Achieving equitable participation across genders is crucial for successful local natural resource management and climate resilience, but it is admittedly difficult in practice. In our case study of the Arnavon Community Marine Park (ACMP) in Solomon Islands, we tell the story of the KAWAKI Women’s Group and discuss promising practices for intentionally including all genders in MPA management and climate adaptation.

Solomon Islands has some of the highest rates of sea-level rise in the world, and shorelines exposed to higher wave energy have experienced accelerated coastal erosion. The rapid changes to shorelines as well as other climate impacts have affected coastal communities, and women often experience higher burdens as a result. This is true across much of the Pacific due to social and gender norms around resource management and caretaking roles. For example, some coastal communities have already had to relocate due to storms and floods, causing many women to paddle longer distances to reach their gardens for food production or travel further for fresh water.

The opportunity for women to actively participate in decision-making around these resources is often limited (see Appendix 1 for more context on gender and challenges for Solomon Islands). For example, management of marine areas that affect the health and fishing rights of inshore reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, where women often gather food for the family, is often decided by men.

Without intentional efforts to include all genders in MPA management, often only the most powerful or dominant demographic will be represented by default. In Solomon Islands and many coastal communities, this dominant group is men.

In most coastal communities, women use and understand marine resources differently. MPA managers and planners who ignore gender and power differences risk supporting management decisions that do not benefit women or, even worse, unintentionally put women’s livelihoods and safety at risk. In the context of building climate change resilience, ensuring gender equity in marine natural resource management is more important than ever.

The birth and ongoing development of KAWAKI

Women are often excluded from formal MPA management in Solomon Islands. Women were almost absent from the development and management of the country’s first nationally declared marine park in the Arnavon Islands, the Arnavon Community Marine Park (ACMP), until the formation of KAWAKI in 2016. (See Appendix 2 for the history of the ACMP).

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) partnered with local women to create and operate KAWAKI, a Solomon Islands women’s group dedicated to conservation in the Arnavons. The idea for KAWAKI came from Marilyn Gedi, a resident of the Kia community and Solomon Islands’ first female police officer. According to Gedi, “Men do not think as women, and women do not think as men – and so we should all be involved. Our vision for KAWAKI is to unite women from communities to celebrate community, conservation, and culture. The KAWAKI women will raise awareness about the importance of the Arnavons, looking after our natural environment and culture to build a better future for our children and communities.”

Marilyn Gedi, first chair of KAWAKI, leading a meeting in a community surrounding the MPA. Copyright by TNC. Photograph by Regina Lepping. Reproduced with permission.

Many local women have never been to the Arnavons despite the islands’ close proximity to their homes in the nearby villages of Katupika, Wagina and Kia. During early education and awareness efforts, it became clear that many women were largely unaware of the decades-long history of conservation efforts. They felt excluded and keen to be involved in both the conservation and management of the park. They also saw the impacts of climate change, logging, mining and overfishing in their communities and were eager to develop awareness programmes for community members and children on the importance of addressing these threats.

Women in the three communities are also very interested in engaging with the emerging tourism sector. Over 90% of tourism income in Solomon Islands is generated by women, representing significant potential for women-led cultural and nature-based tourism as global economies begin to recover.

Through extensive finance and governance training, funded by TNC, along with training and pro bono mentorship from a lawyer, KAWAKI members have been able to develop a mission statement, constitution and governance strategy. Members of KAWAKI have consulted with the rangers and ACMP board since their founding. With support from TNC and government ministries, they have now been invited to join the ACMP board, which oversees conservation and development projects in the park.

The women are serious about erasing historical divisions, challenging gender norms and making their mark on conservation. “KAWAKI unites us,” says Lavinia Pupuru, executive member of KAWAKI and a Katupika community member. “A lot of women with their hands together can do big things.”

The women have also developed an awareness programme, which is used in community meetings and the classroom to help surrounding communities understand more about climate change impacts, the ACMP and the importance of sustainable resource management (see Figure 2). It has taken several years to gradually shift the role of KAWAKI from primarily caregivers (caterers) and communicators, to experts who can consult on conservation and MPA management. However, conservation decision-making power is still sensitive for men. As of 2021, conservation work is being divided into marine and terrestrial efforts – KAWAKI, TNC and rangers are completing the first new terrestrial survey in 30 years. The women will shift their focus to terrestrial conservation while building overall science capacity and skills.

