Samoa Gender in Transport Profile 2026
Outline
SAMOA
GENDER IN TRANSPORT PROFILE
Supported by:
Background
This 2026 edition of the Gender in Transport Profiles revisits and updates the initial release, transforming it into a more interactive and data-rich resource. Developed in partnership with the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory, this edition offers a deeper perspective on how gender shapes transport systems across Asia-Pacific economies.
The profiles examine women's participation in the transport workforce, comparing representation across countries and relative to other economic sectors, while also assessing gender wage disparities and how these relate to national income levels. They further explore how road injuries and fatalities affect vulnerable groups differently, as well as how access to transport, mobility opportunities, and leadership roles in the sector vary by gender. Together, these dimensions provide a more comprehensive picture of structural gaps, safety risks, and areas of progress.
Released during Women's Month in March 2026, the profiles are designed for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. By consolidating official and vetted data into an accessible interactive format, they support evidence-based dialogue and the development of more inclusive, gender-responsive transport policies across Asia.
To complement the country profiles, ATO also presents three regional gender snapshots highlighting employment, wage patterns, and road safety trends across Asia-Pacific:
- Employment in Transport
- Gender Wage Patterns
- Road Safety and Vulnerability
Employment in the transport sector
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Policy Landscape
Capacity building - General
| Develop a vocational training programme for women to be trained as bus operators, school bus operators, taxi drivers, ferry operators and mechanics (operational for both EVs and hybrid vehicles). Proactively encourage women to become bus and taxi drivers and drivers in the Government vehicle fleet. Roll out a Women's Commercial Driving License Training programme in partnership with the Land Transport Authority to ensure they also benefit from the increase in electric vans and to bridge the mobility gender gap. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Analyse the safety of public transport routes (e.g. buses, bus stops) Deliver training to bus operators on response to harassment in their vehicles, including sexual harassment. Encourage the set-up of a women-only taxi station using an electric car fleet to improve the feeling of safety of female passengers and to boost women's livelihood opportunities. Conduct Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) training to ensure gender concerns and priorities are assessed and integrated into transport and land use budget planning. Conduct community consultations for new facility works, including with women-only and youth-only focus group discussions to ensure their settings and locations respond to their needs, including convenience and safety. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Implement corrective measures on public transport planning and across Sustainable Mobility Plans (SMPs) to improve safety (e.g. well-lit bus stops), grounded in community consultations on the use of public transport | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| For the country to make credible progress in tackling the impacts of climate change it is necessary to have an inclusive approach covering all genders, the youth and other marginalized communities. Samoa identifies the following quantifiable targets for gender and social inclusion: » 50% women and 40% youth in consultations » 50% of the participants in climate change related capacity building programmes and consultations are women » 50% of the beneficiaries of climate change related projects are women | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Ensuring gender disaggregated indicators and data collection is incorporated in the project design documents. | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Design and roll out awareness campaign for inclusive and safe mobility especially for women, PWDs, elderly, youth and children, based on a public survey on perceptions of barriers to low-carbon mobility. Develop a gender-sensitive Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan, to promote green, inclusive and accessible infrastructure and mobility. | Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | 2023 |
| • Ensure that all transport and infrastructure planning incorporates gender analysis, includ- ing with respects to the interests, needs and experiences of women, people living with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Sample priority areas may include rural water supply, gender-safe evacuation centres, gender-sensitive transport, and informal settlements in urban areas. • Develop specific mechanisms for stronger engagement of women in consultation and de- cision-making regarding all aspects of infrastructure (including urban) planning and devel- opment. • Strengthen gender inclusiveness in all infrastructure projects – including transport, waste management, clean water and sanitation – and continue to reinforce through contractual obligation of contractors. • Ensure that programs are designed with the safety of women and others (including chil- dren, and people with disabilities) in mind, uncovering norms regarding unpaid work in or- der to ensure that all people affected by infrastructure projects are able to meaningfully participate in all stages of planning and development, and more fundamentally, challenge those norms | National Policy on Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls 2021-2031 | 2021 |
| (i) driver's education/safety course and outreach for women, (ii) first-time license fees waived for women completing the course, | Samoa Climate Resilient Transport Project | 2018 |
Female economic empowerment and workforce participation
