More than 50 adolescent girls and young women and Pacific development practitioners this week will be validating promising practice and lessons learned through the Pacific’s only regional programme focused on adolescent girls – Pacific Girl.

The Pacific Girl Annual Partner Convening and Mid-Term Review Validation Workshop is being held this week in Fiji, from 21 to 23 June. It is the first in-person regional meeting for the programme since its launch in 2019.

“Supporting you, and other adolescent girls and young women in the Pacific is essential,” said Miles Young, Director of SPC’s Human Rights and Social Development Division. “Young people account for more than half of the Pacific population – so adolescent girls and young women account for about a quarter.”

Pacific Girl is supported by the Australian Government and managed by Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community (PWL at SPC).

In addition to networking and grant management support, attendees will also be validating findings of the programme’s mid-term review. The review is identifying strengths, successes and innovative approaches to build on and share, and will make recommendations to guide ongoing implementation of Pacific Girl.

The framework for a Pacific Girl Reference Group comprised of current and former participants of national project activities is also planned for discussion this week. Sessions finalising a scope for the group will be facilitated by former Pacific Girl participant and current PWL Governance Board member, ‘Ana Malia Falemaka.

“The Reference Group will provide specific support to build the skills, confidence, and capacity of the girls to meaningfully engage, and to have their opinions and advice considered equally,” explained Mr Young.

“The group will be called upon to provide advice, oversight, and guidance to inform Pacific Girl activities and will act as a conduit to regional and national stakeholders.”

“We want a future where girls are educated, healthy and skilled in order to help build a better future, advance social justice, support economic development and combat poverty.”

“So, we’re investing in you, so we can work together to support adolescent girls in Pacific Island countries to achieve their full potential,” Mr Young said.

The Pacific Girl Annual Partner Convening will culminate in a 2-hour hybrid regional Learning Network event, led by adolescent girls and bringing together development partners and stakeholders to hear learning and experiences from Pacific Girl.

At the Learning Network event, the high-level findings from the review will be discussed by programme partners, followed by opportunity for both in-person and online attendees to pose questions.

To register for online attendance to the Learning Network, visit: https://spc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rka_-bCNQhGsqFk8cmsjlg#/registration