.”
Samara Aurelien, Human Resource Manager at Renwick & Co and member of The Chamber of Commerce’s Care Team echoed the need for formal policies — care leave, flexible work, support for parents and caregivers —to build resilient enterprises and families.
5. Embedding Equality into Business Systems
National forums reaffirmed that gender equality must be systemic, not dependent on individual goodwill. Embedding equality into business practice means adopting gender-responsive HR and workplace policies, fostering safer and more inclusive supply chains, ensuring fair and transparent business practices, expanding leadership opportunities for women, investing in care and work–life balance, and building stronger partnerships between companies, civil society and government.
These National Forums are part of the broader Joint SDG Programme that aims to increase access to finance for women and youth, accelerate digital and financial literacy, strengthen MSME resilience, support green and care economy transitions, and build an enabling environment where women-led businesses can thrive.
As one participant summed it up, “The world is changing, and so must our businesses. If we embed gender equality into how we operate, we don’t just build better companies — we build stronger societies.”