Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications has registered about 60 successful women led co-operatives.
Minister Manoa Kamikamica told the Parliament last week that the Ministry of Trade was working closely with the Ministry of Women and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through a program called Markets for Change to empower and formalise successful women groups into co-operatives.
“Formalisation of these women groups as co-operatives has opened up new opportunities such as easier access to grants, particularly the Integrated Human Resource Development Program (IHRDP) which is very popular, and is facilitated by the ministry,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“Looking ahead, the ministry is committed to both, women and youth in co-operatives, through more gender and youth sensitive policies.”
He said over the past three years, as many as 398 women and youths had been appointed to board positions in respective co-operatives.
“So that is an interesting and positive development as well.
“In terms of other initiatives, we are partnering with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations to continue to align our initiatives to global best practices on gender equality and youth empowerment.
“This will certainly allow us to implement new programs, and enhance existing ones, ensuring that the Fiji co-operative sector is not only inclusive, but sustainable as well.”
Mr Kamikamica said the success seen so far, was the effectiveness of the prior government initiatives.
“All we are doing is continuing to fine-tune them.
“As I have mentioned, we do have a grant now that is specifically targeted to co-operatives, and we shall be utilising that.
“We are about to advertise that program soon and this of course, will ensure that the co-operative movement continues to grow and hopefully directly address issues such as poverty alleviation in Fiji.”
