Shifting the
Power Coalition

ABOUT US

Since 2016, the Shifting the Power Coalition has consistently worked to increase women’s leadership, including that of young women and women with disabilities, in disaster preparedness, response, and humanitarian action.

It uses evidence about women’s needs and capacities in times of crisis to shape policies and humanitarian responses at the local, national, and regional levels. It is the only regional alliance focused on strengthening the collective power, influence, and leadership of diverse Pacific women in responding to crises, including climate change and COVID-19. Throughout we have put intersectional feminist approaches into practice, supporting the leadership of women with disabilities and young women.

Between 2019 And 2022, The Shifting The Power Coalition’s Young Women’s Programme Supported The 168 Pacific Island Young Women From 6 Countries, To Receive Training On Climate Change Science Services And Disaster Management Systems.

By 2022, 31 Young Women Have Reported Increased Capacity To Influence Disaster Management, Humanitarian Action And Climate Change Decision-Making Processes, And 110 Young Women Have Taken Action For More Localised Resilient Development.

IMPACT

The engagement of women has created a movement which means that humanitarian action does not work effectively unless there is genuine co-working relationships and partnerships. Instead of lip service to women and young people’s engagement, it has become a ‘non-negotiable.’

Our work to build the capacity of women leaders to engage in national disaster coordination mechanisms and influence decision making has been both our core focus and area of greatest impact:

With StPC they have built up that capacity on my end to be a leader and to be recognized to have a voice on the decision-making leadership team. With the StPC, with all the workshops we’ve been promoting and advocating on, the government has recognized us as leading a feminist approach to disasters. – StPC Member

IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT

TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION:

The Shifting the Power Coalition is supporting Pacific Island women-led innovation to increase local communities access to climate services and information.

Tonga

Our Pacific Owned, Women-Led Early Warning & Resilience (POWER) Systems is building on Pacific women-led early warning communication systems

We are showing how early warning, information and communications mechanisms can be a part of this by ensuring communities have access to timely and accessi ble climate information and early warning alerts in times of crisis.

Training

Pacific Island Feminist Alliance for Climate Justice

The Pacific Island Feminist Alliance for Climate Justice (PIFA for CJ) has been convened to weave together feminist organizing by civil society organizations and activists in response to the impact of climate change on the lives of women, girls and LBTQI+ individuals in the Pacific.

THE ALLIANCE AIMS TO:

Enhance visibility

Enhance visibility of Pacific Island women-led and feminist organising for climate justice;

Co-create a space

Co-create a space for regional and national learning and collaboration to draw attention to local priorities;

Identify opportunities

Identify opportunities for advocacy and engagement to amplify collective messages of the movement

OUR PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLES

StPC is building an inclusive, feminist model of partnership and collaboration. This requires listening to diverse women’s voices and creating safe, intergenerational spaces in which to learn and develop together.

The Coalition helps women get the resources they need—including the time and space to meet and the funding to drive their own priorities—to participate, deliberate, design, and deliver what works for women and their local communities.

Our Feminist Partnership Principles are: