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he says. “We are also recruiting people through an open and Fifita added that men are not the only ones whose mindsets
inclusive mechanism to afford everybody the chance to be need changing; women also need to change their mindsets
part of that cohort.” and start celebrating other women instead of viewing them as
competition.
Is enough being done? “There are many women in Tonga compared to men, so if
While donors like Australia have been pumping money into men are still voted in more than women, then it is obvious
projects aimed at empowering Pacific women, aid spending that we are voting them in. If we want to change mindsets,
in the Pacific Islands, primarily on women, is below the global let us start with us women at home by voting for our women,”
average. said Fifita.
In her report, Collins states that “total official development On a regional level, the 15th Triennial Conference for
finance (ODF) spent on gender equality by all donors between Pacific Women and the 8th meeting of Pacific Ministers for
2008 and 2021, captured by the Pacific Aid Map, was US$13 Women have proposed three priority areas and actions on (1)
billion, or 30% of all aid delivered to the Pacific. This seems the health of women and girls, (2) gender-responsive climate
like a big investment but lift the hood and the details suggest justice, and (3) the prevention of gender-based violence.
otherwise. While the Women Triennial Conference called on regional
“Aid where gender equality was the primary objective agencies, members of governments, and stakeholders to
of the investment (without which the project would not go work in partnership to ensure that the three priority areas
ahead—also known as a principal investment) represented on are supported, the 53rd PIFLM Final Communique made no
average only 3% of the total ODF disbursed across the period. mention of gender issues. That raised questions about when
These “principal” investments fell below the global average Pacific leaders will address gender equality as a standalone
of 4%, as reported to the Organisation for Economic Co- issue without it being overshadowed by an overarching theme.
operation and Development (OECD),” Collins said. Pacific Islands Forum Director for Governance and
What is clear is that it will require more than money to be Engagement, Sione Tekiteki, told Islands Business that “all
able to influence the patriarchal mindset of Pacific people. issues and agenda items that go up to leaders are assessed
Said Guttenbeil: “If we want change, then we need to through the gender lens by the social policy team to ensure
start from primary school; we need to raise awareness and that it is mainstreamed throughout all the issues that we are
empower not only our women but our girls that they can doing.
be leaders, and train our boys to be respectful to girls and “But the fact that it is always on the agenda and is
women; we need a complete change in mindset, that is the discussed is a good thing,” Tekiteki said.
only way forward, and it needs to start at home.”

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