Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, highlighted the urgent need to address and transform the social norms and power structures that perpetuate gender inequality. In an address to Parliament regarding the Gender Transformative Institutional Capacity Development initiative, she emphasized the importance of the “16 Days of Activism” campaign, which serves as a platform to confront violence against women and girls, advocate for respect, and galvanize collective action.
During her update on this initiative, which aims to build a more equitable and inclusive public sector, Kiran outlined the accomplishments and future direction of the initiative that was first launched in 2021. The initiative engaged nine pilot ministries and agencies, including the Fiji Police Force, and was made possible through significant support from the Government of New Zealand, the Government of Canada, and the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement.
Key achievements of the Gender Transformative Institutional Capacity Development Initiative (ICD) Phase One include the enhancement of competencies among staff across the participating agencies, the establishment of Gender Mainstreaming Action Groups (GMAGs), the creation of gender sensitization and analysis toolkits, and the development of budget gender analysis products. Additionally, the initiative facilitated important COVID-19 risk management work plans and rapid gender analyses in critical sectors such as education, agriculture, trade, and tourism.
As preparations commence for Phase Two, which is set to run from 2025 to 2030, the ministry reflected on lessons learned from the first phase. The evaluation revealed a greater demand for support than the available staffing could accommodate, pointing to the need for expanding capacity. Also identified was the necessity to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems to gauge the effectiveness of training and activities accurately.
Kiran noted challenges faced by several ministries in operationalizing their GMAGs, underscoring the importance of adequate technical assistance and follow-up to ensure the successful integration of gender mainstreaming within their plans. Furthermore, she acknowledged that coordination among government bodies regarding gender-responsive planning and budgeting needs to be more consistent to achieve a cohesive approach.
These reflections have served as a roadmap for redesigning Phase Two, ensuring that the upcoming reforms not only aim for sustainability but also foster transformative impacts. The overarching goal is clear—recognizing the equal worth and rights of all Fijians, regardless of gender, to live free from discrimination and to have equitable opportunities to contribute to and benefit from national development.
Through these ongoing efforts, there is hope for a more gender-equitable future in Fiji, where every individual’s contributions are valued equally, and collective progress is achievable.
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