KOROR, Palau (June 2026) — The States of Aimeliik, Ngardmau, Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui have officially launched the Kiwa Initiative Women’s Work Project in Palau by signing implementation agreements with the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT). The project will empower women-led initiatives to restore coastal ecosystems, strengthen food security and enhance community resilience to climate change.

The launch follows a two-day inception workshop that brought together women leaders from the four Dmakeiukl states to strengthen their capacities in project management, financial accountability, monitoring and reporting. The training equipped participants with practical tools to effectively design, implement and monitor community-led conservation and sustainable development initiatives.

The official ceremony marked three important milestones:

• the launch of the Kiwa Initiative Women’s Work Project in Palau;
• the renewal of the Dmakeiukl Declaration, reaffirming the four states’ commitment to jointly manage and protect shared natural resources across state boundaries; and
• the signing of on-granting agreements between MCT and the State Governments of Aimeliik, Ngardmau, Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui.

Through these agreements, a total of USD 194,937.50 will be provided directly to support implementation of projects led by the Dmakeiukl Women’s Groups.

“Today’s launch reflects our shared commitment to supporting women leaders who have long been at the forefront of caring for their communities and natural resources,” said Winfred Mudong, Regional Project Manager for the Kiwa Initiative Women’s Work Project at the Micronesia Conservation Trust.

Yvonne Ueda, Palau Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy’s Micronesia and Polynesia Program, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative: “This investment recognizes the leadership and contributions of women in our communities and strengthens our collective ability to protect and sustainably manage our natural resources. By supporting women leaders and community-driven action, we are helping build stronger, more resilient communities across Palau.”

The Kiwa Women’s Work project works with women across 20 rural communities on 12 islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau to restore coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, strengthen food security, and build climate resilience. Grounded in traditional ecological knowledge, the project trains women’s groups in climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods while elevating women as leaders and decision- makers in conservation.

In Palau, this Kiwa project brings together the four Dmakeiukl states, their women’s groups, the Micronesia Conservation Trust and The Nature Conservancy to demonstrate how Nature- based Solutions (NbS) can deliver multiple benefits for biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, food security and climate resilience. By combining traditional knowledge, community leadership and collaborative natural resource management, the partnership aims to generate lasting environmental and social impacts across Palau.