On 15 May 2025, the International Centre for Democratic Partnerships (ICDP) hosted a collaborative online Dialogue/Talanoa “Count Her In: Recognising women’s roles in strengthening farmer organisations in the Pacific”, on the importance of recognition, data and research on women in Pacific agriculture.

The Dialogue brought together 29 participants from across the South Pacific region, and featured ICDP Suva Hub Coordinator Salote Waqairatu-Waqainabete, an agribusiness researcher with over twenty years of experience, and Anneliese Austin, Project Coordinator of Bees for Sustainable Livelihoods at Southern Cross University’s Bee Research and Extension Lab in Lismore Australia.

The event, facilitated by ICDP Director Catherine Fritz Kalish AM, explored the critical role of women’s leadership in Pacific-based agriculture and aquaculture farmer organisations. Discussions emphasised how demonstrable economic outcomes strengthen women’s visibility and influence, and highlighted the need for targeted technical and governance training, robust gender-disaggregated data collection and mentorship structures to support sustained leadership within predominantly male sectors and particularly within the context of farmer organisations.

The Dialogue highlighted innovative extension approaches from Papua New Guinea (PNG), including digital training tools developed with the Fiji Beekeepers Association. Anneliese Austin called for greater focus on financial literacy and business planning. Both thought leaders stressed the need to pair gender-disaggregated data with local insights to shape effective, inclusive policies.

Further discussion focused on practical ways to support women in agribusiness, including the use of Zoom and offline tools for training and social media as a powerful platform for information spreading. Participants spoke of the importance of gender-responsive programs that build financial literacy, provide structured mentorship and help bring women’s contributions into the spotlight to ensure greater recognition of their leadership and economic impact across their respective farmer collectives and sectors.

Ideas and recommendations emerging from the Dialogue will guide ICDP’s ongoing support for women-led agribusinesses in the Pacific and inform policy briefs to regional governments and development partners.

The Dialogue was supported by the ICDP Foundation and its corporate partners DLA Piper and Pyne & Partners.

The full report of the ICDP Dialogue ‘Count Her In: Recognising women’s roles in strengthening farmer organisations in the Pacific’ is available here.