Regional exchange to improve marketplaces for women
Date:
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu — From Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, eleven marketplace managers and decision-makers will travel the region this fortnight exchanging ideas to improve marketplaces for women.The first full day of the knowledge sharing and capacity building mission, known as a South-South Exchange, begins today. Five delegates from Vanuatu market management, local government and councils have just arrived in Honiara to meet their Solomon Islands counterparts.
The exchange will then reverse, with the Solomon Islands representatives visiting Vanuatu.
UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) Deputy Representative, Nicolas Burniat, explained that the valuable exchange of ideas is part of UN Women's Markets for Change (M4C) project, supported by the Australian Government.
"The exchange is an opportunity for market management and key local government decision-makers involved in Markets for Change in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, to share knowledge and build capacity on: gender responsive budget consultation; waste management strategies; vendor registration; inclusive space allocation; and promotion of gender sensitive policy and procedure," said Mr Burniat.
Over the five days in Auki and Honiara, from 23 to 27 January, delegates will: visit bustling Solomon Islands' markets, meet local government and market management staff, and learn the strategies and systems helping to advance gender equality in Solomon Islands' marketplaces.
"It's a privilege to be learning from the Solomon Islands councils and markets," said Philip Sawon, Acting Town Clerk of Luganville Municipal Council, Vanuatu.
"We also have a lot to offer to our counterparts from Auki and Honiara, and hope they can take home something learned from Luganville Municipality and market from this exchange," said Mr. Sawon.
Four delegates from Solomon Islands, will then head to Vanuatu from 29 January to 2 February to share lessons learned with stakeholders involved in M4C supported marketplaces in Port Vila, Luganville and Efate."I'm excited to visit Lugainville market in Vanuatu in particular. Both the Auki and Lugainville markets are similar in that they are larger community markets outside the country capital and I can learn about how it is managed especially in terms of bringing services to rural vendors and take any lessons learned back to implement at Auki," said Betty Kwanairara, Market Manager Acting at Auki Central Market.
The idea for the South-South Exchange resulted from the 2016 Markets for Change Regional Stakeholder Forum held in Nadi, attended by representatives from all three M4C countries.
"The exchange promises to be a great start for 2018, building on a highly successful 2017 for the Markets for Change project that works with over 6,500 women in 18 markets across three countries," said Mr Burniat.
"I hope that through this exchange we all learn new ideas for further improving marketplaces for women," he said.
UN Women's Markets for Change (M4C) project is a six-year, multi-country initiative that aims to ensure marketplaces in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. A UN Women project, M4C is principally funded by the Australian Government, and implemented in partnership with UNDP.
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Sharon Tohaimae
Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Markets for Change, Solomon Islands, UN Women,
Phone: +677 22463 | Email: [ Click to reveal ]
Trisha Toangwera
Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Markets for Change, Vanuatu, UN Women
Phone: +678 259 10 | Email: [ Click to reveal ]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UN Women's Markets for Change project: UN Women's Markets for Change (M4C) project is a key component of its Women's Economic Empowerment programme. M4C is a six-year, multi-country initiative that aims to ensure marketplaces in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. A UN Women project, Markets for Change is implemented in partnership with UNDP and principally funded by the Australian Government.
Between 75-90 per cent of vendors working at Pacific marketplaces are women and their earnings often make up a significant portion of the incomes of many poor households. Despite this, women are often excluded from market governance and decision-making. M4C works with stakeholders, service providers and the market vendors themselves to: build and support inclusive, effective and representative advocacy groups; deliver appropriate services, training and interventions; ensure women's voices are heard and taken into account at the decision-making level; and to improve physical infrastructure and operating systems.
For further information please visit:
http://fiji.unwomen.org
www.facebook.com/unwomenpacific
www.twitter.com/unwomenpacific