“We as women may be shy to speak, or seem to be afraid to be involved, but we have something on our mind that we want to share too, especially when it comes to matters of land, environment and our resources. So, even if we are shy or afraid or ‘no save toktok’, provide a safe space for us to speak so that you will hear this silent, soft spoken voice.”

- Selina Lonamei, President of Mothers Union Isabel and member of KAWAKI

“Women often don’t have a strong voice in decision making around our natural resources – we are just left in the kitchens and there we would stay.”

- Moira Dasipio, Kia community and KAWAKI member

KAWAKI women providing community awareness on climate change and marine management. Sessions are held at night so women can attend after they finish daily household work. Copyright by TNC. Photograph by Regina Lepping. Reproduced with permission.

Interventions that work and practical tips

Involving women in climate and MPA management in Arnavons has been a challenge. At the same time, investing in the social side of MPA management can support long-term success, equitable outcomes and improved well-being of local people and nature. TNC has applied several strategies with KAWAKI and the ACMP, and learned a few practical tips along the way that can be applied to other MPA management and climate adaptation contexts.

Community women should guide the pace of change 

The idea for KAWAKI came from the women themselves, and TNC supported this effort. Rather than pushing ahead quickly to disrupt traditional gender norms, KAWAKI focused on gaining access to Arnavons through providing catering services to visitors, rangers and research groups visiting the islands (Figure 3). This meant that women could visit the park in a way that didn’t threaten the men.

If this gender inclusion work happens too quickly, men can feel uncomfortable with changing gender roles. This may become evident through men:

Challenging social and cultural norms that limit women’s participation takes time and should happen in incremental stages. In the Arnavons, ocean work like turtle tracking remains dominated by men, but women are beginning to explore the management of terrestrial ecosystems. This presents a unique opportunity to build something new, from the ground up, with women at the forefront leading on science, strategy and execution.

KAWAKI and MPA rangers working together. KAWAKI first provided catering for the park and increasingly are becoming involved in conservation, at the pace of the women and the men. Copyright by TNC. Reproduced with permission.

Invest in deep understanding before taking action

TNC undertook a gender analysis to understand the opportunities and barriers for women in Solomon Islands and organized many meetings and evaluations, with all genders, to understand the changing context. As discussed, barriers include strongly entrenched gender norms which prevent women being involved in leadership and decision-making, as well as training and paid opportunities. We recommend undertaking a gender analysis and/or situational analysis before commencing any work on MPAs, but it can also be conducted at any stage to better inform the effort.

IUCN produced an updated Gender Analysis Guide in 2021, which includes questions on gender-based violence (GBV) as well as a list of gender-disaggregated data resources. Care International also has a gender toolkit with support for gender analysis and promising practices.

Provide training opportunities for women and compensate them for their time

To ensure KAWAKI’s efforts were sustainable and effective, TNC worked with local facilitators to create finance and governance training opportunities for the women, many of whom lacked access to professional education. TNC also established a mentorship relationship between KAWAKI members and a pro bono lawyer to help create a mission statement, constitution and governance strategy. This work has been ongoing for several years.

Often, women are expected to attend training opportunities, undertake community awareness and perform other activities in a voluntary capacity, whereas men are paid as rangers and boat operators. Women often attend meetings and training at the expense of gardening/collecting food for their families. Their family goes hungry and/or their husbands become angry if they come home empty-handed.

Rangers (men) and executive members of the ACMP board (men) have been paid for their attendance at meetings for many years. KAWAKI women mentioned lack of payment as one of the biggest barriers to their participation, so ensuring the group is paid for all training and meetings is a priority.

TNC and the KAWAKI executive have worked together to develop protocols on daily rates for different participation, from organizing meetings to undertaking training. This rate is then agreed and made public by KAWAKI so everyone knows what to expect. TNC staff pay in cash, but are working to help women access telephone banking to make this payment easier and to ensure KAWAKI as an organization can manage this process without TNC.

