Markets for Change Project Partners Meet to Review Phase II Design

[Press release]

Honiara, Solomon Islands – Partners of the Markets for Change (M4C) project in the Solomon Islands, including  the Hon. Freda Tuki Rangirei, Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and H.E Dr Lachlan Strahan, the Australian High Commissioner, joined other stakeholder representatives from the national and provincial governments, municipal councils and market vendor associations, for the M4C Phase II Design Validation Workshop today.

The Phase II Validation workshop is one of the final steps of a consultation process, towards the finalization of programme documentation that would strategically guide the implementation of Phase II of the M4C project.

“The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs is very thankful that M4C is very much aligned with the Solomon Islands Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy Outcome 2: To advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, and I believe very strongly if M4C is  rolled out to all provinces in the Solomon Islands, it will also contribute to reducing violence against women and girls and make our country a happy isles to live in,” said Hon. Minister Rangirei.

Markets for Change has been a flagship project on women’s economic empowerment in the Pacific. The project will continue to focus on supporting market vendors, noting that between 70-90% of vendors are women. Markets are essential spaces for livelihood creation, and now are greatly needed for income generation, food security and livelihoods. 

“This project recognises the critical role of women in the informal economy who often support entire families and communities,” Dr Strahan said. “Over the years,  Australia has proudly contributed to some of the many success stories that have come out of Markets for Change, including the Gizo Market relocation and renovation, which has had a direct impact on women’s livelihoods.

“When I visited Gizo Market last year, I was impressed at how its Market Vendors Association worked collaboratively and engaged meaningfully with vendors, women’s groups, the provincial government and donors.”

Sandra Bernklau, the Representative of the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) acknowledged the partnerships in the project and thanked the Government of Solomon Islands for the successful implementation of Phase I and the Government of Australia for their longstanding partnership and support alongside the Governments of Canada and New Zealand.

“Markets for Change Phase II is more relevant than ever given the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of women and their families in Solomon Islands and the Pacific,” Ms Bernklau said. “This workshop is a key step to all partners planning together towards continuing support for women’s economic empowerment in the Pacific. We thank the Government of the Solomon Islands for its commitment to improving marketplaces, and to our partners for their support in working together to improving women’s lives.”

Markets for Changes is implemented by UN Women, and is principally funded by the Government of Australia, with additional funding support from the Government of Canada and more recently, the Government of New Zealand. UNDP is a project partner.  M4C is a multi-year, multi-country initiative that aims to have marketplaces in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu that are safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.