Annex 3 - Summary of PIC9 Regional Gender Action Plan - Gender Inequalities and Priority Areas for WBG Engagement

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Levi

Annex 3 summarizes the PIC9 Regional Gender Action Plan, detailing how women in Pacific countries face persistent gender inequalities in economic opportunities, human capital development, and decision-making leadership roles. It highlights overlapping barriers such as domestic burdens, informal gender stereotypes, and legal constraints, while noting ongoing concerns in maternal health, noncommunicable diseases, and constrained labor force participation. The annex outlines six WBG outcomes to accelerate GBV elimination, expand jobs and economic asset ownership, improve service access, and strengthen women’s participation. It also presents priority actions across energy, transport, water, climate-resilient infrastructure, livelihoods, and financial services, including targets for women’s employment and SEA/SH training.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

Gender Inequalities in the PIC9

Priority Areas for WBG Engagement

Priority Actions in the Current WBG Program

Public Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Annex 3: Summary of PIC9 Regional Gender Action Plan Gender Inequalities in the PIC9 Women in the PIC9 face persistent gender inequalities in access to economic opportunities, human capital development, and participation in decision-making and leadership roles, limiting their full participation in society. The disadvantages experienced by women reflect overlapping and compounding challenges of domestic obligations, informal norms that perpetuate gender stereotypes, and formal institutions such as legal barriers that legitimize inequalities. Despite progress in some areas, maternal health outcomes remain a concern, with high fertility rates and uneven access to skilled birth attendants contributing to maternal mortality rates that exceed global targets in some countries.1 High rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the PIC9, particularly obesity and diabetes, exacerbate both women’s own health burdens and their caregiving responsibilities.2 Labor force participation remains a major challenge, with women 23 percentage points less likely than men to be in the labor force, and those who are employed often holding vulnerable, informal jobs with limited social protection.3 Despite girls outperforming boys in school, women are underrepresented in STEM fields and high-paying technical careers, suggesting a mismatch between the skills women are learning and those demanded in the labor market. Increasing women’s participation in the economy would lead not only to growth in Pacific economies but also to improved household financial stability and more equal participation in decision making.4 Gender-based violence (GBV) is prevalent, with rates of intimate partner violence among the highest in the world, contributing to lost economic productivity and significant societal costs. Climate change exacerbates these inequalities, increasing women’s vulnerability to food insecurity, displacement, and disaster-related risks, while underutilizing their role in resilience planning results in strategies that do not account for their needs or make use of their knowledge. Priority Areas for WBG Engagement The PIC9 Regional Gender Action Plan was developed to support implementation of this RPF. It emphasizes six outcomes: (i) accelerate progress in eliminating GBV; (ii) build and protect human capital; (iii) improve equal access to more and better jobs; (iv) expand ownership and use of economic assets; (v) expand access to and use of services that enable economic participation; and (vi) advance women’s participation, decision making, and leadership. The following table summarizes priority actions in the current WBG program that aim to improve gender equality outcomes and promote long-term growth. Table A3.1: PIC9 RGAP Priority Actions | PROJECT/ASA ACTION | | | --- | --- | | Boost women’s employment in non-traditional sectors (e.g., energy, transport, water) | | | P179022: Pacific Women in Power Program | - Increasing women’s participation in engineering and leadership roles through partnerships with energy utilities and ministries | | P181250: RMI Renewable Energy Generation and Access Increase Project P181253: FSM Access and Renewable Increase for Sustainable Energy Project P144573: Tuvalu Energy Sector Development Project | - Skills development and mentorship for women in the energy sector | | P162938: South Tarawa Water Supply Project<br>P176478: South Tarawa Sanitation Project<br>P165838: Kiribati Outer Islands Transport Infrastructure Investment Project | - Enhancing women’s roles in water management and service delivery<br>- Ensuring 20 percent of employment opportunities are for women and include SEA/SH training | | P177100: Tuvalu MICRO II | - 20 percent female employment | 1 RMI, Palau, Nauru, and Tuvalu lack data. Samoa exceeds targets. World Bank Gender Data Portal. Source: UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, and Demographic and Health Surveys.

FAQs

What key gender inequalities do women in the PIC9 face?

Women face persistent disadvantages in access to economic opportunities, human capital development, and participation in decision-making and leadership roles. These disadvantages are reinforced by domestic obligations, informal gender norms, and formal legal barriers.

Why are maternal health and noncommunicable diseases a concern in the PIC9?

Maternal health outcomes remain a concern due to high fertility rates and uneven access to skilled birth attendants. Noncommunicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes increase both women’s health burdens and their caregiving responsibilities.

What are the six outcomes emphasized in the PIC9 Regional Gender Action Plan?

The plan emphasizes six outcomes: accelerate progress in eliminating GBV; build and protect human capital; improve equal access to more and better jobs; expand ownership and use of economic assets; expand access to and use of services enabling economic participation; and advance women’s participation, decision-making, and leadership.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Levi