Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Initiative

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Initiative

Advisory Board

First Meeting 10 April 2013

Meeting Report

The first meeting of the Advisory Board for the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative was held in Canberra on 10 April 2013. The meeting was chaired by AusAID Deputy Director General, James Batley. The Agenda for the meeting can be found at Attachment A.

The Advisory Board is comprised of eminent Pacific Island women and men.

The Advisory Board’s purpose is to provide advice on the strategic direction of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Developmentinitiative. The Advisory Board reflects AusAID’s commitment to a Pacific-led response to improving the opportunities for political, economic and social advancement of Pacific women. The members of the Advisory Board are also advocates on gender equality in the Pacific.

Members of the Advisory Board are: Ms Andie Fong Toy, Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, Secretary Department of Justice and Attorney-General(PNG); Ms Jane Kesno, former head of the PNG Office for Women;Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Reverend SeremiaLomaloma, Anglican Minister (Fiji); Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Minister Minister of Justice and Courts Administration (Samoa); Ms SavinaNongebatu, immediate past Co-Chairperson of the Pacific Disability Forum; Ms MerilynTahi, Coordinator of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre; and Hon MaereTekanene, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development (Kiribati). Ms Penny Williams, Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, is an observer to the Advisory Board. Dr Kalinoe and Ms Nongebatu sent their apologies for this meeting.

Profiles of Advisory Board members are at Attachment B.

Key outcomes of the meeting included:

Strategic Direction of the Initiative

Members of the Advisory Boardendorsed the strategic direction of the initiative and AusAID’s approach to early implementation of activities. In doing so, the Advisory Board supported:

• The central importance of Pacific women and men, as individuals, groups and coalitions in driving indigenous change.
• The important role AusAID can play as a catalyst in supporting gender equality through extra financing of local efforts and improving the knowledge and evidence base for positive change.

Review of Implementation

The Advisory Board noted the progress made since the initiative was launched at the 2012 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting. Boardmembers welcomed AusAID’s commitment to a country-led process through the allocation of the majority of funding to the country level. The Board also noted progress, in particular:

• The completed country plans for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Cook Islands,which include activities to be funded this financial year. The Board noted that all country work plans would be completed by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in September 2013.
• Multi-country activities, including:
• the UN Women’s improving produce markets program which will be expanded in PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu.
• the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships Program, launched in February, to support current Pacific women MPs, Pacific Parliaments and Parliamentary staff.
• a Business Coalition for Women, which is being developing with the International Finance Corporation. The coalitionwill be a partnership between Australian and Pacific business to improve the environment for women as employees in Pacific business, as members of senior management and as business owners and operators.
• The piloting of a Pacific gender equality website to provide a knowledge exchange for innovation, evidence and analysis on gender equality in the Pacific.
• Further consultations with Pacific Island women and men on the regional design and management structure of the initiative in recognition of the importance of drawing from the experience of existing programs across the Pacific to effectively address gender inequality.

Important themes for implementing the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative.

The Advisory Boardagreedon important themes for the future work of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative:

• The importance of balancingthe work of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative with both government andnon-government organisations and individuals, recognising that all are requiredpartners to effect sustained change.
• The need to work at the institutional level with governments; political and leadership groups including Councils of Chiefs; civil society groups; and membership-based organisations, including churches; and the private sector.
• The need to balance support for activities at the national and local levels.
• The importance of working with men across all focus areas of the initiative and as champions for change. Advisory Board members recommended that AusAID revisethe Key Result Area 2[1] of the Delivery Strategy to include a reference to men.
• The need to maintain the momentum generated at the 2012 Forum, including:
• through effective reporting by countries on their progress against the Leaders’ Declaration; and
• AusAID widely communicating across the Pacific region on the progress of Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development.
• The need to improve the evidence base on constraints to gender equality to ensure effective programming and to strengthen advocacy efforts, including on the economic impact of gender violence.
• The importance of measuring progress and identifying indicators of success, including measuring changes in community attitudes and perceptions of gender equality by women and men.

Advocacy Messages

Members of the Advisory Board discussed their role as advocates and welcomed AusAID’s commitment to support them in this role, including through regular updates and engagement with AusAID in Canberra and Australian High Commissions in the region. The Board considered a set of draft advocacy messages and supporting facts on: women’s leadership; women’s economic empowerment and reducing violence against women. The Boardagreed on a core set of advocacy materials to be further developed over the coming two months.

Terms of Reference

The Advisory Board discussed and endorsed the Terms of Reference (refer Attachment C) for the Board.

Next Meeting

It is proposed that the meeting will be held in October 2013, preferably in a Pacific Island country. The final date is to be confirmed.

