Supporting women and young people to build sustainable livelihoods in multi-ethnic communities

Fiji

Partner: Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding (PCP)

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID – ANCP

Issue: Vanua Levu in Fiji faces many development challenges, with coastal and interior rural communities suffering from the effects of flooding in 2009 and cyclones in 2010. Poor inter-ethnic relations affect community harmony, personal and community security and the ability of communities to collectively improve their livelihoods.

Outline: PCP is working to improve relationships among women and youth in multi-ethnic communities; empower and promote women’s participation in community decision-making and conflict resolution; and increase women’s control and access to resources and income, to strengthen sustainable livelihoods and development in their communities.

Impact: During 2010–11, this initiative was piloted in four communities in Vanua Levu. New skills and attention to mediation enabled dialogue between women from communities and provincial government to overcome former barriers to local development processes and increase gender equality. As a result the communities have established alternative livelihood projects including a cooperative shop, a poultry farm and a seed bank. A goat farm and a kuta (traditional wedding dress) business are in the planning and design phase. Men from these communities have expressed a greater level of respect for and understanding of women, demonstrated through their improved support for women’s livelihoods work.

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