Women-Led Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the Pacific

<p dir="ltr">This report outlines the findings from research conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney (UTS-ISF) from April to July 2025 on women-led multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) implemented by ActionAid Vanuatu (AAV) in Vanuatu; Bougainville Women’s Federation (BWF) in Bougainville; and Talitha Project in Tonga; as part of the Pacific Owned, Women-Led Early Warning and Resilience (POWER) Initiative. The research was commissioned by ActionAid Australia (AAA) and Shifting the Power Coalition (StPC), a coalition of 13 women’s rights organisations in the Pacific working to advance women’s leadership in disaster management and climate change action, with funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.</p><p dir="ltr">Women-led MHEWS are systems led by and for women to increase women’s disaster risk knowledge; support them to observe, monitor, analyse and forecast disaster hazards; build their capabilities to prepare and respond to disasters; and support them to contribute to and access information and communications about disaster risks, hazards and warnings. This research identified the outcomes of women-led MHEWS in Vanuatu; the factors that are contributing to the development of women-led MHEWS in Bougainville, Tonga and Vanuatu; and priorities for strengthening and accelerating women-led MHEWS in the Pacific. 73 people participated in the study (54 women and 19 men), which involved Talanoa with women and men from five communities, representatives from national and local governments, and private sector representatives in Bougainville, Tonga and Vanuatu; and a sense-making workshop with staff from StPC, AAV, BWF and Talitha Project.</p><p dir="ltr">The findings from this study can be used to facilitate learning and contribute to dialogue between women’s organisations, governments and international development partners on the strengths and enabling factors of existing women-led MHEWS, and ways to strengthen and accelerate women-led MHEWS in the Pacific, to ensure more gender-responsive and inclusive MHEWS and disaster planning, response and recovery.</p>