Women in Leadership in Samoa 

Objectives

Fund scope

The Women in Leadership in Samoa Joint Programme recognizes that despite significant advances in promoting and addressing gender equality in Samoa, enduring systemic, institutional, cultural, attitudinal, and financial barriers prevent women from engaging effectively in decision making roles at all levels of society. To overcome these challenges the programme builds on, and reinforces, progress made by taking the additional step of strengthening women’s leadership—targeting women, young, emerging women leaders, and potential candidates for the 2021 elections.  

Through robust partnerships and networks, advocacy and outreach, civic awareness, and capacity building the Joint Programme increases civic awareness on the need for inclusive women’s participation and representation in public processes. Initiatives support Members of Parliament in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and 2030 Agenda, and also motivate women to exercise leadership functions in their communities, and engage on gender equality and development issues.  

Theory of change 

This pooled fund mechanism is underpinned by a strong theory change developed through a broad consultative process. Consultations and research led to the formulation of activities and partnerships centered around four main outputs—all of which are designed to lead to the long-term outcomes of strengthening women’s leadership and gender equality in Samoa. Each identified driver corresponds to a set of activities grouped under the four outputs.  

The Women in Leadership programme applies a multi-faceted and long-term approach to building leadership pathways for women. It included designing and making use of village and national governance mechanisms; endorsing national policies; establishing legislative and institutional arrangements; and launching campaigns to raise awareness about the significant role women can play in political decision making processes in Samoa. 

Collaboration between government agencies, the United Nations, local organizations committed to promoting and supporting leadership in Samoa, the private sector, and local civil society groups is integral to extending the outreach of the programme to as many communities as possible. 

Governance

Governance arrangements

Steering Committee 

Provides strategic guidance and oversight on programme implementation. The Committee is responsible for making consensus-based management decisions concerning programme issues and risks, and provides advice and guidance to the Project Manager. Approval of significant project revisions and the Annual Work Plan are central roles of the Steering Committee. Furthermore, the Steering Committee is used to leverages partnerships and mobilize resources for initiative implementation.  

Project Advisory Group 

Responsible for providing guidance to the Steering Committee. The Project Advisory Group discusses and explores contextual aspects related to Samoan culture and way of life, including innovative approaches to mitigate risks and further build on procedures already in place.  

The Project Advisory Group is also a mechanism for leveraging partnerships, and collecting perceptions and ideas from individuals who have experience with women’s leadership in Samoa—this includes past and current Members of Parliament, past and current candidates, community and church leaders, central stakeholders, and women representatives. 

Secretariat 

Comprised of a Project Manager, Project Officer, and Communication Officer, the Women in Leadership in Samoa Joint Programme Secretariat supports the Steering Committee and Project Advisory Groups, and oversees day-to-day work on financing, programme co-ordination, and monitoring and reporting.  

Administrative Agent 

Funds are routed by way of a pass-through mechanism. Participating Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Participating Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors.  

Participating Organizations 

Programme implementation is the responsibility of Participating Organizations. Each organization is programmatically and financially responsible for resources received. 

Projects

Women in Leadership in Samoa

Women in Leadership in Samoa is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

Women in Leadership in Samoa

Results

The Women in Leadership in Samoa Joint Programme increases civic awareness on the need for inclusive women’s participation and representation in public processes through partnership building, inclusive networks, advocacy and outreach, and civic awareness. Initiatives support the national operationalization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and 2030 Agenda, and also motivate women to engage on gender equality and development issues.  

Contacts

Points of contact