“My inspiration is seeing women successful in their lives. This actually motivates me to do more.”

Women play many roles in the family and the society as primary caregivers and household managers. Their unique perspectives help them better understand and help the people and communities around them. Yet their potential is impeded by lack of access to resources that could help them improve their lives [1].

In response, Sustainable Development Goal #5 advocates for policies that empower women and calls for the involvement of women in leadership and decision-making processes. When women are empowered, they can become powerful agents of change [2].

This is perfectly exemplified by two women leaders who have been recognized by the Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN-DRR). Selected from over 250 nominations worldwide, Maria Linibi and Robyn Mijares stood out for their work in championing disaster resilience, sustainable agriculture, and women’s and youth empowerment [3].

WIN-DRR promotes the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which acknowledges the disproportionate effects of disaster on women and, at the same time, the indispensable role of women in disaster risk reduction and resilience building. The network recognizes that the equal participation and leadership of women in public life is both an important goal in itself and essential for achieving a broad range of development goals and reducing disaster risk [4].

Through its leadership awards, WIN-DRR supports and honors women’s achievements in disaster risk reduction in the Asia Pacific region. The leadership awards have two categories: the Excellence Award and the Rising Star Award [5].

Papua New Guinea’s Wonder Woman

The Excellence Award is given to a woman who has achieved exceptional professional excellence and demonstrated remarkable expertise in advancing disaster risk reduction [6]. In November 2024, Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Maria Linibi received the Excellence Award for her work with the PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNGWiADF) [3].

Maria started out as a public relations officer in PNG but, at 38 years old, she found another purpose—empowering women farmers. Her father was a coffee farmer and with his influence, she gained the skills and the courage to transition to a career in agriculture. But she soon learned that farming and sales are two entirely different fields [7].

As a newcomer, Maria had to learn how to plant different types of crops (i.e., vegetable and root crops) on her own. On top of that, she also struggled with the finances of her farm and with finding markets to sell her produce [8].

Despite the initial hurdles she faced, Maria proved that it is never too late to chase your passion. She dedicated her time to engaging in research and building partnerships that could help her expand her farming business [7]. During this time, Maria partnered with the PNG National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in creating and disseminating information campaigns for farmers and other beginners like her [8].

As she learned more about the agricultural industry in PNG, Maria realized that many women farmers struggle with the same problems as she did but lack the resources to aid in their business development. So, in 2006, Maria founded PNGWiADF to provide women with the necessary knowledge, skills, support, and services they would need to pursue and achieve entrepreneurial success [7].

“If you are educating a man, you are educating an individual. If you are educating a woman, you are educating an entire family,” Maria said during her presentation in the 2017 Asia-Pacific Women Farmers’ Forum [9].

Today, PNGWiADF supports over 20,000 women farmers across the country [3]. Under Maria’s leadership, the organization has contributed to transforming the agricultural landscape of PNG. PNGWiADF fosters climate-resilient agriculture by promoting indigenous crops, low-cost irrigation, and agroforestry systems. Through her incredible efforts, Maria also oversaw the installation of solar rice mills and solar water pumps that have improved the lives of women farmers [6].

Beyond her work in PNG, Maria sits as a board member of the Pacific Island Farmers Organization (PIFON) and she regularly represents Pacific women farmers in international engagements [6]. Her participation in national and international affairs ensures that women farmers of PNG and the Pacific are well represented in important decision-making processes.

“My inspiration is seeing women successful in their lives. This actually motivates me to do more,” Maria said in her WIN-DRR congratulatory video [10].

Maria’s work empowers women to become equal partners in disaster risk reduction and in building resilient communities by espousing them with agricultural, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills. This ensures that women will always have the power to enact change in their own lives and the ability to uplift their families and their communities.

The Philippines’ Rising Star

On the other hand, the WIN-DRR Rising Star Award is given to a woman who has shown exceptional leadership in disaster risk reduction early in her career [5]. The Philippines’ Robyn Mijares received the Rising Star Award in November 2024 for her work with “Oh My GARDEN: Grow Your Own Food Contest”, Grow School Philippines, and Youth Uprising Philippines [11].

