8 March 2026, International Women’s Day – Despite women playing a critical role in household and community-level waste management across the Pacific, they remain drastically underrepresented in the formal waste management workforce and in leadership positions. Marking the first concrete step towards addressing this gap was the Pacific Women in Circular Economy (PacWiCE) Network Introductory Workshop hosted in Fiji.
"Women play a significant role in managing waste at the household and community level across our Pacific region. Yet, despite this important contribution, women remain drastically underrepresented in the formal waste management sector and, more critically, in leadership positions where decisions are made and policies are shaped,” said Ms Kritika Raj, Principal Environment Officer from Fiji's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
“This is not just about equity—though equity matters. This is about effectiveness. How can we solve our waste management challenges when we exclude women from the decision-making table?"
The PacWiCE network's core purpose is to recognise and enhance women's leadership roles in the waste management and pollution control sector, support professional development and career advancement, and advocate for gender equality in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Following endorsement of PacWiCE by the 32nd SPREP Meeting of Officials in 2025 SPREP convened the inaugural workshop bringing together GEF ISLANDS Pacific technical focal points, Cleaner Pacific Roundtable Steering Committee members, and representatives from the Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA) and Fiji Women in Maritime Association (FijiWIMA) from across the Pacific island region.
Mr. Anthony Talouli, Waste Management and Pollution Control Director of SPREP, highlights the critical need to address gender disparities in the sector.
Available data from Samoa shows that women represent only 25.4% of workers in the water supply, sewerage and waste management sector, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in these fields across the Pacific region.
"This initiative acknowledges the critical role that women play in achieving a cleaner Pacific and addresses the need to empower women in waste management and pollution control sector across our Blue Pacific,” said Mr. Talouli.
“We must remember why we are here, to set up this PacWiCE network to support women and girls to access opportunities and resources to reach their full potential.”
Building on proposals endorsed at the SPREP Meeting 32 in 2025, PacWiCE's strategic goals include promoting leadership, enhancing visibility through storytelling and media engagement, strengthening professional development through training and mentorship, creating inclusive policies, and fostering economic participation through women-owned businesses and partnerships within the waste management sector.
Delegates returning home will confirm their focal points who will serve as primary PacWiCE contacts in their respective countries, linking national initiatives with regional priorities and ensuring sustained network operation.
“We are honoured to contribute Fiji WIMA’s maritime story as a panelist at the PacWiCE Network workshop hosted by SPREP. May this new network empower collaboration and steer the Pacific toward a resilient and sustainable future., said Ms Jane Koi, Association President, Women In Maritime (Fiji).
The PacWiCE Network provides a platform for sustained regional collaboration among Pacific women in circular economy professionals, with implementation of coordinated capacity-building initiatives to begin once focal points are confirmed in the coming months.
The PacWiCE workshop was strategically scheduled alongside the Cleaner Pacific Roundtable Steering Committee Meeting to maximise the presence of national waste management directors and technical focal points, demonstrating SPREP's commitment to integrated regional approaches to environmental sustainability and gender equality.
The Pacific Women in Circular Economy (PacWiCE) Network Introductory Workshop facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) was held on 3 March 2026 in Fiji. It was attended by Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati (virtual), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as the Fiji Women in Maritime Association FijiWIMA, Pacific Community (SPC), and Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA). This activity was the culmination of a partnership between the FijiWIMA, the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries Phase III (J-PRISM III), SPREP, SPC, and PacWIMA.
Magnifying International Women’s Day 2026 this year, SPREP is amplifying Pacific Voices through a range of activities under the Give to Gain banner across a two-week period. We look forward to working with Members and partners to echo the voices and work of our Pacific Women as we unify to address the triple planetary crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and waste and pollution. Let’s continue to Give to Gain, together.
Lead Image: Stock photo SPREP