In September 2021, KAWAKI hosted its first official annual general meeting, in which members voted to confirm updates to its constitution and elect new executive members (Figure 4). All participants were paid.

Strong governance helps women participate in MPA management. KAWAKI women vote for their executive in a secret ballot in 2021. Copyright by TNC. Photograph by Regina Lepping. Reproduced with permission.

Ensure there is external, institutional support

Women staff, at TNC as well as in national government ministries, were essential in demonstrating public support for the KAWAKI women’s involvement in MPA management, including their position on the ACMP Management Board and climate resilience activities. External champions can play a key role in helping women in communities understand and navigate barriers to their participation. For example, women staff at higher levels at TNC have advocated for funding and resources to support KAWAKI. External, institutional support also helps women’s groups build agency and legitimacy.

Actively reduce participation risks for women

Women often face serious risk when engaging in conservation, particularly when their involvement is a new experience for the community. MPA management plans should include both mixed-gender and women-only spaces to allow for safe participation options.

Women may face backlash and retaliation (including physical violence and psychological abuse) from spouses and family members who express feelings of jealousy or anger resulting from a new dynamic where women have more power and opportunities.

As part of our approach to address this risk, we designed women-only forums and spaces so that women can develop skills, capacity and knowledge without additional threat of violence (see Figure 5). MPA practitioners should consider the context-specific risks associated with any interventions.

Women of KAWAKI developing management actions and ideas in a women-only space to encourage participation. Copyright by TNC. Photograph by Regina Lepping. Reproduced with permission.

At the same time, it’s important to create learning opportunities for the whole community, in mixed-gender groups, to learn and understand the benefits of women participating in MPA management and climate change adaptation activities. Men generally control decisions and resources in Solomon Islands, as elsewhere in the Pacific. Men who advocate at the community and organization level to support and include women are essential to drive systemic, lasting change.

We recommend starting with gender trainings for women, and then holding subsequent trainings with men and/or whole families (depending on your context, it may be more appropriate to arrange gender trainings differently). Ensure trainings are adapted to the local context and conducted in the local language by local facilitators who have gender expertise.

This guidance document on gender in rural development for the Solomon Islands has broad applications for marine protection work.

Build diverse teams and involve women at every stage of the process

Conservation organizations leading MPA and climate work should ensure their own teams have diverse gender representation as well as social, marine and climate expertise. Staff and partners should include local experts who speak the local language.

Too often, organizations focus on gender and equity without holding a mirror to their own team’s composition or processes. Be sure to work with all genders at every stage of the process – from communities, to community and government leadership and the conservation organizations themselves – to increase women’s involvement.

Establish longer timeframes

The process of shifting social norms, especially social norms that limit gender equality and exclude women from climate and marine work, takes time. It also requires dedicated, sustained investment. New MPA management plans should build in longer timeframes and communicate these expectations effectively with funders. Existing MPA management plans can still adopt many of the gender equity strategies we discuss above, but they should also plan to build flexible timelines and develop some metrics of success around women’s participation and benefits.

We advise against proceeding with short-term projects, or implementing technical and environmental solutions that do not consider the existing social and cultural norms.

Questions and limitations when considering gender and climate in MPAs

Questions to consider

To begin to work towards gender equity in your MPA and its climate response, consider the following questions and how they apply in your context:

• How will low-lying MPAs survive rising sea levels, and how will this impact people across all genders? What will this mean for women’s involvement long term?

• How do we convince funders, MPA managers and scientists to meaningfully address gender in MPA and climate change planning and management, particularly when these considerations require longer timelines or new approaches?

• What could full gender equity in MPA and climate decisions look like?

Limitations to undertaking gender-based work in communities 

There are many limitations and barriers to be faced when including gender-based approaches and perspectives in MPA planning and management. Many sociocultural values and norms must be understood at the community level before undertaking work – context is essential.

The following is a list of potential limitations to be aware of:

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Context of gender and safety in Solomon Islands

A growing body of research shows that by creating pathways for women to share their perspective, be heard and learn from new developments in local natural resource management, we can improve the long-term success of marine conservation and climate work (James et al., 2021; Mcleod et al., 2018; Schwarz et al., 2014). At the same time, deliberate and sustained efforts to include women interrupt existing norms around gender roles. To advance this approach safely and effectively, conservationists and community groups must account for the social (gendered) barriers that women face when attempting to participate (James et al., 2021).

