Powering progress through equality | Kyana Bowen and Maxsalia Salmon (Op-Ed)

The devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, which inflicted an estimated US$12 billion in damages, underscores the urgent need for robust national resilience. In this context, the private sector’s role in championing equality and fostering sustainable development is not merely a moral imperative but a strategic business necessity, fundamental to strengthening the nation’s capacity to withstand future shocks.

Empirical evidence consistently demonstrates a compelling link between gender equality and economic prosperity. Economies that actively close gender gaps experience accelerated growth, enhanced innovation, and greater resilience against economic and environmental volatility. Investing in women through equitable renumeration, leadership pathways, inclusive workplaces, and gender-responsive policies acts as a powerful economic multiplier. This approach unlocks untapped potential, strengthens productivity, and expands market opportunities, creating a virtuous cycle of sustainable development.

Across Jamaica, a growing number of businesses are already exemplifying this leadership. These enterprises are increasingly integrating their core strategies with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They recognise that enduring value creation is inextricably linked to positive social and environmental impact.

Companies such as One-on-One Educational Services Limited, CorpCare, PwC Jamaica and Esirom Limited are among those that have formally committed to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact Network Caribbean. This commitment translates into embedding human rights, fair labour standards, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption measures into their daily operations. The actions establish practical benchmarks for responsible and competitive business conduct.

OPERATIONAL DECISIONS

This often begins with deliberate operational decisions that cultivate an inclusive workplace culture. For instance, companies are adopting flexible work arrangements, performance-based incentives, and equitable promotion opportunities, alongside comprehensive parental leave policies. These measures enable employees to effectively balance professional contributions with personal responsibilities, fostering an environment where individual diversity is recognised and supported. This approach signifies a broader evolution within Jamaica’s business community, integrating inclusion into foundational systems.

Further reinforcing this commitment is the growing adoption of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a collaborative initiative by UN Women and the UN Global Compact. Over 25 Jamaican companies have embraced the WEPs, utilising its structured framework to advance gender equality across their workplaces, marketplaces, and communities. This includes fair treatment for women and men, gender-responsive recruitment and promotion policies, support for education and professional development, and fostering supply-chain practices that empower women. These actions are foundational steps toward building a more resilient, equitable, and future-ready Jamaican economy.

Leadership at the governance level is equally paramount. The representation of women, particularly at the highest echelons of executive and board leadership, is crucial for organisational performance and long-term stability. While women are well-represented in management roles across Jamaica and the Caribbean, this progress has not consistently translated to the most senior leadership positions. Bridging this gap directly correlates with enhanced organisational performance. Gender-inclusive governance bolsters accountability, enriches strategic insights, and deepens stakeholder trust all foundational pillars of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Businesses that intentionally align leadership representation with their sustainability agendas are better positioned to drive sustained profitability and navigate economic and social disruptions.

DISPARITIES

Despite encouraging advancements, significant disparities persist, demanding focused attention. Women, especially those engaged in nascent sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and other climate-sensitive industries, continue to encounter substantial structural barriers. These include restricted access to finance, land, and digital tools, alongside underrepresentation in technical training, STEM fields, and senior leadership. Such disparities not only restrict individual opportunity but also impede national economic growth. As a country on the frontline of climate change, Jamaica’s development pathway must strategically harness women’s full participation and leadership. Climate-smart investments, inclusive green jobs, and resilient supply chains will only realise their full potential when women are fully integrated as innovators, skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers.

The international community’s Pact for the Future, adopted by UN member states in 2024, explicitly positions the private sector as a co-architect of sustainable development. It calls on businesses to align investments with human rights, ambitious climate action, inclusive economic growth, and intergenerational equity. For Jamaican businesses, this is far more than a global policy statement; it shapes investor expectations, international competitiveness, and long-term risk management. Those who lead in this transition will not only bolster national development but also strategically position themselves in an evolving global marketplace.

The vision for Jamaica is clear: a nation where businesses flourish by contributing meaningfully to equality, sustainability, and shared prosperity; where women and girls can realize their full potential unhindered by structural barriers; and where the private sector is recognized as a dynamic force for national progress. This is not an aspiration; it is an economic necessity.

As we mark International Women’s Day, celebrating 115 years of collective advocacy and progress, one truth endures: transformative change is contingent upon intentional leadership, robust partnerships, and sustained action. The future for women, businesses, and Jamaica hinges entirely on today’s decisions. For Jamaica’s business leaders, the time for decisive action is now.

Companies can accelerate progress by committing to pay transparency and gender-responsive budgeting; increasing women’s participation and leadership in climate-related and STEM sectors; expanding procurement opportunities for women-led businesses; investing in family-friendly policies and safe, flexible workplaces; and embedding gender equality and climate resilience into core business strategies and risk management frameworks. By embracing gender equality not as an option but as the cornerstone of our collective future, Jamaica’s private sector can help power a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive nation.

Kyana Bowen is the executive director of the UN Global Compact Network Caribbean. Maxsalia Salmon is partnerships and development finance officer of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. Send feedback to jamaica.rco@un.org