Australian-backed funding program for women entrepreneurs launched

MANILA, Philippines —  A Philippine-based SME-focused private debt investor has launched SheSecure, an Australian government-backed funding program aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in building sustainable gender-equitable enterprises.

In a statement, ARQ SME Business Development Co. (ARQ SME BDC) said  SheSecure  is a “gender lens” investment product aimed at financing the working capital needs of women-owned and women-led small businesses in the Philippines.

It added that the program offers financing of up to P30 million per enterprise together with interest incentives tied to improvements in gender equality practices.

“These funds can be utilized by the enterprises to fuel expansion, invest in new technologies, or support their working capital requirements,” the company said.

ARQ SME BDC said the innovative funding program was developed in collaboration with the Australian-funded Investing in Women initiative.

“Australia is committed to supporting gender equality, and we are investing in women’s economic empowerment to help achieve this,” Australian embassy deputy head of mission Moya Collett said.

“Australia is pleased to support local partnerships that develop innovative solutions such as SheSecure by ARQ because evidence shows that incorporating a gender lens into an investment strategy improves financial performance and impact outcomes for investors,” Collett said.

ARQ SME BDC managing partner Abigail Tan said SheSecure was developed to tackle two critical gaps faced by larger women-led and women-owned small businesses in the Philippines.

“The lack of appropriate capital is a major obstacle for growth. By offering tailored financing paired with strategic support, SheSecure aims to help bridge this gap for women entrepreneurs ready to scale,” Tan said.

With a strong commitment to the “double bottomline” approach, SheSecure is designed to drive financial profitability and social responsibility by fostering gender equality in business.

“By providing incentives linked to measurable progress in gender performance, SheSecure empowers companies to mainstream gender equality – ensuring opportunities and leadership roles are accessible to everyone, regardless of gender,” Tan said.

While SheSecure has specific criteria, ARQ SME BDC said it is committed to connecting applicants to suitable sources of capital, even if they don’t fully meet the program’s qualifications.

It stressed that this initiative aligns with the broader vision of creating “gender-smart enterprises” that deliver strong financial returns alongside positive social impact.

“Our goal with SheSecure is to nurture progressive growth-oriented businesses that seek to further adapt and improve their gender-inclusive practices while being the ‘unfair advantage’ as the SME captures visible opportunities,” Tan said.

“By prioritizing both profit and social progress, we create a win-win for businesses, their customers, and society as a whole,” she said.