Outcome WSM_D_1.2

Women are perceived as equally legitimate and effective political leaders as men (FPI WPEL Outcome 3)

Women are increasingly being perceived as equally legitimate and effective political leaders as men in Samoa. This is evident from the following: 1. During the 2021 national elections, 6 women (10%) have been elected into parliament including Samoa’s first ever Prime minster Fiame Naomi Mataafa. 2. It was equally important to see women minsters taking on key portfolios just as Hon.Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana who is the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration and Hon Hon. Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana who is the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration. 3. Within Public and Private sector , women are gaining a stronger foothold and acquiring important leadership skills to influence positive change within their workplaces and communities [See report attached] 4. At community level, women are working alongside youths successfully convene and engage with their village governance systems to address issues such as gender-based violence, discrimination against women married into the village, teenage violence, youth unemployment and so on. [ see report attached for examples]

Women are perceived as equally legitimate and effective political leaders as men (FPI WPEL Outcome 3)

There has been significant progress over the year in terms of recognizing women's leadership potential in some areas while ongoing effort is still needed in other areas of leadership where the barriers affecting women's participation and leadership in decision making is still very pronounced. At national level, since 2021, there has been significant progress with six women being part of National Legislative Assembly including first ever female Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. There has also been a thirty three percent increase of women directors in public boards in 2021 from twenty nine percent in 2020. However, in terms of community/village level governance, women's leadership potential continues to be gendered and pigeonholed into certain sectors such as village beautification projects and participation in church groups and women's committees. As of 2020, women make up only twenty two percent of the registered Matai (traditional title of leadership) and hold forty four percent of representation in village councils ( fono ). Through the Women in Leadership (WILS) project (2018-2022), more communities and diverse range of stakeholders in Samoa viapublic media campaigns, community outreach and research have better understanding of their civic roles and responsibilities, importance of women's political participation and a deeper understanding of the leadership challenges and opportunities for Samoan women. This was made through interventions supported by UN Women in 2022 in the final year of the WILS project: Twenty three Media practitioners (14 Females and 9 males) from twenty media organizations are now applying gender sensitive media reporting practices to effectivity promote and feature women leaders and gender issues without perpetuating gender biases and stereotypes. Communities including women from fifty one electoral constituencies are exercising their civic responsibilities and rights by actively engaging with Office of the Elections Commission (OEC) on electoral matters. Public are better informed on importance of voting and how to engage with OEC on electoral matters thorough the media public campaigns by Office of the Elections . Development Stakeholders, government and public now have evidence-based information available for informed policy and action via the Leadership pathways for Samoan Women research report published by WILS. .The above work has been greatly supported by and by various stakeholders including media organizations and networks, Office of the Elections commission, as well as hundred forty five individuals including fifty one leaders across six societal levels: village, parliament, government, business sector, women-led organizations who were part of the research on leadership pathways for women in Samoa. Since its implementation in 2018, twenty three female candidates, ninety nine emerging young women leaders, thirty four women directors from public sector, seven hundred fifty nine females from seventy five village districts and four hundred thirty two women from women's committees have developed their leadership skills, potential and capacities through the UNDP and UNW joint programme on women in leadership in Samoa. Supporting work around women's leadership and the theory of change continues to be relevant for Samoa and the Pacific which has lowest levels of representation of women across all levels of decision making. The closure of WILS project will leave a huge gap in terms of the sustained continuous effort needed particularly by current and aspiring women leaders who need support to navigate through complex social, political and economic dynamics as part of their leadership journeys. Some of the key lessons learned includes the influential role that media can play in promoting women's leadership capacities and shifting public perception on who can be a leader. The research on women's leadership reveals the need to share stories of success and new and diverse pathways to leadership that are emerging in Samoa for women as well as enlist allies and advocates to tackled barriers. There is also a gap in terms of specifically engaging women with disabilities and young women in leadership opportunities. Another important lesson is the need to support under resourced partners such as Office of the Elections Commission in its advocacy and outreach in relation of ensuring women's civic and political participation in the electoral process. Overall, WILS project has contributed immensely towards supporting women's leadership in Samoa since 2018 to 2022 and this will be further expanded in the end of project evaluation report for the project which is currently being finalized.