“Navigating leadership spaces with determination and respect” - Hosanna Kabakoro from Fiji

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Hosanna Kabakoro is the Co-Founder of the South Pacific Foundation for Rural and Maritime Development in Fiji. The Foundation works focuses on sustainable development through an Indigenous lens, partnering closely with communities across Fiji to improve access to clean water and promote climate resilience. Hosanna joined a two-day intergenerational dialogue “Waves of Change: Pacific Women Lead Across Generations in Fiji” aimed at advancing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making and transforming gender norms which took place on 30 September and 1 October 2025 in Nadi, Fiji.

The Foundation began out of necessity. My village had waited decades for clean water at our health clinic, so my family decided to take the initiative. We raised the funds ourselves, completed the project, and soon received requests from villages across Fiji. What began as a small family effort became a national movement for community-led development.

As a woman from a chiefly family, I navigate traditional structures with respect. When I enter a village, I understand the cultural protocols, sometimes stepping back and allowing my father or our family spokesperson to take the lead during introductions. Once those formalities are done, I take my place at the table. These customs aren’t barriers to me, they are part of who we are. Knowing how to move within them allows me to lead authentically, not in opposition to my culture, but through it.

Still, leadership as a woman in Fiji comes with challenges. Patriarchal norms run deep, in politics, in bureaucracy, and even online. Fiji currently has one of the lowest rates of women in Parliament, and I’ve seen how the system can discourage capable women from standing for election. Social media, which can be a powerful tool for organizing, has also become a space of harassment and criticism, especially for women in public life.

Through the Better Than This campaign launched by our organization, we’ve been working to change that. We visit schools and communities to educate young people on responsible digital behavior and to support women who step into leadership roles. Women need allies, not just other women, but strong male leaders who will stand up and say, this is not okay.

Women make up nearly half of Fiji’s population, and we are present in every sector — leading businesses, managing households, raising the next generation. Yet that representation is not reflected in our Parliament or in many decision-making spaces. The barrier isn’t a lack of talent; it’s a lack of support. Political parties must take responsibility for identifying and empowering capable female candidates.

I’ve been privileged to witness strong women in leadership — from nonprofit founders to ministers who have “walked the talk.” They remind me that progress is possible when women are trusted to lead. I often say that my generation is running the last leg of a relay race: brilliant women before us have shattered glass ceilings; now it’s our job to carry the baton forward for those who will come after.

Still, the journey isn’t easy. People say you can have it all, but they rarely tell you how hard it will be, the disappointments, the late nights, the rejections. But every setback is an opportunity to grow. I’ve learned from the women around me, their strength, their determination.

In Fiji’s villages, the day-to-day running of community life is often led by women. I’ve watched my grandmothers and aunties command respect and steer decisions with quiet power. They don’t bow to patriarchy, they bend around it. They’ve taught me that true leadership isn’t loud; it’s steady, wise, and grounded in purpose.

That’s the kind of leadership I strive to embody, rooted in culture, committed to equality, and open to all who believe in building a better Fiji for every woman and girl.

The Convening took place under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership initiative, funded by the European Union, which is a collaborative global effort aimed at advancing women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind.

Note: These publications aim to stimulate a constructive debate on key issues of interest for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. The views expressed by the individuals interviewed for the production of our editorial content do not necessarily reflect the official position of UN Women, the United Nations system agencies or the European Union.