Honiara City Council and Guadalcanal Provincial Government in the Solomon Islands and Maribyrnong City Council in Australia have come together in a partnership to foster gender-responsive local governance.  In October, three staff from HCC and GPG participated in their first visit to Melbourne and Maribyrnong City Council. This follows on from the visit by Maribyrnong staff to Honiara in August.

The partnership focuses on the power of peer to peer learning and knowledge exchange, exploring leading local practices and innovations in gender equity, ranging from organisational policy to local economic development to women’s health and violence against women (VAW) prevention strategies. Women and men learn together, and build relationships between the organizations and within their own institutions. It provides the space for practical, hands on learning, seeing other female and male peers in different roles and taking action, and encourages participants to make personal and institutional changes.

The first three days focused on understanding the system of local government in Australian and leadership for gender equity. It included an emerging leadership short-course delivered by Local Government Professionals (LGPro) and meetings with partners including the Local Government Managers Australia, Department of Local Government Victoria, City of Melbourne, ICLEI Oceania, and IWDA to learn about a wider range of leading local government practices.  The following five days was reserved for attachment with the Maribyrnong City Council involving visits to council facilities, services and programs, one-on-one discussions with council staff, and observing council meetings, including a joint council gender equity network meeting.  

Organised by CLGF Pacific as part of the Pacific FLOW program, the partnership is part of a broader program of support to both Councils that also includes strengthening women’s leadership and participation in local decision making, and increasing the engagement of grassroots women’s organisations and women in local government to improve service delivery.  

Some reflections by participants:

”I want to establish a social network with female council workers for a start with a social network committee on gender equity and GBV. The same committee will also be responsible for promoting social wellbeing and healthy lifestyles and cervical screening and breast cancer awareness within the council.”

 “I see education and awareness programs are weak in HCC clinics. I will recommend that a similar approach to the Maribyrnong Baby Makes 3 Group Program be included into the Antenatal care package for all HCC health centers.”

“I see the need for holding more open consultations with communities in the regional centers in Guadalcanal Province before formulating our annual work plans.”

“I was so inspired to see a good number of women in the management level within MCC. This is very encouraging and motivating. Most council in Melbourne and Victoria are strong advocates against family violence and they have developed relevant policies.”

For More on our women and gender in local government programs visit our Space on the Mat website: www.wilgpacific.org