| Develop a vocational training programme for women to be trained as bus operators, school bus operators, taxi drivers, ferry operators and mechanics (operational for both EVs and hybrid vehicles). Proactively encourage women to become bus and taxi drivers and drivers in the Government vehicle fleet. Roll out a Women's Commercial Driving License Training programme in partnership with the Land Transport Authority to ensure they also benefit from the increase in electric vans and to bridge the mobility gender gap. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Analyse the safety of public transport routes (e.g. buses, bus stops) Deliver training to bus operators on response to harassment in their vehicles, including sexual harassment. Encourage the set-up of a women-only taxi station using an electric car fleet to improve the feeling of safety of female passengers and to boost women's livelihood opportunities. Conduct Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) training to ensure gender concerns and priorities are assessed and integrated into transport and land use budget planning. Conduct community consultations for new facility works, including with women-only and youth-only focus group discussions to ensure their settings and locations respond to their needs, including convenience and safety. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Implement corrective measures on public transport planning and across Sustainable Mobility Plans (SMPs) to improve safety (e.g. well-lit bus stops), grounded in community consultations on the use of public transport | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| For the country to make credible progress in tackling the impacts of climate change it is necessary to have an inclusive approach covering all genders, the youth and other marginalized communities. Samoa identifies the following quantifiable targets for gender and social inclusion: » 50% women and 40% youth in consultations » 50% of the participants in climate change related capacity building programmes and consultations are women » 50% of the beneficiaries of climate change related projects are women | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Ensuring gender disaggregated indicators and data collection is incorporated in the project design documents. | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Design and roll out awareness campaign for inclusive and safe mobility especially for women, PWDs, elderly, youth and children, based on a public survey on perceptions of barriers to low-carbon mobility. Develop a gender-sensitive Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan, to promote green, inclusive and accessible infrastructure and mobility. | Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | 2023 |
| • Ensure that all transport and infrastructure planning incorporates gender analysis, includ- ing with respects to the interests, needs and experiences of women, people living with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Sample priority areas may include rural water supply, gender-safe evacuation centres, gender-sensitive transport, and informal settlements in urban areas. • Develop specific mechanisms for stronger engagement of women in consultation and de- cision-making regarding all aspects of infrastructure (including urban) planning and devel- opment. • Strengthen gender inclusiveness in all infrastructure projects – including transport, waste management, clean water and sanitation – and continue to reinforce through contractual obligation of contractors. • Ensure that programs are designed with the safety of women and others (including chil- dren, and people with disabilities) in mind, uncovering norms regarding unpaid work in or- der to ensure that all people affected by infrastructure projects are able to meaningfully participate in all stages of planning and development, and more fundamentally, challenge those norms | National Policy on Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls 2021-2031 | 2021 |
| (i) driver's education/safety course and outreach for women, (ii) first-time license fees waived for women completing the course, | Samoa Climate Resilient Transport Project | 2018 |
Gender consideration for transport development - General
| Develop a vocational training programme for women to be trained as bus operators, school bus operators, taxi drivers, ferry operators and mechanics (operational for both EVs and hybrid vehicles). Proactively encourage women to become bus and taxi drivers and drivers in the Government vehicle fleet. Roll out a Women's Commercial Driving License Training programme in partnership with the Land Transport Authority to ensure they also benefit from the increase in electric vans and to bridge the mobility gender gap. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Analyse the safety of public transport routes (e.g. buses, bus stops) Deliver training to bus operators on response to harassment in their vehicles, including sexual harassment. Encourage the set-up of a women-only taxi station using an electric car fleet to improve the feeling of safety of female passengers and to boost women's livelihood opportunities. Conduct Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) training to ensure gender concerns and priorities are assessed and integrated into transport and land use budget planning. Conduct community consultations for new facility works, including with women-only and youth-only focus group discussions to ensure their settings and locations respond to their needs, including convenience and safety. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Implement corrective measures on public transport planning and across Sustainable Mobility Plans (SMPs) to improve safety (e.g. well-lit bus stops), grounded in community consultations on the use of public transport | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| For the country to make credible progress in tackling the impacts of climate change it is necessary to have an inclusive approach covering all genders, the youth and other marginalized communities. Samoa identifies the following quantifiable targets for gender and social inclusion: » 50% women and 40% youth in consultations » 50% of the participants in climate change related capacity building programmes and consultations are women » 50% of the beneficiaries of climate change related projects are women | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Ensuring gender disaggregated indicators and data collection is incorporated in the project design documents. | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Design and roll out awareness campaign for inclusive and safe mobility especially for women, PWDs, elderly, youth and children, based on a public survey on perceptions of barriers to low-carbon mobility. Develop a gender-sensitive Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan, to promote green, inclusive and accessible infrastructure and mobility. | Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | 2023 |
