Fijian women are poised to gain significant support from a $5 million initiative funded by Canada, aimed at enhancing women’s livelihoods and leadership in the context of climate change. The Women POWER: Pacific Oceanic Women Enhancing Resilience project, launched recently in Suva by Canadian Secretary of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai, emphasizes the critical role of women in building resilient communities across the Pacific region.
Sarai highlighted that providing women and girls with the necessary tools to lead, secure livelihoods, and advocate for their rights results in stronger families and communities better equipped to tackle challenges. He underscored Canada’s commitment to women’s empowerment as one of the most impactful investments in fostering inclusive and sustainable development.
The initiative is expected to directly benefit nearly 10,000 individuals across Fiji, Kiribati, and Vanuatu, with women accounting for about 70% of the beneficiaries. Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, noted that climate change remains a significant threat to Pacific communities, disproportionately affecting women.
Kiran pointed out that women play vital roles in fisheries, food security, and overall household resilience, but climate change severely undermines these contributions. She cited data from Fiji’s gender assessments indicating that women, especially those heading households, often face greater hardships during disasters. For instance, during Tropical Cyclone Winston, poverty rates among households led by divorced or widowed women significantly surged.
The Women POWER project aligns with Fiji’s national gender and climate priorities, aiming to bolster women’s leadership and participation in decision-making. Kiran emphasized that women possess the knowledge, skills, and innovative solutions necessary to address the barriers they encounter. She firmly believes that empowering women leads to benefits for entire communities and is essential for achieving sustainable development and climate resilience throughout Fiji and the Pacific.
This initiative presents a hopeful outlook, aiming to create lasting change and strengthen communities against the challenges posed by climate change, while elevating the position of women within these societies.