Pacific Islands nations are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. An important part of preventing climate change is transitioning Pacific countries away from fossil fuels towards clean energy technologies. In the Pacific, traditional gender roles and responsibilities mean that women and girls have different energy needs compared to men and boys. However, women and girls have tended to be excluded from energy-related decision-making, while also being under-represented in technical roles in the energy sector and energy-related skills training. There is critical opportunity to therefore contribute to both gender-responsiveness of energy policy and increasing women's engagement in clean energy technologies as entrepreneurs and as technicians.

The Pacific Energy and Gender Initiative was established by the Pacific Community (SPC) to implement the Pacific Energy and Gender Strategic Action Plan (PEGSAP). The goal of the PEGSAP (2021-2030) is to contribute to mainstreaming gender equality in the Pacific clean energy sector and to empower women through improved gender-responsive policy and institutional frameworks, and increased career and income-generating opportunities and enhanced access to clean energy.