Fijian govt is committed to women’s economic empowerment & Gender equality programme

“The Fijian Government has taken measures to improve women’s economic empowerment programs and promote gender equality in the local community. Government need women’s equal economic participation now more than ever before because they have to bounce back as an economy and as a nation.”

These were words shared by the Minister for Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar, as she handed over the Small Grant Scheme to the Bulamaiwai Women’s Club in Nasilai Village, Tailevu.

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The total cost of this Small Grant Scheme is $5473.46, which has been funded by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Minister Akbar highlighted that the Government, through its policies and programs, recognises the role of women in influencing these spheres.

“The Ministry is at the forefront in building the capacity to empower women through gender equality. The ministerial programs continue to promote women’s economic participation by supporting women-led income-generating projects and aims to eliminate violence against women and children”.

While speaking to the Nasilai community, Minister Akbar said as a nation and economy growing rapidly year after year, we just cannot leave behind half the population’s resourcefulness and contributions to the development of the nation, and that is why women’s economic empowerment is the right and smart thing to do.

“The active role played by Fijian women in the informal sector, with long hours of unpaid labour, household management and caring for family members while supporting the economic activities of menfolk”.

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“Our women play important roles in the rural economy, and they work as farmers and labourers. Due to gender-based discrimination and social norms, most of the women’s work remains unseen, unrecognised, and undervalued, and we as a growing economy cannot afford this,” she explained.


 

 


On behalf of the Ministry, Minister Akbar thanked the Nasilai women for their continued undertaking of programs that will economically empower individual women in the community. She also acknowledged the women who have made use of such opportunities to generate income for themselves and their families.

The President of the Bulamaiwai Women’s Club, Adi Lusi Boteiova, said the majority of the women’s group members are living in the village with an age range from 30 to 50 years old.

“We have started a few income-generating projects, and we have saved $557.00 in our bank account. The women’s group has assisted and contributed to the community project developments and also our family commitments. This income-generating project will help us to generate more income, and those who are willing to hire this equipment will cost them $50. We thank the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister Akbar for this timely assistance that will help to generate more income for the Club and also for financially supporting them during this pandemic“.

The Nasilai Village Headman, Mr Veresa Tuisawau, thanked the Government of the Day for providing this assistance to their women’s Club. “We have 174 villagers, and the source of income of this village is selling seafood products, coconuts, and mats.

This assistance will help those villagers who will be hosting events. Most of them usually hire this equipment from nearby villages, so this assistance will help the women to generate income from within our community. I thank the Prime Minister for this great assistance in providing this economic empowerment program for our women’s club”.