CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

1. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS FIJI TRADES UNION CONGRESS [ FTUC] CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] Ajnesh Chandra Area Organizer – NUFCW Fiji Trades Union Congress Suva, Fiji

2. BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION • FIJI • Fiji has efficient and reliable telecommunications systems with links to New Zealand, Australia and North America via access to the Southern Cross Cable. The Fiji Government has previously provided protection to three major monopolies, through the incorporation of a public company called Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH) that collectively makes the country’s telecommunications industry.  • However, the in 2002 the Government decided to de–regulate the telecommunications industry which held to establishment of many Internet providers, mobile telecommunication. The new companies brought competition in their respective markets which lead to enormous changes in the business operations, the bust of so called “Information Era”. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

3. APPLICATIONS OFINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – TRADE UNIONS IN FIJI • The application of information technology by trade unions in Fiji is used at a very low scale. Some of the uses of IT in Fiji are: • The use of emails to communicate to other affiliated union, members, the employers and the government. • Use it for the purpose of membership record keeping which is updated at the end of each year. • Any other correspondence to potential members, record keeping purpose for updated accounts of the union. • Production of articles or training materials for workers education. • Preparation of union audited accounts. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

4. TARGET GROUP • The Target Group for this website will be the Workers, Affiliated members of the National Body, Students, Researchers, International Bodies [ ILO,ITUC,IMF] and the General Public at large both locally and globally. • The Main Partners involved in the Implementation will be the IT Department of the International Training Centre , ILO and Ajnesh Chandra [MYSELF]. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

5. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES This work plan will contribute to achieving the following: • To build up network within the affiliates of the National Body 2) To build network and improve communications with the International Affiliations E.g. ILO 3) To build Solidarity within the Unions Globally. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

6. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES At the end of this project, the following results will be achieved: 1) Create a National Website 2) Create Blogs, forums where workers/General Public can discuss on working conditions and any other related issues related to conditions of employment 3) Link the National website with the other Affiliated Members of the National Centre 4) Promote Online Education [ Distance Education] CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

7. KEY OUTPUTS / DIRECT RESULTS 1) Create a National Website – to Create and upload a National Website within a period of 6 months, commencing from April 2009. 2) Create Blogs, forums where workers/General Public can discuss on working conditions and any other related issues related to employment in Fiji and Globally. This will be done within the 6 months to 12 months period from the time the website if uploaded to the web. 3) Link the National website with the other Affiliated Members of the National Centre. This event will take 12 months from the time the National website is uploaded. 4) Promote Online Education [ Distance Education] – Within 24 months from the time the National Website is uploaded. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

8. ACTIVITIES The following activities will be involved: • Project Proposal to the National Centre Secretary, the executive committee members. • Discussion on the outlook of the Website, the Financial issues related to implementation of this project and the resources required. • Creating a website, providing information for the webpage, upload the page on the web. • Monitor and feedback stage 1, if stage one if ok proceed with the other phase of the project. • Provide feedback to ITC, the other funding body if any CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

9. MAIN INPUTS • The resources necessary to implement the proposed activities are as follows: • Human Resources – 2 Project officers, 1 – Web Page Designer, 1 – Education officer • Finance – for web hosting charges, Dedicated computer and Server. The source of finance will be through funds from National Centre if approved else seek donor agency for donation of this project. • Organizations - International Training Centre of ILO, Affiliated unions of the National Centre and myself as usual. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

10. INDICATORS OF ACHIEVEMENT • The introduction of a National Website into the Web World where people can access and share information more easily, quickly, efficiently. • The use of Information Technology tools to enhance the Capacity Building activities. • The initiation of distance Course. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

11. MANAGEMENT OF RISKS CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

12. MONITORING / REPORTING / EVALUATION PROCEDURES • Monitoring - to monitor if the project is being implemented in due time with allocated resources and meeting its objectives. • Reporting – Report to the National Centre Secretary on the Progress, the Affiliated union, the funding or the donor body. • Evaluation – 6 monthly follow-up if the objective are being met and if we are meeting the needs of the users. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

13. PRELIMINARY BUDGET PROPOSAL RESOURCES: • Technical • 1 - Dedicated computer $ 3000.00 FJD • 1 – Dedicated Server $ 5000.00 FJD • Human Resources: 1 Web Designer 1 Administrator 1 Project officer • Finance: Salary and other expenses for this project. CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS

14. Thank you !!!! CAPACITY BUILDING & INFORMATION SHARING [ SETUP OF NATIONAL WEBSITE ] – FIJI ISLANDS