Why the Current Economy Fails Women
The existing economic system is not working; we need economic solutions rooted in feminist values and just practices. Feminist economists have long critiqued the current global economic system. As violence and precarity escalate—the socio-economic impacts disproportionately affect women. The need to develop and revitalise economic initiatives that provide women with both short- and long-term security, autonomy, and freedom is stronger than ever.
Power Up! and Feminist Economic Justice
Power Up!’s Feminist Economic Justice (FEJ) strategy supports alternative economic models rooted in feminist values and representing women’s lived experiences. These models nurture communities, resist corporate exploitation, and defend women’s rights to land and natural resources. We have created spaces for women to learn, strategise, and develop powerful feminist leadership. This is guided by a set of core principles that promote systemic change through an inclusive, decolonial lens and challenge structural injustices and power imbalances of intersecting oppressive systems. Our work is about challenging social norms, while respecting Indigenous and subsistence economies by focussing on well-being for all people.
As a diverse consortium, each member of Power Up! brought unique strengths shaped by their organisational capacity and context. Some focussed on localised, microeconomic issues, while others amplified our strategies at global platforms.
Turning Strategies into Results
In Indonesia, Power Up! supported Yayasan Pemberdayaan Perempuan Kepala Keluarga (PEKKA), a national, women-led, family empowerment network, in strengthening women-led community economies. This included developing enterprises grounded in ecological sustainability and food sovereignty. PEKKA’s co-operatives and local markets continue to generate income in rural Indonesia, transforming economic conditions for thousands of women. The impact is visible in womxn-led initiatives such as mangrove reforestation, local markets, and value-added food production. PEKKA’s partners—including local governments, community leaders, and grassroots organisations—support various local markets by providing space, infrastructure, and business opportunities.
An example of a successful initiative is in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, where the Ina Mbojo PEKKA Cooperative is building economic resilience through a community-led waste bank initiative. What began as a localised effort to process and sell household waste has grown to include representatives from eight villages, with training reaching 400 co-operative members. The co-operative generates income from recycling but has also gained local government recognition. Co-operative representatives were invited to attend official meetings, and they secured a three-wheeled transport vehicle after directly appealing to the provincial governor. This initiative shows how collective action and local leadership can drive both environmental and economic impact.
Tools for Sustainability
To support the sustainability of its work, Power Up! developed a Feminist Economic Justice Toolkit: a feminist popular education resource designed to help activists in strengthening feminist strategies for economic resilience and stability. The toolkit gives practical guidance for discussions and activities aimed at unpacking economic injustice and supports the development and exchange of feminist alternatives and visions.