🧩 The Challenge
The Kiribati Kiritimati Infrastructure Project (P506425) aims to promote women’s employment in Kiritimati Island where women’s labor force participation rate lags 14% behind men’s, and women are primarily confined to informal economic activities such as handicraft production, street vending, and tourism services.
🛠️ The Intervention
The project will prioritize women’s professional development through targeted capacity building and skills training. Airport operations training will maintain a minimum 30% female participation rate. Regular training plans will ensure a sustained focus on women’s career advancement throughout implementation. Safety audits will inform road design features, including enhanced lighting and visibility, minimize dark spots and improve walkability for women beside the road. The upgraded CXI-London Road will explore creating dedicated spaces for local women vendors and traders. The airport terminal design will explore whether the infrastructure can be adapted to provide a separate access channel for domestic violence survivors.
Note: Anita Shrestha, Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank, provided inputs into this case study.