ONLY five per cent of technical roles in Fiji and the Pacific’s energy sector are held by women — a figure World Bank specialist Helle Buchhave says must change.
“We are here to reflect honestly on where we stand in the energy sector regarding women’s employment, and more importantly, to talk together about the practical steps we take forward,” said Ms Buchhave, who is also the Task Team Leader for Pacific Women in Power.
Presenting the findings of the World Bank’s latest Pacific Economic Update at the ‘Employ Women, Empower the Pacific Talanoa’ yesterday, she said 57 per cent of working-age Pacific women — including in Fiji — remained outside the labour force.
“This is one of the Pacific’s greatest untapped resources, human capital,” she said.
“If we close the gender gap, we could increase per capita income by up to 22 per cent.”
Ms Buchhave said initiatives such as Pacific Women in Power were already making a difference, with women supported by experienced mentors from across the region and the world.
“We grow the whole talent pool and that includes showing parents and husbands that the energy sector is not just for men.”
She pointed to a recent survey that found while public perception suggested energy jobs were for men, industry leaders overwhelmingly believed women could and should work in the sector.
“There’s a mismatch here,” she said. Ms Buchhave also called for stronger legal protections, family-friendly workplace policies, and better access to information about career pathways.
“Let us speak honestly, let us listen with humility, and let us imagine what’s possible when we not only employ more women, but truly empower them to lead.”
