Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc.

What Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc. does

Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc. is a Port Moresby / Boroko-headquartered non-profit founded in 2014 that operates a national women-leaders network across Papua New Guinea. With a small staff of approximately 7 employees, it convenes roughly 60 women leaders and more than 80 affiliated community organizations spanning 18 provinces, structured as a membership-based body that links individual leaders, community organizations, and donor funders in a single multi-sided ecosystem. Its core programs are non-technological in character: GWIM leadership development, the Rural PNG Value-Adding Small Grants program (K5,000 micro-grants, of which roughly 30 are distributed per round), five Provincial Hubs providing physical presence outside Port Moresby, a member Business Directory platform that catalogs women-led enterprises, and the Boera Tailasking...

Name

Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc.

Legal name

Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc.

Website

https://advancepngwomen.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc. is a Port Moresby-based non-profit founded in 2014 that operates a women-leaders network across 18 provinces of Papua New Guinea through leadership training, micro-grants, five Provincial Hubs, and a member Business Directory, funded primarily by donor grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Leadership Development Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Women leadership network
• Community empowerment programs
• Leadership training initiatives
• Small grants funding
• Women's rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boroko

HQ country

Papua New Guinea

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding and Grants: APNGWLN operates primarily through donor funding and grants from partners including ExxonMobil Foundation, Old Dart Foundation, Santos Foundation, and USAID. The organization distributes small grants (K5,000) to community projects through its Rural PNG Value Adding Small Grants program.
2. Membership Fees: The organization has financial members who pay membership fees. The network had 45 financial members as of April 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

APNGWLN operates a nationwide women's leadership network in Papua New Guinea delivering leadership development programs (including the GWIM alumni program), small-grants funding (K5,000 Rural PNG Value-Adding Small Grants), community skills training (e.g., the Boera Tailoring Hub), provincial-hub-based member services across five provinces, and a Business Directory connecting women-led enterprises to investors and stakeholders. Membership in the network is open to women leaders across PNG who are GWIM alumni and their affiliated community organizations.

Product overview

Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc. is a nationwide network of women leaders in Papua New Guinea offering a portfolio of programs including the Global Women in Management (GWIM) leadership training program, the Rural PNG Value-Adding Small Grants initiative, a Business Directory digital platform for women-led enterprises, and a network of Provincial Hubs. The organization also operates skill-building programs such as the Boera Tailoring Hub. These offerings work together to provide access to resources, training, funding, and market connectivity for women leaders and their community organizations across Papua New Guinea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GWIM (Global Women in Management): A global initiative launched in 2005 to advance women's economic leadership, implemented by Counterpart International with ExxonMobil Foundation support. PNG women who complete the program become part of the APNGWLN network.

