Pacific Women in Climate Change - Meet Ms. Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo from Tonga

This is the 5th in a series by SPREP's Nanette Woonton, to celebrate the role of Pacific women showing leadership in climate change.

19 November 2013, Gender Day UNFCCC, Warsaw Poland - It was while interviewing Ms Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo, the Deputy Director for Climate Change at Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources about the climate change work done in Tonga that I was blown away by all that has been achieved under her guidance. Just like that my respect for her multiplied tenfold and I knew that she would make a great person for this feature.

Ms Malolo has worked in the climate change and environment field for over 12 years. In just over three years she has worked with her team to bring together two key issues at the national level in Tonga - climate change and disaster risk management.

Now that a national plan of action has been endorsed by government, she has worked with her team to make sure at least 60% of the activities in this plan have been completed in such a short time span.

A division has been established which she heads; several multi-million are being coordinated by her office; she is working with other government ministries to help 'mainstream' climate change as they say and; through all this Ms Malolo has kept her feet firmly planted on the ground making sure that people remain at the heart of all climate change work undertaken.

Luisa has been at the helm of a team that puts in long hours and hard work, not an easy thing to do when you are a mother of two aged five and three.  Keeping on top of everything can be a challenge.

"It's a very tough job. I have so many challenges but I have learnt that if you have a heart for your country, have a heart to help your people, then this brings you through," said Ms Malolo

"I've turned down many opportunities to study and work overseas. My heart stays with my country, everything I do in the office is for my people and my country."

Next on the list of work to be done includes a national climate change grant for which communities and others can apply for to carry out climate change activities.

All of this work which is carried out requires a strong team, partnerships and support from donors, something for which Ms Malolo is grateful.

"I work hard, but so does my team - I have great people that I've worked with over the years - it is working with them that has helped to do so many projects and cover a fair bit of ground in terms of the climate change work."

"We have several major projects happening in Tongatapu and this will require a lot of commitment as well, so while we have achieved a lot - the hard work won't be over, it will just be starting!"

What has really drawn me to Ms Malolo and this story, is her dedication and hard work which has helped her achieve so much. As said before - this is not Luisas only role in life, she also has strong family values and credits support from her family helping her. Whenever she travels, and in this job there is much travel, it is her sister that steps in to look after her children.

"It's a really tough job, being a working mother. You have so many responsibilities - your family and your work, so many commitments. I find getting your priorities and schedules right can help you achieve your work objectives and cope with your family roles"

Climate change is a field where I see the prominent role that Pacific women play, at all levels. Here in Warsaw this week at the UN climate change negotiations today is gender day and as I look around while writing this, I notice the large number of people wearing the green ribbon in support of gender day here.

It's nice to see the support. I hope more Pacific women enter the field of climate change in our region. We, like Luisa, will be able to make a difference.

"Climate change is a very interesting issue, I think as a women you have a very critical role to play - one thing that I always encourage women to do is to go for further studies, women are capable in doing anything. If you believe in it, you can do it, work towards what you want to achieve and at the end of the day you will succeed."