It was an empowering conversation from our women in science for this year’s International Women’s Day at the Regional Pacific NDC Hub.
Hosted virtually on International Women’s Day (IWD), the Talanoa presented an opportunity to acknowledge challenges faced by women due to the increasing impacts of climate change, celebrate achievements of inspiring female leaders, and discuss how gender considerations are meaningfully incorporated in climate change planning, policy, and implementation.
The panellist which included Christine Fung (GIZ), Arahdhana Deesh (MOA Fiji), Mathilde Kraft (Kiwa Initiative), Esther Bates (GGGI) and Moana Masau (SPC) showcased the increasing representation and meaningful roles that women play in the climate and entrepreneurship networks.
Research Officer at the Tropical Weed Research Unit of the Crop Research Division Arahdhana Deesh said that initially, women were not always involved in the sustainable agriculture trainings for the ministry.
“When we realized this, we started bringing the trainings to the communities, and to women’s homes, so they could engage. Women are now increasingly taking part in the trainings, and applying what they have learnt about sustainable farming,” Deesh said.
Project Technician for SPC’s Land Resources Division Moana Masau echoed the same sentiments.
“We also saw, from a forestry perspective, “that if women were not specifically invited to join trainings, they would not attend. Once we set-up requirements for how many women should be in our trainings, the community organized themselves around this, men often took over women’s tasks, and the community made sure the women could join the trainings,” Masau said.
“We need more women warriors out there, and there are so many women already proving what can be achieved. Now we need more to join them,” Esther Bates (Project Manager for the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network – GGGI).
“Women are more likely to run holistic, green businesses, and to think about the whole picture, rather than just making profits,” Bates said.
The panel discussion that is relevant for all practitioners working with climate change in the Pacific is available on the Regional Pacific NDC Hub Youtube Channel.
