Women's groups pivot to COVID-19 production

Like so many of us, women’s groups across Papua New Guinea are currently pivoting their businesses in response to COVID-19 to meet shifting demand and limitations on regular supply chains.

KTF’s Strongim Meri Bisnis project, supported by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)’s PNG-Australia Partnership, works with women’s groups across PNG to establish businesses sourcing, producing and selling products in demand in their local communities. Depending on their location and market demand, products may include solar lights, soap and female hygiene packs.

Groups who sew female hygiene products receive start-up kits including sewing machines and other haberdashery essentials, and critical training in small business, literacy and technical skills. With the threat of COVID-19, the demand for face masks outstripped local supply, compounded by the Department of Education recently declaring a return to school with the requirement for children to wear masks on return to school.

So these amazing women - many mothers - are now making masks for school children and their teachers. The first to pivot was Buakap Women’s Group, joining forces to help supply 1,000 masks for the children at Buakap Primary School by the sea in Morobe province.

The Gabagaba Women's Group in Central followed suit and are in the process of switching production to produce much-needed face masks as an interim alternative to their usual female hygiene packs. KTF supported with technical training, aligned with advice from the CDC and WHO, high-quality fabrics and materials and COVID-19 awareness and education booklets.

Group leader from Gabagaba women’s group, Vavine, recently collected fabric supplies from our Port Moresby office and the women are getting production underway to supply their region with reusable masks. Other groups in Central and New Ireland Provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are soon to join in a temporary switch to mask production.

What a great way to meet a community need with a timely business adaptation.

Photo credit: Post Courier