In Bougainville, land means tradition, identity, and livelihood. But environmental pressures like soil erosion and shifting weather patterns continue to shape daily life, complicating recovery efforts. Women, often the hardest hit, have also been the strongest anchors by holding communities together and leading the way forward. Today, they are at the heart of Bougainville’s progress.
“We are the backbone,” says Hon. Theonila Roka Matbob, Education Minister of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. “We start with small things. Economy isn’t just money; it’s the number of people producing to bring a dime into the community. That’s what we strive for.”
Building Resilient Communities through Women-Led Entrepreneurship
IorOrganic, a women-led business from Central Bougainville’s Ioro Constituency, is a landmark example of this approach to economic development. The idea is simple: make soap from Bougainville’s abundant coconuts. But the goal is much bigger: reconnect with land, rebuild relationships, and restore dignity through work.
Every bar of soap is hand-made from regional ingredients: coconut oil, lemongrass, citronella, aloe vera, and cacao. Women are involved at every stage—gathering, extracting, infusing, blending, curing, and packaging —generating income and confidence.
“Over 40 women earn from every bar; 3 Kina here, 15 Kina there. More than one woman benefits”, the Minister explains.
PDI partnered with IorOrganic during a pivotal growth stage. Together, they conducted an operational assessment and identified opportunities for scale. They co-developed branding and packaging for three signature scents – Coconut, Lemongrass, and Citronella – reflecting Bougainville’s rich natural resources.
The impact was immediate. With new branding developed in partnership with PDI, unit prices rose from 2 to 5 PNG Kina, a 250% revenue increase going directly to the women. IorOrganic sold nearly 3,000 units in the first few weeks. The business is scaling to meet demand, establishing retail points across Bougainville. Once dominated by imports, local markets are now opening to locally made, environmentally sustainable alternatives.
Interest is growing strongly. Local hotels seek long-term contracts, and two retailers are exploring regional distribution. A sales point in Port Moresby is under consideration, positioning Bougainville as a hub for high-quality, eco-conscious products.
But the ripple effects go beyond profit. This partnership is about dignity, ownership, and identity. As Minister Matbob puts: “A woman who never went through formal education can now say, ‘I scraped the coconut. I helped build this business.’ That’s how powerful this is.”
Going forward, PDI aims to support self-sustaining, climate-resilient enterprises for lasting peace, stimulating sustainable land use for increased biodiversity protection and ecosystem services.
Reflecting on PDI’s support, Minister Matbob says: “You [PDI] add fuel to the fire. That’s the kind of collaboration we want. I want to wake up, work the land, see women produce soap, and sell. That’s what partnership with PDI feels like: they respect the Melanesian way.”
A Vision for Bougainville’s Future
Bougainville has what it needs- land, labour, and natural resources. What’s missing, Matbob says, is a system that connects it all – “rock, swamp, rice, and coconut leaves” – into a working whole. “My dream is to stop importing soap. We can make our own by absorbing our labour, thanks to our coconuts. That’s where PDI comes in.”
Soap is just a start, but it represents a future of peace, self-reliance, and prosperity, led by women and grounded in the land they call home.
