Day 1 of the Women in Super (WIS) Work Attachment in Port Vila brought together representatives from pension and provident funds across the Pacific for a full day of knowledge sharing and practical discussions.

The workshop opened with remarks from the WIS Steering Committee, welcoming participants and acknowledging the growing regional support for the Women in Super network. With both long-standing members and new participants in the room, the session highlighted the importance of collaboration across Pacific retirement systems.

The morning sessions focused on mapping the informal economy in the Pacific, building on insights shared earlier in the program. Participants explored survey findings and case studies to better understand how informal workers, particularly women, interact with retirement systems and where gaps remain.

Throughout the day, discussions centred on how funds across the region can better engage informal sector workers and expand financial inclusion.

In the afternoon, participants heard directly from representatives working within Vanuatu’s informal sector. The session highlighted the role of local entrepreneurs and market vendors in supporting communities and contributing to the broader economy.

These conversations provided valuable insight into the real-world challenges faced by informal workers and reinforced the importance of designing retirement systems that are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the Pacific context.

Day 1 concluded with further discussions among participating funds, strengthening regional relationships and setting the stage for continued collaboration throughout the workshop.