Outcome FIJ_D_2.1

Inclusive, effective and representative marketplace groups are created and grow, contributing to gender, social and economic advancement, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence and expanded economic opportunities

During the reporting period, a total of 12 out of 13 marketplaces establish ed and register ed their Market Vendors Association (MVA). One of the main achievements under this particular outcome was the successful establishment and registration of the MVA for vendor trading at the Vunisea market on Kadavu, a new market that was funded through support from the New Zealand Government. All 13 market vendors association reported having at least 50% of women as part of their MVA executive members while 62% (8 out of 13) of the MVA reported having a woman as the president of the association. Over 3000 MVA members across the 12 municipal councils are frequently engaged to actively participate in the decision-making process on matters patterning to the coordination and management of the marketplaces. This is evidenced through the involvement of vendors in the key decision-making process toward minimizing COVID-19 spread in the marketplaces and in terms of food security. Nine of the 13 Market Vendors Association have initiated interventions to improve the socio-economic status of women and men in the markets. This included organizing and providing technical assistance to the member on their application for the Fiji Government loan to small business entrepreneurs to support them financially operating their business during this COVID 19 pandemic. The recognition of the Market Vendors Associations by the Fiji Government Ministry of Economy to hold its first-ever national budget consultation with the Market Vendors Associations. It brought together executive committee representatives of the 13 Market Vendors Associations to share their challenges during covid 19 in the marketplace and their role to effectively ensure safety protocols in the market for the business continuity of its members. Having the national budget consultation at the marketspace and involving market vendors in the process is a significant as it indicates the government's recognition of the market vendors contribution to the building of the national economy.

Inclusive, effective and representative marketplace groups are created and grow, contributing to gender, social and economic advancement, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence and expanded economic opportunities

The intended outcome of creating and growing representative marketplace groups has been achieved, with the creation of a new market vendor association (MVA) in Kadavu, the Vunisea MVA, and the continuous growth experienced by the other 12 MVAs in Fiji, which work towards prioritizing the gender, social and economic needs of market vendors in Fiji. Across the 13 registered Market Vendors Association (MVA), women market vendors hold the presidency positions in eight of the 13 registered MVA. In the 13 registered MVA, at least 50 percent of the women market vendors are in leadership roles. The strong leadership presence of women in market vendors associations (MVAs) in Fiji is ensuring that the voice of women is heard and magnified at all levels, and that workplace barriers caused by gender biases are removed. Moreover, under their leadership, the MVAs have demonstrated good governance, transparency and increasing accountability to the vendors through effective MVA management, and by working to meet their needs. This has included opening up social and economic opportunities for market vendors to actively participate in. MVAs are demonstrating a willingness to continuously improve their provision of services to members by revising and improving their association constitutions. An important revision in constitutions is the inclusion of a provision for a minimum of 60 percent of women holding the executive roles. These constitutional reviews have demonstrated the gender-responsiveness of the marketplace environment in promoting women’s leadership and participation in marketplace politics. Across the 13 registered Market Vendors Association (MVA), women market vendors hold the presidency positions in eight of the 13 registered MVA. In the 13 registered MVA, at least 50% of the women market vendors are in leadership roles. The strong leadership presence of women in market vendors associations (MVAs) in Fiji is ensuring that the voice of women is heard and magnified at all levels, and that workplace barriers caused by gender biases are removed. Moreover, under their leadership, the MVAs have demonstrated good governance, transparency and increasing accountability to the vendors through effective MVA management. This has included opening up social and economic opportunities for market vendors to actively participate. MVAs are demonstrating a willingness to continuously improve their provision of services to members by revising and improving their association constitutions. An important revision in constitutions is the inclusion of a provision for a minimum of 60% of women holding the executive roles. These constitutional reviews have demonstrated the gender-responsiveness of the marketplace environment in promoting women’s leadership and participation in marketplace politics.