Outcome FIJ_D_2.3

Local governments and market management are gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs

In this reporting period, the second and third women market manager appointment was recorded which saw a female assuming the market manger role for Rakiraki and Levuka market. All the 13 marketplaces have maintained mechanism that was established to improve communication between market management and market vendors. In addition, all 13 marketplaces reported to have had the market management engaging in consultative process that had included the presents and inputs from the market vendors. An example was the nomination of Lautoka and Namaka market vendors association (MVA) executives being part of the government divisional stakeholders and task force committee. The executive members are also part of the Fiji Police and community policing committee for their respective local councils. UN Women through the Market for Change project contributed to the results achieved via trainings that empowered municipal markets to have mechanisms established to improve communication between market management and market vendors.

Local governments and market management are gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs

Local government and market management have demonstrated increased accountability to women market vendors through their commitment for gender responsive and inclusive processes and strategies in the marketplaces. This have included the following: continuous improvements to the policy landscapes of markets . In Fiji, this has been demonstrated through improved market by-laws and the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the Nausori Market Women's Accommodation Centre and the Nausori Market Women's Accommodation Centre. The Accommodation Centres are for rural women vendors who travel long distances and need to a place to stay overnight. Increasing accountability to vendors through the establishment of a Grievance Mechanism as an efficient and effective way of anticipating, collecting, recording, addressing and, where possible, resolving grievances. The mechanism has especially given women vendors confidence to voice their concerns over injustices in the marketplaces. Increasing gender parity by examination of management structures across the 13 markets and appointing 3 women market managers (with the aim to continue to increase the proportion); Improving information flows to enhance transparency through the establishment of channels of communications, including informal channels. These have resulted in greater clarity about marketplace operations and management. Creating systemic changes to ensure safe spaces for women vendors where they can be productive , such as the creation of sheltered space for close to 400 women in three markets. These women would otherwise be selling in the open, and along footpaths. The establishment of a solutions-oriented forum for 11 market managers and market vendors associations. This monthly meeting has been actively finding solutions to address a variety of market vendors needs and also enhance cross-market knowledge sharing. UN Women provided financial and technical support for the capacity building of local governments and market management through the Markets for Change project.