Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
Least Developed Country:Yes
Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.
Gender Inequality Index:0.575
GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.
Gender Development Index:0.723
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025
Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision
Male:19,976,265 (9.5%)
Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-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
The Vunisea Market on Kadavu Island has become the 13th market in Fiji to successfully establish and register its market vendor association (MVA). All 13 MVAs reported having women make up at least 50 per cent of their MVA executive membership. In addition, 8 out of 13 MVAs (62%) have female Presidents leading the Associations. Consistent capacity building over several years has led to over 3000 MVA members across the 12 municipal councils frequently engaging in the decision-making processes on matters about the coordination and management of the marketplaces. In 2021 vendors participated in and sometimes led key decision-making processes toward minimizing COVID-19 spread in the marketplaces and issues related to food security. Nine MVAs have initiated interventions to improve the socio-economic status of women and men in the markets. This included facilitating access and supporting members on their application for Fiji Government loans to protect small business entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognising the key role MVAs play in the informal economic sector towards nation building, the Fiji Government Ministry of Economy held a national budget consultation with MVA executive committee representatives of the 13 MVAs.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-FIJ_D_2.2
Improved socio-economic security of urban and rural women
The consistent capacity building in financial literacy, financial management and smart agriculture practices over the years has yielded results in 2021 as more women vendors are now accessing financial services (including banking, credit, savings, and insurance), and practicing business management skills such as record-keeping. Women farmers have also reported improved productivity after putting in place skills gained from smart agriculture practices. UN Women and UNDP collaborated to connect financial service providers like ANZ Bank to rural market vendors and partnered with stakeholders to provide free transportation of goods for remote market vendors to the nearest marketplace.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-FIJ_D_2.3
Local governments and market management are gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs
All 13 market managements in Fiji have reported supporting the active participation of women market vendors in external consultative processes to broaden the scope of women’s voice and agency, and general community participation. An example was the nomination of Lautoka and Namaka market vendors association (MVA) executives to the Government Divisional Stakeholders and Task Force Committee. and the Fiji Police Community Committee for the Lautoka City Council and Nadi Town Council respectively. These platforms provide the opportunity for women market vendor needs to reach a wider community and even higher authorities in decision-making capacities.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-FIJ_D_2.4
Markets physical infrastructure and operating systems are improved to make them more sustainable, resilient to disaster risks and climate change, safer and more accessible
Highlights under this particular outcome for this reporting period included the completion of the Ba Women’s Accommodation Centre upgrades and refurbishing and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nausori Market Accommodation Centre. All the marketplace infrastructure development plan has been developed based on consultations with market vendors. UN Women’s contribution was ensuring that its funded market project has been done in compliance with UN Women’s Infrastructure Project Checklist and with the current Fiji Building Standard with the engineer-approved and certified building plan to make the building and all upgrading works more resilient to climate change.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-FIJ_D_3.1
Women and men in target communities demonstrate support to survivors of violence and practice balanced power in their relationships
Progress was made to contribute to this Outcome through primary prevention approaches and strategies that were adapted for COVID-19 to address harmful social norms at the individual and community level that drive VAWG, combined with targeted efforts to support women and girls who have experienced violence. The House of Sarah and the Anglican Church in Fiji continued to adapt and implement the “Preventing Violence Against Women in Fiji’s Faith Settings” (PVAWFFS) initiative that began in 2018. Implemented in three Anglican Parishes, the PVAWFFS project uses SASA! Faith, an activist VAWG prevention model developed by Raising Voices, Uganda, and Trocaire, Ireland. The SASA! Faith model takes the structure, process, and content of SASA! and adapts it for use by religious communities. In 2021, the Awareness Phase was completed in March 2021 and the Support Phase began in April 2022. Despite the significant impacts of COVID-19, more individuals were reached in 2021 compared to 2020. A total of 1,824 [SR1] community members were reached in 2021 as a result of 332 in-person activities and 30 virtual or COVID-19 safe activities led by 30 Community Activists from the Anglican parishes, in partnership with church leaders, vestry members, and women’s ministries. The bulk of in-person activities were conducted as a part of the Awareness Phase from January to March 2021. The SASA! Faith community mobilization approach targets approximately 2,500 people in the three Anglican communities. In 2021, 73 per cent [SR2] of the target population engaged with VAWG prevention content. Evidence from the end-of-Awareness Phase Rapid Assessment Survey showed that faith community members in all three parishes demonstrated a positive change in knowledge and attitudes towards violence against women and girls based on the PVAWFFS programme. Community members were able to demonstrate understanding of the meaning of “power”, the fact that men’s power over women is the root cause of violence against women, and the differentiation between types of violence against women and their consequences. Furthermore, community members demonstrated a shift in attitudes that support the following statements: Violence against women is never acceptable; Women and men can move beyond the roles society sets for them; Balanced power between women and men is healthy, safe, and benefits both; Everyone has power; Women should not be blamed for violence against them; and, Violence against women is a community issue, not a private issue. The PVAWFFS programme further demonstrated an increased ability to engage across all levels of influence and strengthen community-based relationships with partners. In particular, the House of Sarah successfully engaged the Fiji Police Force – Southern Division, including the Divisional Police Commander Southern to strengthen their engagement within the Community Action Group network of the programme. The Fiji Police Force plays a critical role at national and local levels with mandates to uphold community safety, specifically as a frontline provider of safety and security for survivors of violence and provider of Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVRO). With significant advocacy and engagement, a strengthened relationship evolved between the PVAWFFS staff, Community Activists, and the police. A series of information-sharing sessions on key issues of unequal power relations between men and women were conducted, including a session with 15 senior police officers from the Southern Division. Regular meetings (pending COVID-19 regulations for in-person meetings) with the DPC Southern and senior staff were held throughout the year to identify key issues, gaps, and ways forward. Other partners regularly engaged by the House of Sarah include the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Medical Services Pacific and Empower Pacific. Despite the restrictive nature of COVID-19 in Fiji, the House of Sarah and PVAWFFS programme were able to pivot into a series of adaptations including virtual engagement with community members, integration of COVID-19 considerations in sessions on VAWG, internal skills-building and reflection with staff and Community Activists on digital engagement and self-care practices. The House of Sarah adapted Raising Voices’ global guidance and materials on COVID-19 for Fiji’s context and in i-Taukei language. The materials were shared via social media, (WhatsApp and Viber) and in in-person engagements when restrictions eased. In partnership with UN Women, Raising Voices continued to provide technical assistance to the House of Sarah including training on the M&E database and COVID-19 adaptations. UN Women continues to work in close partnership with the House of Sarah to implement the PVAWFFS programme and ensure the sustainability of the programme’s outcomes and impact. Participants at the programme's annual reflection workshop expressed that the programme will be sustainable at the community level. In 2021, the programme launched the Support Phase to be completed by quarter 2 2022.Showing 1 - 5 of 10
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).