Kiwa Women's Work
Building climate resilience through women-led ecosystem restoration across three Micronesian nations
A community member holds a freshly harvested taro plant, a staple crop central to food security across Micronesia. Photo credit: Bibbie Kumangai, The Nature Conservancy.
About
The Kiwa Women’s Work project empowers women to take the lead in restoring important natural areas along the coast, like taro fields, forests, mangrove swamps, and coral reefs, across 28 locations in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau. It fosters women’s learning, links ecosystem health with sustainable livelihoods, and strengthens communities through nature-based solutions. The project is managed by the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) with technical support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
At a Glance
- Training for 500+ women in 20 communities across three countries in climate adaptation, nature-based solutions for food systems, and sustainable livelihoods.
- Elevating the voices of 20 female leaders in local, national, and regional climate and food-security forums.
- Restoring degraded habitats across 40,000 hectares of 12 islands (equivalent to more than 150 square miles, and 100,000 acres).
- Development of 20 community-specific action plans.
- March 2025- December 2027 implementation period.
- €5,522,000 project budget (€550,000 co-funding; €4,972,000 Kiwa funding).
Program Factsheet
The Challenge
Pacific Island communities are among the most climate-vulnerable in the world. In Micronesia, climate impacts are degrading the coastal ecosystems that communities have depended on for generations. Direct threats are growing to food security, livelihoods, and cultural identity for tens of thousands of people across the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
At the same time, women, who hold generations of traditional ecological knowledge, have historically been underrepresented in the conservation and climate decision-making processes that most affect their lives. Addressing climate vulnerability in Micronesia means both restoring ecosystems and closing that gap.
Program Overview
The Kiwa Women’s Work project fosters women’s learning and leadership, links ecosystem health with sustainable livelihoods, and strengthens communities through nature-based solutions.
Women's Leadership
Across Micronesia, women hold generations of traditional ecological knowledge, yet have not always been represented in conservation decision-making. Women's Work is creating a replicable roadmap for women's leadership in restoring habitats, supporting local economies, and preserving cultural values — blending ancestral techniques with capacity building for approximately 500 women across three countries in climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and sustainable livelihoods.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Sustainable ecosystems underpin sustainable livelihoods, including agriculture and management of vital natural resources such as coral reefs and mangroves. Women's Work expands access to income-generating opportunities linked to sustainable resource management — for example, reef recovery initiatives that support the local fisheries households rely on for protein and income.
Climate Resilience
Women's Work aims to reduce climate vulnerabilities for 20 rural communities across 12 islands by restoring taro patches, mangroves, reefs, and forests across 40,000 hectares. Restoration efforts are community-led and informed by participatory consultations, with women's groups developing action plans and tailored monitoring tools to track progress across terrestrial and marine ecosystems — building directly on women's traditional knowledge and combining ancestral practices with new tools and support.
Countries & Implementing Partners
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Locations: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae
Partners: Chuuk Women’s Council, Kosrae Conservation & Safety Organization, Tamil Resource Conservation Trust, Yap Catholic High School, Conservation Society of Pohnpei
Republic of Palau
Locations: Aimeliik, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngeremlengui
Partners: Governments of these States
Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
Locations: Aur, Namu, Wotho
Partner: Marshall Islands Conservation Society
Contact
Kiwa Women's Work
Micronesia Conservation Trust
wmudong@ourmicronesia.org
About the Kiwa Initiative
The Kiwa Initiative - Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Resilience aims at strengthening the climate change resilience of Pacific Islands ecosystems, communities and economies through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), by protecting, sustainably managing and restoring biodiversity. It is based on an easier access to funding for climate change adaptation and NbS for local, national authorities, civil society and regional organisations of Pacific Island Countries and Territories including the three French overseas territories. The Initiative is funded by the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Kiwa Initiative has established partnerships with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Oceania Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-ORO). For more information: The Kiwa Initiative - Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands thanks to Nature-based Solutions (NbS)