Honiara, Solomon Islands – September 2025
History was made at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Leaders have formally institutionalised Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) as standing agenda items under the People-Centred Development Pillar of the Forum Leaders’ Agenda.
This landmark decision places the wellbeing of children and the empowerment of women at the heart of the Blue Pacific’s 2050 Strategy.
It is the fruit of collective Pacific advocacy — strongly advanced by the Honourable Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o, then Minister for Women, Community & Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development and now Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Ministry of Finance, Government of Samoa of Samoa — with support from UNICEF Pacific and championed by Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
For the first time, Samoa proudly hosted the Pacific ECD Forum and Frontliners Summit in May 2025, uniting the voices of caregivers, community leaders, and governments in a single call: prioritise children at the highest political level.
“As the Ministry that serves the heart of Samoa and its people we celebrate this incredible new chapter. Just as Samoa begins a new journey of leadership at home, the Pacific has together committed to a future where every child is given the best start in life,” said Loau Donina Tili Vaa, CEO of MWCSD.
With this milestone, ECD and GESI are now permanently embedded in the Blue Pacific’s regional governance. This is more than policy — it is legacy for our children, our women, and our region’s future.
1 Ministry – for, by, and with the People.
The Samoa ECD TWG includes Ministry of Health Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa Ministry of Education and Culture Ministry Justice Courts Administration Ministry of Finance.
Ministry of Women, Community and Social DevelopmentMinistry of Health SamoaMinistry of Education and CultureMinistry of Finance, Government of Samoa
UNICEF Pacific