| • Ensure that all transport and infrastructure planning incorporates gender analysis, includ- ing with respects to the interests, needs and experiences of women, people living with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Sample priority areas may include rural water supply, gender-safe evacuation centres, gender-sensitive transport, and informal settlements in urban areas. • Develop specific mechanisms for stronger engagement of women in consultation and de- cision-making regarding all aspects of infrastructure (including urban) planning and devel- opment. • Strengthen gender inclusiveness in all infrastructure projects – including transport, waste management, clean water and sanitation – and continue to reinforce through contractual obligation of contractors. • Ensure that programs are designed with the safety of women and others (including chil- dren, and people with disabilities) in mind, uncovering norms regarding unpaid work in or- der to ensure that all people affected by infrastructure projects are able to meaningfully participate in all stages of planning and development, and more fundamentally, challenge those norms | National Policy on Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls 2021-2031 | 2021 |
| (i) driver's education/safety course and outreach for women, (ii) first-time license fees waived for women completing the course, | Samoa Climate Resilient Transport Project | 2018 |
Gender inclusive infrastructure and service design
| Develop a vocational training programme for women to be trained as bus operators, school bus operators, taxi drivers, ferry operators and mechanics (operational for both EVs and hybrid vehicles). Proactively encourage women to become bus and taxi drivers and drivers in the Government vehicle fleet. Roll out a Women's Commercial Driving License Training programme in partnership with the Land Transport Authority to ensure they also benefit from the increase in electric vans and to bridge the mobility gender gap. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Analyse the safety of public transport routes (e.g. buses, bus stops) Deliver training to bus operators on response to harassment in their vehicles, including sexual harassment. Encourage the set-up of a women-only taxi station using an electric car fleet to improve the feeling of safety of female passengers and to boost women's livelihood opportunities. Conduct Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) training to ensure gender concerns and priorities are assessed and integrated into transport and land use budget planning. Conduct community consultations for new facility works, including with women-only and youth-only focus group discussions to ensure their settings and locations respond to their needs, including convenience and safety. | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| Implement corrective measures on public transport planning and across Sustainable Mobility Plans (SMPs) to improve safety (e.g. well-lit bus stops), grounded in community consultations on the use of public transport | Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan | 2025 |
| For the country to make credible progress in tackling the impacts of climate change it is necessary to have an inclusive approach covering all genders, the youth and other marginalized communities. Samoa identifies the following quantifiable targets for gender and social inclusion: » 50% women and 40% youth in consultations » 50% of the participants in climate change related capacity building programmes and consultations are women » 50% of the beneficiaries of climate change related projects are women | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Ensuring gender disaggregated indicators and data collection is incorporated in the project design documents. | SAMOA'S NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION 3.0 | 2025 |
| Design and roll out awareness campaign for inclusive and safe mobility especially for women, PWDs, elderly, youth and children, based on a public survey on perceptions of barriers to low-carbon mobility. Develop a gender-sensitive Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan, to promote green, inclusive and accessible infrastructure and mobility. | Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan | 2023 |
| • Ensure that all transport and infrastructure planning incorporates gender analysis, includ- ing with respects to the interests, needs and experiences of women, people living with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Sample priority areas may include rural water supply, gender-safe evacuation centres, gender-sensitive transport, and informal settlements in urban areas. • Develop specific mechanisms for stronger engagement of women in consultation and de- cision-making regarding all aspects of infrastructure (including urban) planning and devel- opment. • Strengthen gender inclusiveness in all infrastructure projects – including transport, waste management, clean water and sanitation – and continue to reinforce through contractual obligation of contractors. • Ensure that programs are designed with the safety of women and others (including chil- dren, and people with disabilities) in mind, uncovering norms regarding unpaid work in or- der to ensure that all people affected by infrastructure projects are able to meaningfully participate in all stages of planning and development, and more fundamentally, challenge those norms | National Policy on Gender Equality and Rights of Women and Girls 2021-2031 | 2021 |
| (i) driver's education/safety course and outreach for women, (ii) first-time license fees waived for women completing the course, | Samoa Climate Resilient Transport Project | 2018 |
References
ESMAP. (2024). Gender and Energy Indicators. https://energydata.info/dataset/esmap-gender-and-energy-indicators
IHME. (2026). GBD Compare. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-compare/
ILO. (2026). Data tools to find and download labour statistics. ILOSTAT. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/
ITU. (2025). Individuals using the Internet [Dataset]. https://www.itu.int:443/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx
World Bank. (2025). GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) [Dataset]. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD
World Economic Forum. (2025). Gender Gap Report 2025. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2025/digest/