We Rise Coalition

06/10/2026

As global leaders gather in Fiji for this week’s pre-COP31 meetings, Pacific feminists have made their priorities clear: it’s time for Pacific women’s voices to be meaningfully heard and centred in global climate talks and decision-making.

Despite holding invaluable knowledge about their households’ and communities’ needs, women continue to be excluded from most decision-making spaces when it comes to climate action. For Pacific activists, practitioners and grassroots leaders working on the frontlines of gender justice, climate action and water security, it is this lack of inclusion that is at the core of every other climate-change related gendered impacts women and girls experience.

Ahead of pre-COP31, Nalini Singh, Executive Director of Fiji Women's Rights Movement, spoke with RNZ Pacific about findings from ‘Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Building a Pacific Movement for Gender Justice, Climate and Water’ - a new research report exploring what Pacific activists see as most urgently needed to connect gender equality, climate justice and water security.

“In all of those discussions, what we are finding is, in reality, women, women's experiences, women's bodies are all being impacted, and there is no space for discussions like those,” Nalini shared.

We’re honoured to have contributed as research advisory group members to this project elevating the expertise of Pacific climate and feminist leaders and practitioners.

As part of the Feminist Climate Collective, we’re also proud to be standing alongside Pacific feminists at this week’s pre-COP meetings and join them in calling for Pacific women, women with disabilities and gender-diverse people’s leadership, knowledge and experiences to finally be recognised and centred in global climate action.

There is no climate justice without gender justice.

Read Nalini’s interview with RNZ Pacific to learn more: https://loom.ly/MLjIRTs

Read ‘Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Building a Pacific Movement for Gender Justice, Climate and Water’: https://loom.ly/HCountc

01/10/2026

This week, the We Rise Coalition, represented by Voice for Change and International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), joined the 2026 Pacific Women Lead (PWL) Reflection, Learning and Planning Workshop, convened by the Pacific Community (SPC) and PWL Enabling Services.

Together with civil society organisations, women’s funds, government representatives, DFAT, SPC and PWL partners, we reflected on five years of change, learning and collective action across the Pacific, and considered what these lessons mean for the next phase of the PWL program.

The workshop created valuable space to share experiences, recognise the work and leadership of Pacific women’s rights organisations and movements, and collectively think about how we can continue to strengthen locally led feminist movements and advance gender equality across the region.

We are thankful for Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’s continued investment and collaboration to accelerate gender equality in the Pacific.

01/10/2026

More of our Final Day of We Rise Coalition Strategic Retreat 🌺

01/10/2026

We Rise Reflection 🌺

For Nu, being at the Pacific Feminist Forum was more than attending a regional space. It was the first time Brown Girl Woke sent staff to represent the organisation at PFF—and she carried with her the voices of the girls and communities waiting back home.

In this reflection, Nu speaks about the responsibility of representation: when one of us gets into the room, we don’t arrive alone. We carry our people with us, and we bring the knowledge back.

She also reflects on what must be protected as the We Rise Coalition grows—the collective. Not organisations standing in front of one another or behind one another, but standing beside one another.

Because feminist movements are not built for one generation. We build, we learn, we make space, and eventually we pass the torch—so the next generation can keep the flame burning. 🔥🌺

01/10/2026

As we come to the final day of our We Rise Coalition Strategic Retreat, we close a meaningful few days of reflection, learning and planning with a clearer shared direction for the work ahead. Today’s conversations focused on turning our priorities into commitments, strengthening our relationships, and identifying the roles, timelines and collective actions that will carry We Rise forward.

A heartfelt fa’afetai and thank you to Priya Dhanani for facilitating and guiding us through such a thoughtful and engaging strategic retreat. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Executive Directors and representatives of each We Rise Coalition member organisation for bringing your knowledge, experiences, honesty and energy into this space. It is our collective strength, solidarity and commitment that continues to make We Rise what it is.

As everyone begins their journey home, we wish you all safe travels. Thank you for the laughter, talanoa, learning and memories shared throughout this retreat. Until we meet again, we carry forward the connections we have strengthened and the commitments we have made together. 💜🌺

Safe travels everyone see you all again soon!

30/09/2026

Today, the We Rise Coalition stands together in solidarity with women, girls and communities across the Pacific who continue to experience violence, discrimination and injustice.

Thursday in Black reminds us that ending violence requires collective action. Across our Coalition, we continue to strengthen feminist movements, amplify diverse voices and advocate for Pacific communities where everyone can live with dignity, equality and safety.

We wear black not in silence, but in solidarity. Together, we rise for a Pacific free from violence. 🖤

30/09/2026

We are grateful for our partnership with Sisters United, supporting $6,000 in scholarships for two of our youth recipients for one full school year. 💛

The scholarship is not only about paying for education. Our recipients also volunteer with Brown Girl Woke, gain hands-on experience in community work, and learn directly about the needs and realities facing young people in Samoa.

One of our scholarship recipients, Ayesha, is double majoring in Law and Sociology at USP. Alongside her studies, she leads our Street Vendor Literacy program every Friday, supports She Builds, and uses her photography skills to help document our conferences, programs, and community work.

We want our youth to leave university with more than a qualification. We want them to understand their communities, know what Samoa needs, and already have experience giving back. 🌺

30/09/2026

☕🔥 CLOCKED THAT TEA WITH NU | ft. Jakey Sala Siolo

The tea is HOT. 👀

Nu sits down with Jakey Sala Siolo, Executive Director of Nuanua Collective, for a real conversation about community, leadership, advocacy, identity and the work happening behind the scenes to create change in Samoa.

No rehearsed answers. No sugar-coating. Just conversation, laughs and a little tea. ☕😂

🎙️ Clocked That Tea with Nu
Featuring: Jakey Sala Siolo — ED, Nuanua Collective

🎥 From the Brown Girl Woke Media Hub

This media initiative is funded through the We Rise Coalition, with Media Hub equipment generously supported by the Australian High Commission in Samoa.

Like, comment, subscribe — and tell us who Nu should have tea with next. 👀
https://youtu.be/UJOLwp8SzXI

The tea is HOT. 👀Nu sits down with Jakey Sala Siolo, Executive Di...

30/09/2026

Here’s a glimpse of Day 3 🌺

30/09/2026

Day 3 of the We Rise Coalition Strategic Retreat focused on moving from reflection into action identifying where we can work more collectively, strengthening our advocacy, communications and visibility, sharing expertise, and ensuring stronger accountability across the Coalition.

Through our discussions, members reflected on the power of We Rise as a collective and the importance of telling our shared movement building story more clearly, while turning our priorities into practical actions that build on the different strengths, experiences and expertise of each Coalition member.

We concluded the day with a dinner with Krishni Goosena, Director of DFAT’s Pacific Gender and Culture Team, creating an important space to share the We Rise journey, our priorities and the realities of feminist movement building across the Pacific. We appreciate the opportunity for open dialogue and continued partnership as we work towards stronger collective action across the region.