Robyn’s journey towards youth empowerment was pushed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She has always had the heart for humanitarian advocacies and, as the pandemic heightened, Robyn sought to help out her fellow youths in addressing food security issues [11].

Robyn started the “Oh My GARDEN” project as a way to combat hunger and to teach young people about sustainable agriculture. She distributed vegetable planting kits and conducted workshops in public schools in Las Piñas City, which enabled the students to grow their own food in the face of shortages and disruptions in the supply chain [11].

Through the project, Robyn was able to engage young people in agriculture and teach them the value of self-sufficiency. Due to the success of the project, Robyn was selected to participate in the Youth Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), which enabled her to build Grow School Philippines. The organization provides free accessible environmental and agricultural education to marginalized Filipino youth [12].

“What inspires me the most is the ability of young people to redefine what hunger means. By transforming their hunger for food into […] a hunger for change. By turning problems into solutions, hope into action, and vulnerability into resiliency,” Robyn said in her WIN-DRR congratulatory video [13].

Since its inception, Grow School has reached over 98,000 beneficiaries across the country. Through the organization, Robyn hopes to foster the future leaders of Philippine agriculture and inspire them to become innovators [12]. 

Through Grow School, Robyn is also making waves in neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Laos PDR. Beyond that, Robyn continues to extend her influence with Youth Uprising Philippines, an organization that supports Filipino youth in creating meaningful changes and building more inclusive, fair and sustainable communities [11].

At a very young age, Robyn has shown her utmost dedication to fostering the potential of young people and empowering them to become trailblazers. She continues to inspire young Filipinos towards sustaining the agricultural industry, attaining food security, and fostering resilience amidst climate change.

Maria and Robyn’s stories are a true testament to the indispensable role of women in disaster risk reduction and in empowering vulnerable populations/communities. With the support and recognition of their work, these two women have proven that it is a woman’s world, after all.

This story was written by Xchaina Amo, ComDev Asia intern.

Featured photo from UNDRR.

References

[1] International Fund for Agricultural Development. (2011). Women and rural development. Women and rural development 

[2] UN Women. (2013, October). The role of women in rural development, food production and poverty eradication. The role of women in rural development, food production and poverty eradication 2013 

[3] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for Asia and Pacific. (2024, November 1). Filipina and Papua New Guinean advocates honoured for leadership in disaster risk reduction, sustainable agriculture, and gender equality. Filipina and Papua New Guinean advocates honoured for leadership in disaster risk reduction, sustainable agriculture, and gender equality 

[4] Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction – Philippines. (n.d.). WIN DRR Global. WIN DRR Global 

[5] Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. (2024). Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) 2024 Awards Ceremony (by invitation only). Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) 2024 Awards Ceremony (by invitation only) | APMCDRR 

[6] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for Asia and Pacific. (2024, September 23). WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2024: These are this year’s Excellence Award finalists. WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2024: The Excellence Award finalists | UNDRR 

[7] GrowHer. (2021, April 12). She found her purpose in farming, and founded PNG Women in Agriculture. From PR career to farmer and founder of PNG Women in Agriculture 

[8] Seniorl Anzu. (2015, September 8). Maria Linibi [Video]. Youtube. Maria Linibi 

[9] Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development. (2017, November 16). Educate the women: Papua New Guinea Women in Agricultural Development Foundation (PNGWiADF). Educate the women: Papua New Guinea Women in Agricultural Development Foundation (PNGWiADF) 

[10] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2024, October 16). How Maria Linibi empowers women in Papua New Guinea | UNDRR [Video]. Youtube. How Maria Linibi empowers women in Papua New Guinea | UNDRR 

[11] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for Asia and Pacific. (2024, September 16). WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2024: Meet the Rising Star Award finalists. WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2024: Meet the Rising Star Award Finalists | UNDRR 

[12] Grow School Philippines. (n.d.). Who We Are. https://growschoolphilippines.org/about/ 

[13] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2024, October 16). How Robyn Mijares teaches children about food security in the Philippines | UNDRR [Video]. Youtube. How Robyn Mijares teaches children about food security in the Philippines | UNDRR