Evidence demonstrates that the most effective way to advance gender equality worldwide is to directly invest in autonomous feminist movements. Feminist leaders deeply embedded in local communities understand the challenges their constituencies face, and are best placed to champion locally-tailored and much-needed change in laws, policies, norms and practices.

Gender inequality in the Pacific region is profound:

• The Pacific has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. Over 60% of women experience intimate partner violence in many Pacific countries
• The Pacific region also has some of the lowest rates of women’s political representation globally. On average, women make up a mere 7% of national parliaments
• Pacific islands are on the frontline of the climate crisis. The region is already experiencing the gendered impacts of severe climate-related loss and damage, and women’s leadership on climate action is undervalued

While there are growing and dynamic feminist movements across the Pacific driving ambitious action on gender equality, they are hamstrung by limited resources. Total donor investments promoting gender equality in the region fall well below the global average. In the world’s consciousness, the Pacific is often dismissed as tiny and unimportant. In reality, the Pacific represents the biggest sea of islands in the world – with a multitude of deeply rooted cultures and identities.

Without significant change, it will take another 134 years to achieve global gender equality. Trail-blazing philanthropists are working to accelerate change, shifting towards more flexible, trust-based and core funding to frontline movements and organisations.

Australia not only has a strong spirit of giving, but is also at a significant juncture in change-making philanthropy:

• The wealth of Australia’s richest is quickly growing
• Philanthropy is rising to the challenge to double structured giving by 2030
• The greatest intergenerational wealth transfer in Australia’s history is underway
• Women will inherit up to two-thirds of this in the next 20 years

Right now, Australian philanthropists have the opportunity to make a real difference to their regional neighbours, and help fundamentally transform the systems that have allowed inequality to endure for too long.

Harnessing this moment in Australia’s philanthropic giving history and potential, we have developed the Principles of Gender-transformative Giving in Australian Philanthropy. The Principles are a practical guide to unlocking the transformative potential of philanthropic giving, not just through who and what you give to, but how you give. This includes:

• Understanding why power-shifting is key to achieving gender equality
• How to use a power-shifting lens in giving
• The ecosystem of approaches to gender equality fundingThe power of investing in movements as drivers and amplifiers of social change

The Principles were developed by the ResourceFULL Collective. They were then tested and refined through a series of ‘Curated Conversations’ – intimate, curated spaces for Australian philanthropists, gender equality advocates, and Pacific feminist movement leaders, to come together to share good practices in gender-transformative giving, reflect on barriers to change, and find practical solutions.

We have a lot of exciting activities on the horizon, ranging from engaging in international conferences such as the Association for Women’s Rights in Development Forum and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, hosting events, launching new research, and more.

See below for more on how you can get involved and stay connected with us!

• Sign up to our mailing list through the form below to receive updates on our work and invitations to our events! (We don’t email often, so we won’t build up spam in your inbox!)

• Follow us on social media

• • IWDA: Facebook / X / LinkedIn / Instagram

• • UAF: Facebook / X  / LinkedIn / Instagram 

• • PFF: Facebook / X / LinkedIn

• Include a speaker about gender equality in the Pacific, feminist movements, and/or gender-transformative giving at your next event! Reach out to us through the enquiry form below if you need a speaker – we have Collective members based across Australia and the Pacific, and plenty of compelling stories to tell!

• Interested in resourcing Pacific feminist movements and don’t know where to start? Reach out to us through the enquiry form below to organise a chat, we can answer your questions and help you find the right starting point.