Background

Gender equality remains a significant development challenge for many countries in the world – including those in the Pacific. Nations are unable to reach their full potential when half of their citizens are excluded from important leadership and economic opportunities. But we know that change is possible.

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development is a 10 year, $320 million initiative aiming to improve the political, economic and social opportunities of Pacific women. The initiative, announced by the Australian Prime Minister on 29 August at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ meeting, will support gender equality through partnerships with Pacific governments, civil society organisations, local advocacy groups, the private sector, and multilateral, regional and United Nations agencies.

The initiative will support Pacific-led activities in three key areas:

• Improving women’s leadership and decision-making opportunities
• Increasing economic opportunities for women
• Reducing violence against women and expanding support services.

Attachment A

Agenda

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Advisory Board Meeting

10 April 2013

Venue:AusAID, Canberra

Chair:James Batley, Deputy Director General, Asia Pacific and Program Enabling Group, AusAID

9:30 – 10.30Welcome and introduction

9:30Welcome: James Batley

9:35 Welcome to Country: Mrs Violet Sheridan

9:45Introduction: James Batley

10:00Overview of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative and its significance for AusAID: Rob Tranter, First Assistant Director General Pacific Division

10:15Summary update on implementation of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative: Tracey Newbury, Director

10:30 Morning Tea

11:00 – 12:30 The key themes and approaches of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative

11:00Key challenges identified in the delivery strategy and the recommended approaches to overcome them: Susan Ferguson, Principal Gender Adviser

11:15Reflections on women’s leadership: Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa

11:30Reflections on women’s economic empowerment: Ms Andie Fong Toy

11:45Reflections on eliminating violence against women: Ms MerilynTahi

12:00Reflections on the role of men and community leaders(political, traditional and church)in enhancing gender equality: Dr Jimmie Rodgers

12:15Review of the draft Advocacy Kit

12:45Working lunch with AusAID management

2:00-3:30: The roles and direction of the Advisory Board.

2:00Confirm Terms of Reference

2:15Priorities for Advisory Board strategic focus and review for the next six months

2:45Reflections on the Meeting and Agreement on the Minutes for the Meeting

3:00Date and location for next meeting

3:15Meeting End

Attachment B

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Advisory Board Members

Name / Country / Profile
Mr James Batley (Chair) / Australia / Deputy Director General, AusAID
Ms Andie Fong Toy / Regional/
New Zealand / Deputy Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat's Economic Governance and Security programme
Dr Lawrence Kalinoe / PNG / Secretary Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Jane Kesno / PNG / Former Head of the Women’s Division and Director of the Office of Home Affairs (now elevated to the Department of Community Development)
Reverend SeremiaLomaloma / Fiji / Diocesan Secretary & Registrar Anglican Diocese of Polynesia
Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa / Samoa / Minister of Justice and Courts Administration
Ms SavinaNongebatu / Regional/ Solomon Islands / Immediate past female Co-Chairperson of the Pacific Disability Forum, former President of ‘People With Disability’ Solomon Islands
Dr Jimmie Rodgers / Regional/ Solomon Islands / Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Ms MerilynTahi / Vanuatu / Coordinator of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre
Hon MaereTekanene / Kiribati / Minister for Education
Penny Williams (Observer) / Australia / Global Ambassador for Women and Girls.

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Advisory Board Members

Andie Fong Toy, Deputy Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat's Economic Governance and Security programme (Fiji)

Ms Fong Toy’s extensive experience incorporates research on Pacific legal issues and working in a civil society organisation in New Zealand and experience in election observation missions, encapsulating vast knowledge and understanding of regional and international issues. Ms Fong Toy served as Director for the Forum Secretariat’s Political Governance and Security Programme until 2008. Prior to her appointment as Director she also served the Secretariat as International Legal Adviser and Legal & Political Officer. Ms Fong Toy holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Victoria University in New Zealand and Masters in International Relations from Deakin University, Australia.

Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, Secretary Department of Justice and Attorney-General (PNG)

Dr Kalinoe was formerly the Secretary to the PNG Law Reform Commission until his appointment as Secretary to the Justice and Attorney General’s Department. He was formerly the Dean of the Law School. Dr Kalinoe is Chair of the CIMC Family and Sexual Violence Committee, and is also on the Environment Board of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Jane Kesno, Former Head of the Women’s Division and Director of the Office of Home Affairs (PNG)

After completing a Masters in Social Planning and Development at University of Queensland, Jane Kesno undertook a range of community development and research work with NGOs, private sector and international agencies. From 1985 to 2000 she worked in the PNG public service, culminating in her appointment as Head of the Women’s Division and Director of the Office of Home Affairs (now elevated to the Department of Community Development) in 1999. She joined the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Sector Program as Gender and Lead Adviser for Cross Cutting Issues. She left this role to contest in the 2012 elections for the Namatanai District.

