A direct funding agreement was signed between the governments of Australia and of Fiji today.
Attorney- General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said AUD$20million of the agreement fund would be allocated to the poverty benefit scheme.
“Of the AUD$22.5million support, AUD$20million would go specifically to the social welfare support and the funding that has been already allocated to it would be used for other areas such as for some of the expenses that we did not anticipate – for example, the cyclone expenses, so we’ll be able to meet that expenses and other general budget support,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
Australia’s Acting High Commission to Fiji Anna Dorney said the support would help Fiji address some of the social and economic implications.
“These funds will be used to support social welfare payments through the Government of Fiji’s poverty benefits scheme, care and protection allowance and disability allowance,” Ms Dorney said.
