outcome XM-DAC-41146-TON_D_1.1

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 strengthening Tonga's institutional capacity for gender-responsive service delivery and social protection, coordinated multi-stakeholder engagement reached 150 government officials and 48 representatives across government, civil society organizations, and the private sector. The National Planners Forum of Tonga from January to February 2024 marked a pivotal shift in institutional approaches to gender mainstreaming, as the Women's Affairs and Gender Equality Division collaborated with the Prime Minister's Office to integrate gender considerations into corporate planning processes. This engagement demonstrates a transformation in institutional performance, moving from siloed approaches to systematic gender mainstreaming across government sectors. Building on this foundation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs led a comprehensive review of the Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality Tonga Policy implementation in May 2024, specifically identifying gaps in gender-based violence prevention and response mechanisms. This process exemplified meaningful participation of both rights holders and duty bearers, as stakeholders across sectors engaged in examining national frameworks' alignment with regional gender equality commitments. The subsequent three-day national consultation in June deepened this work through focused discussions across six thematic areas, including ending violence against women, paying particular attention to addressing barriers faced by marginalized groups in accessing services, including stigma and stereotypes. A notable behavioural change emerged as duty bearers, particularly within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, moved from viewing gender policy implementation as a standalone initiative to integrating it across all frameworks. This shift in institutional approach demonstrates an evolution in power dynamics, with government agencies actively seeking input from traditionally marginalized voices, including women and those from remote communities. The initiative's institutional impact is evidenced by the Ministry's adoption of systematic monitoring tools, initially tested through the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration framework. This standardization is expected to improve service delivery tracking and responsiveness, particularly in addressing gender-based violence, with mechanisms now extending beyond direct beneficiaries to influence broader national systems. The collaborative efforts have yielded concrete institutional outputs, including draft national reports for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and documentation for the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women. The initiative's gender-responsive approach addressed structural barriers through gender analysis and mainstreaming, incorporating intersectional analysis of how different groups experience access to services. This work directly contributes to the Pacific UNSCF People Pillar by strengthening national systems for equitable service delivery, particularly in addressing gender-based violence and establishing monitoring mechanisms that ensure sustained attention to quality and accessibility of basic services. The Women's Affairs and Gender Equality Division and Prime Minister's Office of Tonga provided strategic oversight, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs led implementation. UN Women delivered technical and financial support, complemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and The Pacific Community's regional coordination expertise.