This publication presents the outcomes of the APEC project “Symposium on Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment through Financial Inclusion Initiatives”. Drawing on mixed-methods research and discussions from the APEC Symposium, the report analyzes key structural, institutional, and sociocultural barriers limiting women’s financial inclusion, with particular attention to time poverty stemming from unpaid care and domestic work. It examines both supply- and demand-side constraints affecting women’s access and use of financial products and services, drawing on evidence from Chile; Mexico; Peru; and the Philippines.

The report identifies effective practices implemented by public and private actors, including gender-responsive financial products, digital financial services, and integrated support models. It concludes that progress in women’s financial inclusion depends on care-aware and gender-responsive policy frameworks, stronger gender-disaggregated data and monitoring systems, and sustained multi-stakeholder coordination. The publication concludes with practical recommendations, proposing a time-use diagnostic framework to support more inclusive financial systems across the APEC region.