Regional : Enhancing Gender Equality Outcomes in Pacific Developing Member Countries

Energy / Energy sector development and institutional reform

Information and communication technology / ICT strategy and policy, and capacity development

Public sector management / Public administration

Transport / Transport policies and institutional development

The proposed TA will support Pacific DMCs of ADB to enhance gender equality results through provision of targeted technical support, policy advice, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

It will improve gender mainstreaming at entry for new projects and support implementation of ongoing gender-mainstreamed projects across various sectors during 2024-2029, as well as support implementation of countries' policies and gender action plans. It will help build the capacity of executing and implementing agencies in preparing, implementing, and monitoring project gender assessment and action plans. The TA will provide continued resources to sustain the achievements made under the previous technical assistance, while expanding to also include project preparation support, development of knowledge products, and innovative approaches for gender mainstreaming, including through pilot projects.

Gender inequality and gender gaps in the Pacific. Gender issues vary between Pacific DMCs due to various intersecting factors such as levels of economic development, social, cultural, and gender norms; size of population and migration trends, as well as policy and legal frameworks. While many Pacific DMCs are signatory to international and regional conventions on gender equality, there are disparities in terms of the extent to which governments have adopted complementary national policies. Some common gender issues cut across countries in the region, these include low levels of women's political representation; limited participation in formal economy; high rates of violence against women and girls; increased risk of HIV/AIDS and STIs; declining access to customary land rights and low levels of legal literacy about rights to land and property; and culturally enforced discrimination against women. At the same time, women hold 21% of board seats, 11% of board chairs and 13% of CEO positions in the Pacific, which is well above the global averages of 16.9%, 5.3%, and 4.4%, respectively. Gender roles continue to undergo considerable change as a result of historical processes of colonization and more recently, the emergence of the market economy and globalization.

Climate change and gender nexus. The Pacific region is among the most vulnerable to climate change and one of the world's most disaster-prone regions. The small size, remoteness, and fragile biodiversity of Pacific Island countries make them exceptionally vulnerable to natural hazards, with low capacity to manage the resulting risks. Women are disproportionally affected by climate change and disasters, due to pre-existing gender inequalities, including in terms of the sectors and types of employment and livelihoods they depend on, access to resources that may help them to cope with and recover after disasters, and increased workloads and care responsibilities.

Project gender mainstreaming, and gender action plan implementation. In 2022, GEN- and EGM-categorized projects at entry in PARD comprised 85.71% (12 of 14 projects) and as at the first quarter of 2023, 49 of 79 projects (62%) under implementation are categorized as either GEN or EGM. For the 2023-2026 pipeline, 57 of 84 projects (68%) are projected to be categorized as either GEN or EGM. There are challenges in implementation, monitoring and reporting of project GAPs which include, among others, (i) limited resources and capacity of executing agencies and implementing agencies in implementing GAPs; (ii) lack of prioritization of gender designs by implementing agencies; (iii) limited availability of international and national gender consultants to be engaged to prepare, support, monitor, and report on GAPs; (iv) limited number of targeted or stand-alone gender projects; and (v) lack of systematization in monitoring and reporting of gender equality results by implementing agencies. The Pacific is the region with the lowest availability of SDG-related gender data, with data lacking for more than half of the gender indicators. Sector-specific gender data is also not readily available.

Capacity constraints. While Pacific DMCs have made progress on increasing access to basic education, remaining issues relate to weak learning outcomes, affecting school-to-work transition, and limited employment opportunities. While there is a supply-demand disbalance, with fewer jobs created compared to the number of graduates entering the market annually, finding workers with the right skills is challenging. As recognized in the Pacific Approach (2021-2025), Pacific DMCs are facing capacity constraints due to their small populations and out-migration, as well as limited in-country education and training opportunities. Implementing agencies continuously struggle to fill positions in project implementation offices. Capacity constraints challenge the implementation of ADB-financed development projects, including GAPs.

Innovative approaches for gender mainstreaming. Strategy 2030 and its Operational Plan for Priority 2 emphasize the role of pilot initiatives to try out innovative approaches for gender mainstreaming. This is especially relevant to sectors and/or project modalities that do not lend themselves easily to gender mainstreaming. In addition to the three key sectors of PARD operations, this TA project will explore gender entry points for addressing the digital gender divide in the Pacific and innovative designs for ICT-supported solutions for gender equality and women's empowerment.

Gender and development network in the Pacific region and need for coordinated efforts. The Pacific region has many bilateral and multilateral development partners and a strong history of regional cooperation with numerous regional organizations. Development partner coordination is important to minimize the demands on government and to ensure government priorities are well understood. Existing coordination mechanisms for gender equality and women's empowerment include the UN Women, the SPC-led Gender Coordination Group and the CSO-led Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women. ADB provides coordination support for the PRIF Coordination Office which brings together eight donor organizations supporting infrastructure initiatives in the Pacific; and participates in joint donor technical assistance initiatives such as the PFTAC. However, there is limited engagement between gender equality networks, in particular CSO-led networks, and donor-led regional coordination, funding, and technical assistance mechanisms in ADB priority sectors. The Pacific Energy and Gender Network has been revitalized in 2022 and has established a steering committee and developed an action plan. In 2023, the Pacific Power Association and the World Bank launched the Pacific Women in Power Program which aims to support increased employment of women in the energy sector and will also support networking opportunities. The Pacific Women in Maritime Association is a network for women's empowerment and advancement in the Pacific Maritime sector, and advocates for development and provision of maritime transport services for women in remote communities and women-owned and -led MSMEs.

The TA is included in the current CCGE Work Program and Budget Framework and will support the implementation of the Gender Equality Operational Plan 2019-2024.

Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 2 and SDG 5-related gender equality results in ADB operations improved in Pacific DMCs

Gender equality results in the Pacific DMCs enhanced

Quality of project gender mainstreaming enhanced at entry, and gender measures in gender-mainstreamed projects successfully implemented.

Capacities of sector agencies and partner networks to mainstream gender equality and women's empowerment in sector programs and projects strengthened.

Identification and testing of new approaches on gender mainstreaming supported.

Sector GAD network strengthened and supported