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 Samoa, early outcome-level progress is evidenced through strengthened institutional readiness and professional judgement among duty-bearers and service providers engaged in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG). These changes indicate improved preparedness to support gender-responsive, survivor-centred service delivery and coordination, strengthening the enabling conditions for more equitable access to essential services for women and girls, particularly those facing heightened risk of exclusion. Through sequenced capacity strengthening under Impact 2 (EVAWG), national actors have begun to demonstrate enhanced coordination readiness and clearer role definition. In 2025, Samoa adopted an operationally grounded Action Plan to guide implementation of the Pola Puipui National Prevention Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls. The Action Plan provides a clarified and sequenced implementation pathway for national prevention efforts and strengthens linkages between prevention priorities, institutional roles, and coordination mechanisms. In parallel, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) strengthened its operational readiness for prevention coordination through the establishment of a National Prevention Coordination function, supporting clearer internal role clarity and planning for prevention and early intervention linkages. At the frontline level, service providers and designated focal points have demonstrated improved understanding and confidence to apply survivor-centred concepts and minimum service standards following Essential Services training. Pre- and post-training assessments indicate improved understanding of survivor-centred principles, minimum service standards, and greater clarity on referral pathways and coordination roles. These changes are best understood as strengthened preparedness and professional judgement, rather than confirmed changes in service delivery practice. Outcome-level progress is reflected in: Adoption of a gender-responsive Action Plan for implementation of the Pola Puipui National Prevention Framework, providing a structured and operational roadmap for coordinated, survivor-centred prevention efforts across sectors. strengthened institutional coordination readiness within MWCSD, including the presence of a dedicated prevention coordination function and prevention workplanning; strengthened frontline readiness and professional judgement, with improved understanding of survivor autonomy, safety, informed consent, minimum service standards, and referral/coordination roles, as indicated by pre- and post-training assessments; and increased availability of localised learning and communication resources, including delivery in the Samoan language, supporting national actors’ ability to communicate and reinforce survivor-centred concepts in culturally and linguistically accessible ways. These changes do not constitute evidence of population-level improvements in access or service quality. However, the formal adoptoin of a revised national prevention Action Plan represents a concrete institutional commitment to operationalising survivor-centred and gender-transformative prevention approaches within Samoa’s national policy architecture. The outcome reflects a Leave No One Behind and human rights-based orientation by strengthening duty-bearers’ readiness to uphold survivor rights in service interactions, including autonomy, informed consent, safety, and non-discrimination. The focus on minimum service standards, role clarity, and referral pathways supports conditions that can reduce risks of exclusion and secondary harm, particularly for women and girls facing intersecting vulnerabilities, including those in informal livelihoods, rural settings, and crisis contexts. Localisation of learning and communication in the Samoan language also supports reduced linguistic barriers to understanding service pathways and rights. This outcome contributes to progress towards SDG 5.2.1 by strengthening the institutional and service-system enablers associated with effective prevention and response to intimate partner violence, including through the adoption of a revised national prevention Action Plan aligned with global norms and standards. Improved readiness among duty-bearers and service providers, including improved understanding of survivor-centred approaches, minimum service standards, and coordination/referral roles, supports the longer-term conditions required for safe and appropriate access to support, without claiming changes in violence prevalence. The outcome also contributes to SDG 16.1 by strengthening prevention coordination functions and service-system preparedness that support broader efforts to reduce violence and harm, consistent with the intent of SDG 16.1, while not asserting direct reductions in violence rates. UN Women, through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, contributed to this outcome by providing technical guidance, capacity-building support, and accompaniment to national institutions and service providers. This included support to strengthen prevention coordination functions, deliver Essential Services training with embedded assessment tools, and localise survivor-centred learning and communication resources to support ongoing national use beyond the reporting period. The Pacific Partnership is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the European Union.

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]

National Prevention Framework for Ending Gender-Based Violence In October 2024, Samoa launched its first National Prevention Framework for Ending Gender-Based Violence (Pola Puipui Framework) during the Commonwealth Women's Forum. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development developed this framework with UN Women's support. It establishes a 10-year agenda grounded in principles of kindness, care, respect, and dignity. The framework addresses four essential domains: prevention, survivor-centred response services, perpetrator accountability, and strengthening prevention infrastructure. It targets harmful gender norms, structures, and practices at individual, community, and societal levels in response to the National Human Rights Institute's 2018 study on family violence in Samoa. Implementation planning for the next four years focuses on practical initiatives, including: Framework rollout across institutions Enhancement of survivor services through Inter-Agency Essential Services Guidelines Scaling up of prevention programs Facilitating regional knowledge exchange between Samoa and Pacific Partnership countries This policy foundation is strengthened through practical community engagement during the 2024 16 Days of Activism campaign. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development and Lakapi Samoa jointly led this campaign under the theme 'Let It End With Me.'" Social Norm Change Through Rugby Lakapi Samoa's approach to gender equality integrates violence prevention into existing cultural frameworks and sports networks. Rugby functions as a social bridge creating multiple entry points to reach diverse segments of Samoan society. This method balances Fa'a Samoa (the traditional Samoan way of being) with modern leadership principles, demonstrating how cultural preservation and women's empowerment can coexist harmoniously. The multi-dimensional engagement strategy implemented during the 16 Days of Activism produced several outcomes: Young women emerged as visible leaders in traditionally male-dominated spaces High school students gained practical safeguarding skills Men transitioned from passive bystanders to active allies Traditional male leaders ('Alii') began reframing their cultural roles toward family protection The impact of this work extends far beyond direct participants through natural diffusion networks, as young female advocates influence their peers, families, and communities. Cross-sector collaboration between government ministries, sports organizations, and civil society groups has been established, breaking down institutional silos and creating a more effective system for addressing gender inequality. The Rugby for All Festival provided a practical demonstration of these principles in action, with women's teams actively participating and challenging traditional gender roles. Rugby serves as both a metaphorical and literal field for practicing new social norms around respect, inclusion, and non-violence. The active participation of volunteers, families, and schools throughout the event reinforced and amplified the core messages of inclusion and safety. This culturally compatible approach to social norm change has established sustainable pathways that respect local context while advancing gender equality goals across Samoan society. This dual approach of policy framework implementation alongside community-based engagement creates a comprehensive strategy for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in Samoa. It moves steadily toward the 2027 outcome goal of more equitable access to gender-responsive services and protection systems for those most at risk of being left behind. Both initiatives, supported by the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, demonstrate Samoa's commitment to creating lasting change. They promote community-wide engagement in non-violent conflict resolution across homes, schools, churches, and communities.

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