Women’s empowerment and gender equality programmes supported by the Fiji Women’s Fund in 2019, impacts 8,160 Fijians

Suva, Fiji – In 2019, the Fiji Women’s Fund (the Fund) committed AUD $1,475,104 in grants to 12 women’s groups, networks, and organisations in Fiji, impacting 8,160 Fijians.  This figure is representative of 5,600 women, 2,480 men, and over 80 LGBTQI and gender-nonconforming people and includes 97 people with disabilities.

The majority of women reached were in rural and remote areas such as Kadavu, Vanua Balavu, Beqa and Koro; remote interior locations such as the Yakete District in Ba; and the informal settlements of Suva. Through the support of the Australian Government in partnership with the Fund, many of these communities have received opportunities.

The Fund’s 2019 Annual Report released today, highlights the transformative change made by its partners towards eliminating violence against women, empowering women economically, supporting women to advance their leadership and influence on decision-making and developing and advancing women’s coalitions for change.  The report provides evidence on partners,  captures learnings from the Fiji women’s movement and spotlights many great stories detailing the impact our partners work in communities.

Annually, the Fund holds an event to release its Annual Report where it also announces new grant partners, however, due to the Coronavirus social distancing measures in place, the report will be released virtually and the announcement of our new grants has been shifted to July.

Fund Manager Michelle Reddy said with 64% of women in Fiji experiencing violence from an intimate partner, the grants we provide to further the work of the women’s movement is vital more than ever.

“With this context, there is an urgent and apparent need for the women’s movement, embodying feminism, to grow and flourish. Women’s organisations, networks, and groups are fundamental to advancing women’s human rights. This is where women’s funds play such a critical role. Women’s funds are the resource mobilisation arm of the feminist movement with the capacity to provide flexible and adaptable funds, including core funding, to advance women’s work.”

The Fund’s 2019 Annual Report can be downloaded on this link: https:/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/FWF-AR-2019-30Mar2020-web.pdf 

About FWF

The Fiji Women’s Fund (the Fund) is an AUD 10.5 million initiative supported by the Australian Government from 2017-2022, through its Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) program. The Fund aims to provide funding and capacity development support to women’s groups, networks, and organisations in Fiji to expand and enhance their work on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

For more information contact our Communications Officer: Erica Lee, on +679 331 4410 or +679 331 4033 or email: erica.lee@womensfund.org.fj