Press release: Savusavu Market to undergo major upgrade
Date:
SUVA, Fiji – Good news for market vendors and market goers in Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji! The Savusavu market is ready to undergo a major upgrade after an agreement signed today with UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office and Fiji’s Ministry of Local Government.
A Letter of Agreement (LoA) exchanged by Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Joshua Wycliffe and UN Women Fiji MCO Representative a.i. Nicolas Burniat commits FJD700,000 for an upgrade of the current market building in Savusavu, through the UN Women Markets for Change (M4C) 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.
“With the Markets for Change project expanding, we continue with our commitments towards the economic empowerment of women in Fiji and the Pacific. The upgrade of the Savusavu market will contribute to improving the facilities that vendors use daily, improving their livelihoods and ability to grow their business,” said UN Women Representative a.i., Nicolas Burniat.
The Ministry of Local Government is also contributing FJD400,000 towards the upgrade. Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Honourable Parveen Kumar thanked UN Women for its ongoing partnership with the Ministry and municipal councils and work in markets around Fiji.
“It’s a great day for all those vendors who are in the respective markets. This development will definitely create a better environment for our vendors in Savusavu,” Mr. Kumar said.
The current Savusavu market sustained some damages during Tropical Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 Cyclone that devastated parts of Fiji in February 2016. The market was also used as an evacuation centre.
The new building structure will be constructed to withstand Category 5 Cyclone and seismic events. Plans for the construction have been drawn up after consultation with market vendors and the local town council. Construction is scheduled to begin in September this year.
UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) project is a key component of its Women’s Economic Empowerment programme. M4C is a multi-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.
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:
Sarika Chand | Media and Communications Specialist, UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office
Email: sarika.chand@unwomen.org | Ph: +61 418 678 548
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UN Women’s Markets for Change project
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 multi-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.