Products and services

• Global Women in Management (GWIM) Program — APNGWLN alumni membership pipeline A global initiative launched in 2005 implementing long-term investment in women's management, leadership, and technical capacity through integrated training, executive coaching, and global networks. For APNGWLN, completion of GWIM grants alumni status and entry into the APNGWLN network.
• Rural PNG Value-Adding Small Grants A grant program providing K5,000 grants to community-based organizations supporting economic empowerment and sustainable value-adding initiatives in rural Papua New Guinea. Administered online via SmartyGrants.
• Business Directory A digital platform on the APNGWLN website showcasing women-led enterprises established by network members, connecting entrepreneurs with investors, donors, and stakeholders.
• Provincial Hubs Network A network of provincial hub offices providing members with direct access to APNGWLN programs and resources in their respective provinces. Five hubs are in operation: Southern Highlands, Simbu, Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay, and Central Provincial Hubs.
• Boera Tailoring Hub A community skills empowerment hub offering advanced tailoring and design training in Boera, with 40 graduates from surrounding villages, working toward establishing a clothing factory. Trained 120+ tailors to date through partnership with Diari Tailoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 community projects funded through Rural PNG Value-Adding Small Grants in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Counterpart InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Counterpart International implements the Global Women in Management (GWIM) program. APNGWLN is the PNG alumni of GWIM - women who have been accepted to go through the GWIM Program and upon completion become part of APNGWLN.
• Business Coalition for Women (BCFW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCFW is one of four CSO leaders in the CEDAW Shadow Report Coalition, working with APNGWLN, PNA, and Magna Carta PNG to advocate for women's rights in PNG.
• Magna Carta PNGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMagna Carta PNG leads the UPR process and is a key partner with APNGWLN in the CSO Coalition for human rights advocacy including CEDAW Shadow Report and Universal Periodic Review.
• Papua Native Land-Owners Association (PNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNA is one of four CSO leaders in the CEDAW Shadow Report Coalition, contributing to advocacy for women's rights and indigenous land rights.
• ExxonMobil PNGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExxonMobil PNG sponsors tailoring training programs, provides 20 sewing machines and 4 overlockers, and has been instrumental in the Boera Tailoring Hub development through its Village Liaison Officers.
• Diari TailoringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiari Tailoring, founded by Doreka Dai, provides tailoring and design training. Partnered with APNGWLN since 2017 for trainer-of-trainers programs that have trained 120+ tailors.
• Denani DesignscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenani Designs, led by Elizabeth Omeri, provides advanced tailoring and design training. Contributed to Boera Tailoring Hub's 40 advanced tailoring graduates.
• Australian National University (ANU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANU, through Dr. Thiago Cintra Oppermann from the Department of Pacific Affairs, facilitated the LLG Observers Workshop and receives observation data from APNGWLN.
• Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPDA Mt Hagen Office provides technical assistance and tools to Youth At Work Inc. grantee project for small-scale farmers in Western Highlands Province.
• Farmset LtdminorOthersAgricultural supplier partner for BenArox Piggery project, providing supplies and technical advice for climate-smart agriculture initiative.
• ChemicaminorOthersAgricultural supplier partner for BenArox Piggery project providing supplies and technical guidance.
• Brian Bell Grow CominorOthersAgricultural supplier partner for BenArox Piggery project providing supplies and support.
• Steamships GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteamships Team, led by Chairman/CEO Geoff Cundle of John Swire and Sons, visited APNGWLN to learn about the organization and its work, representing potential future partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Counterpart International: Implements the Global Women in Management (GWIM) program, the parent training pipeline from which APNGWLN's membership is drawn. Operates closely with APNGWLN as a strategic program partner on women's economic leadership.
• Papua New Guinea National Council of Women: National umbrella body for women's organizations in PNG, operating in the same women-leadership and advocacy space as APNGWLN with overlapping membership across provinces.
• Pacific Women Lead Program (PNG-Australia Partnership): Australian government program funding women's leadership in PNG, of which APNGWLN is an active grantee. Both organizations pursue overlapping objectives around women's political and economic participation in PNG.
• Magna Carta PNG: PNG human rights organization co-leading the CEDAW Shadow Report Coalition with APNGWLN. Comparable as a women-focused civil society organization engaged in international advocacy and rights work in PNG.
• Business Coalition for Women (BCFW): PNG-based coalition advancing women's economic empowerment and co-leads the CEDAW Shadow Report Coalition with APNGWLN. Operates in the same women's empowerment space domestically with overlapping member networks.

Broad incumbents

• International Women's Forum: Global membership network of women leaders across industries and geographies. Comparable business/leadership network model to APNGWLN, though operating at a higher income and seniority tier internationally.
• Vital Voices Global Partnership: Global NGO identifying and investing in women leaders across emerging markets. Compares to APNGWLN in mission (leadership development, network building) though at global rather than country-specific scale.
• Asia Foundation: International development organization working across Asia-Pacific on governance, women's empowerment, and civil society. Overlaps with APNGWLN in PNG-focused women's leadership programming and donor ecosystem.
• UN Women Papua Multi-Country Office: UN entity advancing gender equality and women's empowerment across the Pacific. Operates at greater scale and broader mandate but addresses overlapping programmatic areas including leadership and economic empowerment in PNG.

Regional players

• ActionAid PNG: Country office of ActionAid International focused on women's rights and rural community empowerment in PNG. Comparable programmatic overlap in economic empowerment and rural women's rights in the same operating geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/png_women
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AdvancePNGWomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/Advancingpngwomenleadersnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advancing-png-women-leaders-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network Inc.