Shifting social norms in a culturally responsive and respectful way requires deep contextual understanding and participation across genders. Tools like The Pacific Handbook for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture can help guide this.

Violence against women is one of the biggest challenges to development in Solomon Islands, creating costs and negative impacts across many sectors. Gender-based violence (GBV) is normalized in Solomon Islands with two out of three women experiencing violence from intimate partners. More than one-third of women experience sexual abuse before age 15, most often by acquaintances or family members who are men.

The impact of violence undermines social stability and prevents women from contributing to and benefiting from development. Women can risk experiencing violence when they step outside traditional caregiving and household roles, such as when trying to be involved in MPA and climate management training and discussions.

Slow-onset (e.g., drought, sea-level rise, resource scarcity) and acute disaster (e.g., cyclones, typhoons) climate events have different effects across genders – and women often experience more risks to safety. This is particularly true in coastal communities that acutely feel the impacts of climate change. Women are more likely to die than men in many types of natural disasters (World Bank, 2012). Contributing factors include, but are not limited to, women/girls:

• Not being taught survival skills (e.g., swimming, boating, tree climbing)

• Having limited access to technology (e.g., fishing equipment, boats, training, etc.) to adjust their livelihoods to a severe change in climatic conditions.

We also know that GBV rises when resources are disrupted, safety networks are eliminated, and financial instability increases. Reports of violence against women increased by 300% after two tropical cyclones hit Vanuatu in 2011 (UN Women Fiji, 2014).

Without an intentional, gender-responsive approach (see Module 4 Gender, climate change and MPAs Q&A), the management of MPAs can be designed so that women find it difficult to benefit. For example, often women may need to travel in women-only groups to prevent jealousy and retaliation in the form of GBV when they return to their husbands and communities.

Appendix 2 - Arnavon Community Marine Park history and context

Located in the Manning Strait in Solomon Islands, the Arnavon Community Marine Park (ACMP) covers a 152km2 area of ecological and cultural importance and stunning natural beauty (Figure 6). Four small, low-lying islands protect coastal dune and mangrove forests, and coral reefs support a high abundance and diversity of important reef fishes.

Most notably, the ACMP contains a highly significant nesting area for critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Turtles are important for local consumption of both eggs and meat; illegal local and commercial trade of the shell also occurs. As sea-level rise and storm surges impact these low-lying islands, nesting sites are eroded and subsequently turtle hatchling success declines.

Figure 6. Map of Arnavon Community Marine Park, Solomon Islands. Copyright by TNC. Reproduced with permission.

Since 1992, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked with the three local communities that claim customary ownership to protect and manage the Arnavons. Community-based resource and climate management aims to benefit all members of the community. In practice, however, management has had different benefits and costs for men and women. In Solomon Islands, inequalities in control of decision-making, economic resources, and access to healthcare, education and leisure time restrict the rights and freedoms of girls and women. This results in unequal benefits from development activities such as climate adaptation and marine management.

These inequalities are reinforced if they are not considered when designing and implementing MPA management. This was true for ACMP. Opportunities for paid employment in the three communities surrounding Arnavons are very scarce and very important for injecting money into largely subsistence-based areas. However, for over 20 years, the Arnavons’ management board has been nearly all men. In addition, all paid MPA staff over the last 20 years (rangers and supervisory) have been men, as have most scientists and other external experts. All rangers monitoring climate impacts at Arnavons and all scientists involved have been men.

It is important to consider this in the broader context. In Solomon Islands, traditional gender roles dictate that men are the head of households and decision-makers, while women are mainly caretakers of the home, raising the family and providing food. These gender differences result in a significant disparity of education and opportunity. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to have no schooling at all (21% versus 12%), whereas men are twice as likely as women to have tertiary education (6% versus 3%). In addition, 80% of women do not have access to a bank account. This makes it difficult for NGOs tackling marine and climate issues to employ and pay women using their organizational criteria (James et al., 2021).