The Pacific Women in Power (PWIP) initiative, launched in 2023 by the World Bank and the Pacific Power Association (PPA), supports Pacific Island Countries in building a gender-inclusive energy sector.

Pacific Women in Power works closely with utilities and ministries to increase women’s participation, especially in technical and leadership positions. The initiative has been endorsed by Pacific Energy Ministers, marking a shared commitment to advancing gender equality in the power sector.

Key Findings

Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in the Pacific’s energy workforce:

Women employees in utilities. 18.5%
Women employees in energy ministries 23.8%
Women in technical and leadership roles 6%
Women are overrepresented in administrative and support roles 77%

These figures highlight the urgent need for policies, mentorship, and pathways that enable women to succeed in the sector.

Explore Country Data Across the Pacific

Discover insights from each Pacific Island Country. Click on a flag to view utility and ministry data, women’s employment statistics, and initiatives driving gender equality in the energy sector.

Action Areas

Pacific Women in Power focuses on six core areas to transform the energy sector:

Get Involved

Pacific Women in Power offers technical assistance, partnerships, and resources for utilities and ministries.

  • Utilities: Strengthen your gender strategies.

  • Students & Professionals: Explore career pathways in energy.

  • Partners: Support gender-inclusive initiatives in the Pacific.

Why It Matters

Closing the gender gap is not just fair—it’s smart economics. Research shows that GDP per capita in Pacific Island Countries could rise by 22% if women’s employment equaled men’s.

Gender-diverse organisations benefit from stronger financial performance, higher innovation, and improved employee retention.

News and Updates

Meet the Fiji female engineers making their mark in Marshall Islands

Meet the Fiji female engineers making their mark in Marshall Islands [August 13, 2025, by Eve Burns] Thirty years ago, the presence of a female worker […]

Talanoa | Employ Women, Empower the Pacific

Employ Women, Empower the Pacific Talanoa Session at Novotel Lami. [June 26, 2025, by Ema Gavinatu] A powerful dialogue on gender equality in the energy sector […]

Empowering Pacific Women in Energy Sector

[June 26, 2025, by Ema Gavinatu] A powerful dialogue on gender equality in the energy sector unfolded at the recent Talanoa ‘Employ Women, Empower the Pacific’, […]

Call to Boost Women’s Role in Energy Sector

[June 26, 2025 by Rariqi Turner] Astrong call for long-term action to increase women’s par­ti­cip­a­tion in the mal­edom­in­ated energy sec­tor was made dur­ing a talanoa ses­sion […]