A step towards improved cleanliness priority for Honiara Central Market
Date:
PRESS RELEASE
(Honiara, Solomon Islands) - UN Women, through its Markets for Change Project, officially handed over additional waste management and refurbishment equipment today to the Honiara City Council (HCC). The equipment is to support Honiara City Council’s commitment to improved cleanliness in the market.
Nancy Jolo, Acting City Clerk said while cleanliness was a management priority, the HCC did not have sufficient equipment.
“To enable maintain such cleanliness at the market premises would require appropriate tools. Therefore, these tools are essential in aiding our team to help keep this important public space clean and healthy for our residents. The HCC acknowledges the continuous support rendered by the UN Women,” Ms Jolo said.
The equipment handed over included skip bins, high-pressure hoses and paints.
Moreen Sariki, the President of the Honiara Central Market Vendors Association, welcomed the provision of the tools that would support the work by City Council market management.
“We look forward to working closely with the City Council in keeping the market clean and ensuring a healthy working environment for our vendors and customers,” Ms Sariki said.
Sandra Bernklau, the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) Officer-in-Charge added that the Markets for Change Project is really pleased to continue the partnership with the Honiara City Council in jointly working to improving the market, and ensuring that the needs of the market vendors, particularly women, were heard and prioritized.
“This is the second phase of refurbishment work following the installation of water tanks which are essential to the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone who visits the market, but particularly important is that it ensures women can continue their economic activities to generate income for themselves and their families,” Ms Bernklau said.
Markets for Change (M4C) is a multi-year, multi-country initiative that aims to ensure marketplaces are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The project is principally funded by the Australian Government; since 2018 the project partnership has expanded to include funding support from the Government of Canada. UNDP is a project partner. UN Women is working in partnership with HCC, Malaita and Western Provincial Governments, as well as market vendors and associations in Honiara Central Market, Auki and Gizo markets.
For further information please visit:
asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/fiji
www.facebook.com/unwomenpacific
www.twitter.com/unwomenpacific
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Sharon Tohaimae, Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Markets for Change, Vanuatu, UN Women, Phone: (+677) 22463, Email: sharon.tohaimae@unwomen.org
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) project is an eight-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 since 2018 the project partnership has expanded to include funding support from the Government of Canada. UNDP is a project partner.
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.