Outcome WSM_D_2.1

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

In 2024, Samoa made strides toward ensuring more equitable access to resilient, gender-responsive services, particularly focusing on those at risk of being left behind. These efforts centered on strengthening prevention and response systems for gender-based violence through comprehensive policy frameworks, enhanced institutional capacities, and innovative community engagement strategies. A cornerstone achievement was the launch of Samoa's first National Prevention Framework for Ending Gender-Based Violence (Pola Puipui Framework) in October 2024. This landmark initiative, developed through extensive consultations with diverse stakeholders, reached 2,854 individuals across communities, demonstrating strong commitment to inclusive participation. The framework particularly emphasized reaching marginalized populations, incorporating specific needs of women, girls, youth, and persons with disabilities in its design and implementation strategies. The framework's development exemplified meaningful participation through its 'Made in Samoa for Samoa' approach, engaging women's rights advocates, civil society organizations, government agencies, traditional governance bodies, and community members from all walks of life. This participatory process ensured that traditionally excluded voices shaped the policies affecting their lives, while addressing structural barriers to access and participation. Institutional performance showed marked improvement through enhanced coordination between government agencies and civil society organizations. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) demonstrated strengthened capacity to implement gender-responsive service delivery, successfully coordinating the nationwide distribution of the Inter-Agency Essential Services Guide in both English and Samoan languages. This bilingual approach ensured linguistic accessibility, particularly benefiting rural and traditional communities. Behavioral changes were evidenced through increased male engagement in violence prevention. The Male Advocacy Workshop engaged traditional male leaders ('Alii') in redefining their roles from positions of authority to facilitators of service access, indicating evolving social norms and power dynamics. This transformation was particularly visible in the sports sector, where Lakapi Samoa effectively integrated gender equality principles into community programs. Through their strategic programming during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Lakapi Samoa is catalysing behavioural changes across multiple community levels. Their Young Leaders Forum empowered women aged 15-25 to challenge gender norms while respecting cultural contexts, while their comprehensive safeguarding training equipped high school students with practical tools for violence prevention and effective communication. The "Rugby For All" Festival visibly challenged traditional gender roles by showcasing women's participation in rugby, contributing to shifting community perceptions. These initiatives, reaching 2,854 participants through the Get into Rugby PLUS program, demonstrated how sports can effectively catalyse broader social transformation, particularly in addressing gender-based discrimination and violence. These initiatives demonstrated strong protection and safety measures through standardized protocols for gender-based violence response services, coordinating health facilities, police stations, and social service providers. The Inter-Agency Essential Services Guide established clear referral pathways, ensuring consistent, survivor-centered care that particularly benefits marginalized women and girls. Gender responsiveness was embedded throughout all activities, from policy development to implementation. The framework specifically addressed harmful gender norms, structures, and practices across individual, community, and societal levels. Gender-based violence was tackled through comprehensive prevention strategies, including youth leadership programs, community sports initiatives, and male advocacy workshops. Transformative change was evident in several areas: institutional reforms strengthened service delivery systems, community engagement strategies challenged traditional gender roles, and policy frameworks addressed root causes of inequality. The initiative's comprehensive approach ensured changes extended beyond direct beneficiaries to impact broader community systems. These achievements significantly contribute to the Pacific UNSCF People Pillar by strengthening inclusive service delivery systems while promoting women's meaningful participation in decision-making. The combined approach of high-level policy framework implementation alongside community-based engagement demonstrates effective strategies for advancing equitable access to essential services in Samoa. Executing Partners: The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development led implementation with technical support from UN Women through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, coordinating with multiple stakeholders including Lakapi Samoa, Soul Talk, and various civil society organizations.

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

This Outcome is on track. In 2023, Samoa achieved notable progress in addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality, as evidenced by institutional and societal changes. The development and forthcoming 2024 adoption of the National Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls Framework (NPF) underscore this commitment. The Ministry of Women Community and Social Development (MWCSD) led the NPF's creation, drawing on the 2018 National Public Inquiry into Family Violence Report. The NPF distinguishes itself with its holistic approach, focusing on prevention, providing survivor- centred response services, holding perpetrators accountable, and strengthening prevention infrastructure. Notably, it aims to support transformative shifts in gender and social norms and related practices and behaviours which are at the root of violence against women and girls . The framework's development process, inclusive of diverse stakeholders from civil society to traditional governance bodies, reflects a commitment to a culturally tailored and collective approach. The NPF's comprehensive approach encompasses prevention, survivor-centered response services, perpetrator accountability, and infrastructure strengthening to address gender norms and stereotypes. UN Women offered technical assistance as well as support in the reviewing of the Framework prior to its finalisation. The integration of the Get Into Rugby (GIR) Plus Programme in schools has fostered positive shifts in gender equality and violence prevention attitudes in school environments. The programme's training components have not only improved safety and protection practices in schools but survey results from the programme show improvements in student behaviors and attitudes, including a 47% to 70% increase in standing up against gender stereotypes and a unanimous recognition of the Child Helpline for support. The GIR Plus Programme uses the IESG (referral pathway for access to Service Providers) in its trainings, increasing participants knowledge of services available and confidence on how to refer people to GBV services in Samoa. This initiative demonstrates an integrated approach to embedding gender equality principles across educational and social environments. UN Women supports GIR Rugby Plus with technical and financial support. Moreover, the MWCSD has enhanced support services for gender-based violence survivors with the 2021 launch of the Inter-agency Essential Services Guide (IESG). This guide improves structured support, delineating services and referral pathways. Training for service providers, part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, reached 1,300 individuals, 61.5% of whom were female, emphasizing a survivor-centered approach and equipping participants with essential skills for support and referral navigation. UN Women contributed technical assistance to presenters and funding for the training activities. The ToC and strategy remains unchanged for 2024. These initiatives collectively represents Samoa's dedication to a collaborative, culturally sensitive, and survivor-centered approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG), setting a precedent for comprehensive and coordinated actions which support the well being, safety and empowerment of women and girls