With the objective to alleviate poverty, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation is now financially supporting income generating projects targeted towards assisting women in peri-urban and squatter settlements.
The Ministry is working with the Fiji Women’s Federation Advisory (FWF) Committee to implement livelihood projects to uplift the lives of those who are challenged with poverty and unemployment.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni says that while her Ministry has focused on rural women, priority for this year also includes assisting those in periurban areas (Suva-Lami and Suva-Nausori corridor). The Ministry of Women has the budget allocation of $50,000 to facilitate these projects.
“Those living in peri-urban areas and squatter settlements also experience poverty and the Ministry will work with the Non-Government Organisations to provide income generating opportunities to reach out to the women in these areas.
“I am pleased to say that as a result of Ministry’s networking with women groups, women have become progressive particularly in terms of alleviating poverty in their communities. Women’s accessibility to banking facilities has been a challenge and through the construction of women centres we will open up banking services to them.
“The opening of projects like baking, canteens, tailoring, handicrafts, poultry, virgin coconut oil will see women becoming financially independent. The Ministry is glad to work with the FWF advisory members to provide the funding of $5000 to support income generating projects in the communities they hope to assist this year,” Minister Luveni said.
Dr Luveni said the projects funded by the Ministry are monitored to ensure that the benefits reach down to the grassroots level.
The Fiji Muslim Women’s League president, Ms Nisha Buksh has commended the Bainimarama government’s effort to economically empower disadvantaged groups of Fijians in the country.
“We are trying to encourage and empower women to get into income generating projects so they can develop their skills and use available resources to earn money for their families. Women have great potentials and projects supported by the Ministry will enable them to venture into self-sufficiency and independent livelihood.
“Through a recent capacity building workshop organised by the Ministry, the women NGO’s have learnt the skills of writing project proposals and monitoring projects to ensure its sustainability. This new initiative is a great incentive for women groups to contribute effectively towards economic development in Fiji,” Ms Buksh said.
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