This year marks a powerful turning point for capturing data on gender equality in the Pacific. The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Women Leaders have formally endorsed the Pacific Regional Gender Equality Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Plan – a bold step toward collective accountability, shared learning, and meaningful progress on gender equality.

Born from a collaboration between the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Regional Gender Equality MERL Plan delivers what regional leaders have long called for: one coherent framework that streamlines reporting, amplifies impact, and reduces duplication. It responds directly to the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED) mandate for deeper cooperation, shared resourcing, and greater alignment across all stakeholders – governments, development partners, civil society, and CROP agencies.

This is more than just a plan. It’s the region’s commitment to doing gender equality differently – with purpose, evidence, and unity.

The MERL Plan brings together two key regional frameworks which form a powerful backbone for progress:

• the PLGED, which galvanises political will at the highest level (which PIFS oversees); and
• the Pacific Platform for Action (PPA), which provides the technical roadmap for implementation (which SPC oversees).

By merging the draft MERL PLGED framework with emerging needs under the PPA, the region now moves forward with one harmonised system.

Momentum for collaboration between PIFS and SPC has grown steadily: from the jointly convened events of 15th Triennial Conference, the 3rd PIF Women Leaders Meeting, the 8th Meeting of Ministers for Women in RMI in 2024, and the Pacific CEDAW Technical Cooperation Session in Fiji in 2025, these convenings reinforced the importance of working together, learning together, and holding each other accountable.

The MERL Plan will be informed by data contributions from governments, civil society organisations and development partners, including statistics, research and program/project reporting. A joint sense making and reflection session at GESI week will ensure key stakeholders from around the region contribute to this system by filling gaps, generating findings, and putting forward recommendations for next steps.

The MERL system will then generate reports that will be communicated to these stakeholders from around the region, to track progress and impact on gender equality and showcase the regional collective actions toward a just and inclusive future.

With formal endorsement from PIF Women Leaders in July and a scheduled endorsement to the PIF Leaders Meeting in September, this MERL Plan sets a new standard for how the Pacific measures progress – not just with numbers, but with intention, insight, and integrity.

The Pacific is leading by example. Together, we are building a future where gender equality is not an aspiration, but a reality – measured, celebrated, and strengthened by our shared commitment to a gender-equal Blue Pacific.