Reverend SereimaLomaloma, Diocesan Secretary & Registrar Anglican Diocese of Polynesia (Fiji)

Reverend Lomaloma has been active in the Pacific Conference of Churches and is the Secretary of the Diocese of Polynesia. From 1991-June 2000 she was the Director for Women & Culture,Ministry for Women & Culture & Social Welfare, Government of Fiji. ReverandLomolo is a Trustee of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and has been a member of their Project Co-ordinating Committee since 1999.

Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa,Minister ofJustice and Courts Administration, Censorship (Samoa)

Fiame entered politics in Samoa in 1985 as the member for Lotofaga for the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). She has been a Cabinet Minister since 1991 and has held the Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Labour, andWomen, Community and Social Development portfolios.

Fiameis the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and is also the Pacific Regional representative on the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Association. Fiame is an advocate of women’s development especially in the area of women in politics. She maintains strong ties with the Samoa National Council of Women (NCW) and the Inailau Women’s Leadership Network, both of which she has been a longstanding member.

SavinaNongebatu, Office Manager, People with Disabilities (Solomon Islands)

SavinaNongebatu is the current Office Manager, and previous President (2005-2011) of People with Disabilities (PWDSI) in the Solomon Islands. PWDSI is an advocacy organisation that promotes the rights of people with disabilities. Savina is also the Co-Chair of the Pacific Disability Forum, a regional network of which PWDSI is a member. In 2012 she was given the U.S. Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage. She was recognized for overcoming adversity and championing the cause of people living with disabilities in the Solomon Islands.

Dr Jimmie Rodgers Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community(Solomon Islands)

Dr Rodgers, who comes from Solomon Islands, was originally a medical practitioner specialising in anaesthesia. He also holds a master’s degree in health administration. Dr Rodgers has been involved in regional development and regional reform initiatives since 1994 when he was a member of the design team for the ‘Fiji School of Medicine Redevelopment Plan’. He was closely involved with the Pacific Plan development. Dr Rodgers led SPC’s involvement in what was to become the single largest regional reform process of regional organisations in the Pacific. He is now leading SPC to implement the major reforms emanating from an independent external review of the organisation which will consolidate SPC’s role in Pacific region’s development agenda.

MerilynTahi, Coordinator of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre

Coordinator of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (since 1994), was awarded the 'WOMEN OF COURAGE' award by the USA Government in 2009 for her work on Violence against women and children in Vanuatu. She was the second Political Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990/91), and has also held the positions of Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Protocol) from 1983-1986 and Director for Vanuatu Centre for International Relations (1986 – 1990). Ms Tahi’s experience includes the positions of Chairperson of Vanuatu Association of Non-Government Organisations (VANGO) and President of Vanuatu National Council of Women.

Hon. MaereTekanene, Minister of Education (Kiribati)

In addition to her role as MP, she has been Vice President of the Interim Kiribati Women in Politics Association from 2010-2011 and was Acting Secretary to Parliament Committees for the Kiribati House of Parliament from 2006-2007.

Among important contributions to initiatives for the advancement of women in her career, Hon. Tekanene was consultant on Gender Equality, Poverty and Education Goals for the first National Report on the Millennium Development Goals in collaboration with UNDP (2007) and on the Status of Women and CEDAW with the Pacific Foundation for the Advancement of Women (PACFAW; 2003). She has also the Coordinator/Researcher and subsequently Team Leader for Dissemination of findings for the Gender-Based Violence and Child Abuse Study based at the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs from 2007-2011.

Attachment C

Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development

Advisory Board

Terms of Reference

December 2012

1.Background

The 10 year $320 million, Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Initiative was announced by the Australian Prime Minister on 29 August 2012 at the Pacific Island Leaders’ Forum meeting. The Initiative will benefit all Pacific Island Forum countries by:

-enhancing the evidence base to inform policy and practice

-strengthening women’s groups and coalitions for change

-supporting attitudinal change towards gender equality and women’s agency

-improving women’s leadership and decision-making opportunities

-increasing economic opportunities for women

-reducing violence against women and expanding support services

-improving gender outcomes in education and health.

A small taskforce has been established for a 12 month period in AusAID, Canberra to manage the final design and early implementation activities of the Initiative. A regionally based management structure – notionally titled the Pacific Gender Equality Hub (the Hub) will be established in the first year, which will be responsible for managing and implementing the initiative in the longer term.

2.Purpose of Advisory BoardPurpose of Advisory Board

The Advisory Board will comprise eminent persons from the Pacific region whose role is to: