This gender assessment provides an overview of the situation in Samoa, identifying gender issues and other vulnerabilities relevant to the project, and gender-mainstreaming opportunities. It is based on:

• A desk review of relevant national policy documents, the Strategy for Development of Samoa 2016-2020 and relevant sector plans or draft sector plans, including the Community Sector Plan to ensure congruence with Samoa’s expressed national priorities;
• Lessons learned and recommendations from past assessments and studies on gender equality undertaken by the Government of Samoa, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and academic organizations, and information available from programs and projects currently being implemented;
• Stakeholder consultation, recognizing that detailed community consultations on particular activities are expected to be carried out in the implementation phases of the project; and
• Integrating gender and other vulnerability considerations to the proposed indicators, targets and activities, and identifying opportunities for greater leadership and participation in decision making by these particular groups in Samoa.