Opening of the Gender & Climate Finance Training in Nadi: Advancing Equitable Green Growth in the Pacific

Nadi, Fiji — Women and girls across the Pacific are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, yet their knowledge, needs and leadership remain underrepresented in climate finance decision-making. This week, representatives from 16 Pacific Island countries convened for a regional workshop focused on strengthening the capacity of governments to integrate gender considerations into climate finance and project design in Nadi from 25 to 27 November.

The Regional Capacity Strengthening Workshop on Gender Integration into Climate Finance in the Pacific is jointly convened by the Fiji Ministry for Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the NDC Partnership and UN Women, with support from the Government of Canada.

During the opening event, Eseta Nadakuitavuki, Permanent Secretary for the Fiji MWCSP, emphasized the urgency of gender integration in climate policy, stating, “Climate change is not gender neutral. Disasters are not gender neutral. Therefore, climate finance cannot be gender neutral.”

She continued, “For climate finance to reach those who need it most, gender must be integrated from the start, not as an add-on, not as a paragraph at the end, but as the foundation of project design.”

The Forum represents a bold step forward in ensuring that women are included in the design, delivery and benefits of climate finance and green‑growth projects. It also affirms Fiji’s leadership in the Pacific region in championing gender‑responsive climate investment.

Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia, Pacific Regional Director for the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), reinforced the importance of inclusive approaches to climate finance, “As more climate finance becomes available, we must ensure our systems, institutions and people are ready and that they are designed in ways that reach those who need them the most,” he said.

At the event, participants will engage in high‑level panels and interactive sessions to explore key issues including integrating gender metrics into climate‑finance instruments; designing green‑growth strategies that empower women entrepreneurs; leveraging private capital for gender‑inclusive climate projects; and building institutional capacity to track gender outcomes in climate investments.

The opening of the workshop also coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. UN Women Fiji MCO Representative Alison Davidian used the moment to highlight the leadership role of women in climate solutions. 

“If we don’t get climate finance right, we risk failing women, communities and the very future we claim to be protecting. And the conditions that make the 16 Days necessary will deepen, especially for women across the Pacific whose daily lives are already shaped by climate shocks,” said Ms Davidian.

The Gender and Climate Finance Forum also features regional case studies and private‑sector showcases, highlighting how Pacific Island governments, donors and companies are co‑creating climate‑smart solutions that center women and girls. 

NDC Partnership Director of Knowledge and Learning, Amanda Mckee said: "The NDC Partnership continues to demonstrate that committing to gender equality in climate action offers a proven pathway to ensure climate efforts are sustainable over the long-term. Innovative, gender-responsive climate solutions are emerging across our membership, resulting in prioritization of gender in project planning, cross-government strategy documents and whole-of-government capacity building efforts.” 

By the close of the Forum, participants aim to adopt a shared roadmap to scale gender‑responsive climate‑finance pipelines in Fiji and the broader Pacific region. The roadmap is aimed at mobilizing new capital, improves access for women‑led initiatives and ensures transparent, gender‑accountable investment.