Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Jennifer Kausei is a woman leader from Vanuatu. At the time of this interview, she is serving as Port Vila Municipal Councillor. She began building toward leadership early, assisting community elders with meetings, taking minutes, and drafting letters, and went on to support her community through high school and university. Though she had not originally set out to enter politics, she was encouraged to stand for election by a community that recognised her long-standing contribution and her visibility through years of work in media. She shares her political journey, reflects on the moments and challenges that shaped her path, including learning not to give up when her ideas weren't immediately heard and instead finding other platforms to be heard, and offers messages for young women and women considering a step into leadership.
This video was made possible through the Wave Makers Campaign, an initiative showcasing the impact of women's leadership while advocating for gender equality and political participation, led by UN Women and supported by the Government of Sweden.
The interviews were collected during the WYDE Women's Leadership Regional Intergenerational Dialogue: Waves of Change – Pacific Women in Politics Across Generations, held from 30 September to 1 October 2025 in Nadi, Fiji. The WYDE | Women's Leadership Initiative is a global multi-partner effort to advance women's full and effective political participation and representation in decision-making at all levels, particularly for those most often left behind. Funded by the European Union and led by UN Women, WYDE | Women's Leadership leverages collective action, partnerships, and transformative social norms to create impact globally.
This video aims to stimulate constructive debate on key issues of interest for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. The views expressed by the individuals interviewed do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations system, the Government of Sweden, or the European Union.
Tags: Jennifer Kausei, Vanuatu, Port Vila, Port Vila City Council, municipal government, women's political participation, Pacific women, gender equality, women in local government, Pacific Islands, women's leadership, political representation, UN Women, WYDE, women's movements, gender-responsive governance, Pacific politics, women's rights.
Jennifer Kausei is a woman leader from Vanuatu. At the time of this interview, she is serving as Port Vila Municipal Councillor. She began building toward leadership early, assisting community elders with meetings, taking minutes, and drafting letters, and went on to support her community through high school and university. Though she had not originally set out to enter politics, she was encouraged to stand for election by a community that recognised her long-standing contribution and her visibility through years of work in media. She shares her political journey, reflects on the moments and challenges that shaped her path, including learning not to give up when her ideas weren't immediately heard and instead finding other platforms to be heard, and offers messages for young women and women considering a step into leadership.
This video was made possible through the Wave Makers Campaign, an initiative showcasing the impact of women's leadership while advocating for gender equality and political participation, led by UN Women and supported by the Government of Sweden.
The interviews were collected during the WYDE Women's Leadership Regional Intergenerational Dialogue: Waves of Change – Pacific Women in Politics Across Generations, held from 30 September to 1 October 2025 in Nadi, Fiji. The WYDE | Women's Leadership Initiative is a global multi-partner effort to advance women's full and effective political participation and representation in decision-making at all levels, particularly for those most often left behind. Funded by the European Union and led by UN Women, WYDE | Women's Leadership leverages collective action, partnerships, and transformative social norms to create impact globally.
This video aims to stimulate constructive debate on key issues of interest for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. The views expressed by the individuals interviewed do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations system, the Government of Sweden, or the European Union.
Tags: Jennifer Kausei, Vanuatu, Port Vila, Port Vila City Council, municipal government, women's political participation, Pacific women, gender equality, women in local government, Pacific Islands, women's leadership, political representation, UN Women, WYDE, women's movements, gender-responsive governance, Pacific politics, women's rights.
