Outcome FIJ_D_3.1

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

The outcome is still on track. Significant strides have been made in enhancing the accessibility and quality of services for women and girl survivors of GBV in the Pacific. The coordination of referral and response services for survivors of GBV has significantly improved through adherence to the Fiji National Service Delivery Protocol (SDP). The Ministry of Women with support from UN Women, facilitated localised referral pathways awareness with stakeholders from the central and western division. And currently the three out of the four divisions in Fiji (central, western, norther and eastern), have successfully implemented the SDP/GBV working group and created a localised referral pathway. Efforts to provide enhanced quality responses to survivors of violence in the Northern Division of Fiji have been particularly impactful. Twenty-five police officers underwent awareness and training sessions, resulting in improved practices within the police force. These officers, now equipped with a deeper understanding, demonstrate respect to survivors, take their cases seriously, and act swiftly to support women and girls navigating the complexities of the justice system in Fiji. The new Gender-Based Violence Counsellor Training Package for the Pacific has been agreed by the representatives from crisis centers across ten Pacific Island countries. This innovative move marks a departure from the previous manual utilized over the region for over three decades, developed by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. Following the agreement on the new GBV Counseling Manual, a two-week training session was conducted. Eighteen GBV counsellors from ten Pacific countries engaged in an intensive program aimed at refining their GBV counseling skills and knowledge. This effort is pivotal in ensuring that frontline responders are equipped with the latest methodologies and best practices in providing survivor-centered services. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and UN Women facilitated this training . Based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and ToC for this outcome is largely still applicable. However, given that a formulation of the second phase of the Pacific Partnerships is underway, it is likely that the strategy may be modified depending on the process. Concerning the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls, the transition to a new government brings about the necessity to acquaint the incoming ministers and government officials with the intricacies of the NAP. This orientation is crucial to ensure their understanding and enthusiastic engagement with the ongoing initiatives.

By 2027, more people, particularly those at risk of being left behind, benefit from more equitable access to resilient, and gender-responsive, quality basic services, food security/nutrition and social protection systems. [PCF Strategic Priority 2: People]

This outcome is on track. In 2024, transformative initiatives across Fiji advanced equitable access to essential services and social protection systems, particularly benefiting those at risk of being left behind. Through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (PPEVAWG), these interconnected programs reached 737 direct beneficiaries while establishing sustainable mechanisms for institutional change and social transformation. At the heart of these achievements, Fiji's groundbreaking National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (NAP) demonstrated strong national ownership through substantial financial commitments of FJD 7 million. The NAP Coordination Unit, housed the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP), orchestrated engagement across 13 diverse sectors, integrating government ministries, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, and traditional entities throughout Fiji's four divisions. This whole-of-society approach ensured meaningful participation of women, men, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups in shaping prevention and response mechanisms. Behavioural changes emerged through multiple pathways. The SASA Faith initiative, by the House of Sarah, reached 670 community members (439 females, 233 males) in urban informal settlements, transforming understanding of power dynamics and violence prevention through culturally adapted, multilingual approaches. Community Action Groups became local hubs for knowledge sharing and coordinated GBV response, demonstrating how faith institutions can effectively catalyse social norm change while respecting cultural values. In the sports sector, institutional transformation took root as 67 Safeguarding Focal Points (40 females, 19 males, 1 transwoman, 1 queer participant, 6 unspecified) across 35 Pacific sports organizations developed expertise in gender-inclusive safeguarding protocols and survivor-centred responses. This initiative established organization-specific referral pathways connecting sports bodies with key service providers like SAFENET and the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, institutionalizing gender-responsive practices across Pacific sports. The Regional Working Group on Domestic Violence Legislation Implementation strengthened legislative frameworks while catalysing shifts in institutional and community responses to domestic violence. This structured engagement mechanism exemplifies a rights-based approach that ensures effective implementation through contextually informed strategies while maintaining alignment with international standards. In recognition of the Pacific region's acute vulnerability to climate impacts, PPEVAWG Phase II has commenced planning for a comprehensive study to investigate how climate-related disasters and environmental stressors exacerbate gender inequalities and increase vulnerabilities to violence. The planned research will examine crucial aspects including displacement-related protection risks, economic pressures from loss of traditional livelihoods, increased household tensions during resource scarcity, and compromised access to support services during environmental crises - challenges that are particularly acute in Pacific Island settings. This innovative research initiative demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to strengthening GBV prevention by understanding its intersection with the defining existential threat facing Pacific communities. These achievements directly advance the Pacific UNSDCF People Pillar by strengthening equitable access to gender-responsive services and social protection systems across Fiji. The NAP's whole-of-society approach, backed by substantial national funding and integrated service delivery protocols, ensures sustainable access to essential services for those most at risk of being left behind. Through the development of coordinated referral pathways, capacity building of service providers, and engagement of diverse stakeholders - from faith-based organizations to sports bodies - these initiatives have created more resilient and accessible support systems. The focus on urban informal settlements, integration of disability-inclusive approaches, and attention to climate-related vulnerabilities demonstrates a comprehensive commitment to reaching marginalized populations. By transforming institutional responses and community attitudes while strengthening service delivery mechanisms, these programs contribute significantly to creating more equitable, resilient, and gender-responsive social protection systems across Fiji. UN Women Fiji MCO provided technical expertise and program oversight, in partnership with the MWCSP, House of Sarah, Fiji National Rugby League and Oceania Football Confederation.