REPULIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS

1. REPULIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS National Sevens Team

3. FIJI ISLANDS Comprises of 333 Islands which are spread over an area of 709,707sq km ≈ 77% is comprised of ocean ≈ Most islands are of volcanic origin while there are also raised limestone and cays

4. POPULATIONS

5. NATIONALITY

6. HISTORY AND CULTURE

7. THINGS TO DO AND SEE….

8. CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT Old structures

9. TRADITIONAL ARTS & CEREMONIES

10. CURRENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS & ISSUES • POLITICAL & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT • Efforts to form a constitutional government • A way forward to “Build a Better Fiji” • ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT AND OUTLOOK • Structural reforms particularly on land, public enterprises, civil service, labour • Financial Reform • Sugar industry restructuring • IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNTRY STRATEGY AND PROGRAM Enormous challenge : • High level of poverty (5% live in absolute poverty, and another 2% live below the poverty line and urban migration. • Vulnerability of frequent natural disasters • Heavy dependence on the sugar industry for employment and income • Shortage of skilled human resource due to “brain drain” • Poor infrastructure and high utility costs

11. DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES & SMALL & MICRO ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT VISION: “A strong and viable co-operative and small business enterprise sector” MISSION: “To sponsor the sustained development of co-operatives and small business enterprises as a vehicle for national economic growth through the provision of adequate support services in all areas of business development”

12. CO-OPERATIVES ACT, 1996 ________________________________________________________ The main sections of the Cooperatives Act, 1996 are as follows: • Preliminary • Appointment of Registrar, formation and registration of cooperatives • Rights and Duties of Cooperatives • Rights and Duties of Members • Secondary cooperatives, apex organizations and the National Co-operative Federation • Cooperative Advisory Board • Organization and Management of cooperatives • Audit and Inquiry • Property and Funds of a Cooperative • Amalgamation, transfer, division and conversion of cooperatives • Dissolution and liquidation of cooperatives • Settlement of disputes • Miscellaneous Provisions

13. STRATEGIC GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF THE CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT • To facilitate the diversification of the activities of cooperatives so as to generate income and employment opportunities for its current and potential members; • To encourage savings by individuals and to mobilize savings as an internal source of capital for the cooperative and non-cooperative business enterprises; • To identify areas of business activities in which small cottage industries operated by individuals, groups and cooperatives can participate in; • To encourage local agricultural production for export and import substitution; • To harness the support and promote the participation of women and youths in small and micro business enterprises;

14. STRATEGIC GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF THE CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT • To strengthen leadership and improve management capabilities in cooperative and non-cooperative business ventures; and • To recognize the importance of small business and micro-enterprise as an engine of growth of economic activities in the economic development of the nation.

15. CO-OPERATIVES PRINCIPLES AND VALUES THE COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES ARE GUIDELINES BY WHICH COOPERATIVE PUT THEIR VALUES INTO PRACTICE. • Voluntary and Open Membership • Democratic Member Control • Member Economic Participation • Autonomy and Independence • Education, Training and Information • Cooperation among Cooperatives • Concern for Community

16. TYPES OF COOPERATIVES IN FIJI • SAVINGS & LOANS OR THRIFT & CREDIT • LAND SETTLEMENT • LAND HOLDING • Livestock Grazing • Communal Farming • CONSUMER • PROCESSING AND MARKETING • WORKERS’ COOPERATIVE

17. MAJOR CAUSES OF POVERTY IN FIJI • Expiry of land leases • Non-resolution of land issues • Decline of the sugar industry • Collapse of the garments industry • Lack of basic services (health, education) • Lack of income-earning opportunities • High drop out rates in primary and secondary school • Increased crime rates • Destitution and Depression

18. AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME

19. EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT SURVEY[2004 – 2005]

20. POVERTY DISTRIBUTION IN ETHNICITY

21. HOUSEHOLDS UNDER THE THREE POVERTY LINES

22. KEY SOCIAL AND POVERTY INDICATORS

23. POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS OFVICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY IN FIJI Low Economic Growth Poor Political & Economic Performance ECONOMIC IMPACT • Low Economic Growth, Poor Political & Economic Performance • Low Productivity, Low Income • Low Wages and Low Savings • Low Employment, Unskilled Labour • Low Investment and Output POLITICAL IMPACT • Political Instability, Coups/Crisis SOCIAL IMPACT • Poor Dietary/Malnutrition • HIV/AIDS Poor Health • Lack of Education, Housing, Clean Water, Sanitation • Discrimination: Low Sustenance, Self-esteem Effects on Resources: Land, labour and Capital

24. SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND GRANTS [F$ millions]1977 - 2005

25. FOREIGN AID AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAM

26. A THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY FOR POVERTY ERADICATION IN FIJI • IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF THE PEOPLE • Create more jobs and employment opportunities • Promote community-based development projects • Upgrade the skills of the labour force • Improve the operation of the labour market to promote labour mobility • Increase opportunities for people in agriculture • Provide skill training to out-of-school youth for self-employment and improved farming • Promote restraining of workers in lowest-paid occupations to facilitate their promotion • Develop careers guidance systems for young people • Improve sustainable land-use management

27. A THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY FOR POVERTY ERADICATION IN FIJI 2. IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL SERVICES • Ensure access of poor children to education • Increase access to health care for poor people • Increase funding for social welfare that is better directed to the poorest people • Increase funding for and the effectiveness of self-help projects • Review and monitor implementation of the Poverty Alleviation Fund

28. A THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY FOR POVERTY ERADICATION IN FIJI 3. BUILD CAPACITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL • Provide institutional support to build the capacity of NGOs and community groups working with the poor • Assist the poor to organize themselves and represent themselves on official bodies • Give support to communities to assist them continue the tradition of family support • Promote community-based development projects, including labour-intensive works.

29. PROMOTING BUSINESS ENTREPERNEURSHIPON COOPERATIVE TO ERADICATE POVERTY 1. INTEGRATED HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION [IHRDPEP] • Training on Bee-Keeping and assistance given on full grant • Training on Bread Baking and assistance given on full grant • Training on Start Your Business • Training on Flower Arrangements • Training on Business Management • NATIONALMICRO FINANCE UNIT • Establishment of microfinance institutions through intermediaries • Provide banking facilities for the underprivileged and the low income earners • Promote micro enterprise development • Introduce necessary skills and business training for micro entrepreneurs.

30. THANK YOU VINAKA VAKALEVU