Women’s Fund Fiji awards 25 grants to women’s groups in Fiji

Suva, Fiji- Continuing its commitment to expanding and enhancing work on gender justice and women’s human rights, Women’s Fund Fiji (the Fund) has announced that it is awarding 25 grants to 23 women-led groups, organisations, and networks in Fiji.

The Fund made this announcement at its Networking Tea event, a key event of the organisation, in which new grant recipients are announced. It also serves as a space for grantee partners and the Fund to network, strengthen, and foster new partnerships with key stakeholders.

Majority of grant recipients are based in rural-remote, maritime zones, and urban centres in Fiji, with tailored plans to implementing programs and activities specific to the thematic areas of the Women’s Fund Fiji, which are: Women’s Coalitions for Change, Eliminating violence against women and girls, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Women’s Leadership and decision making, and Climate Justice and Humanitarian Action.

“Our grants have continued to support the work of our grantee partners from diverse backgrounds, complementing their work around these areas, developing their capacity, and empowering and strengthening their engagement in important decision-making spaces. Apart from funding activities, our grants also support core funding because we recognise that longer-term and flexible funding is required to support our grantee partners,” said WFF Acting Executive Director, Kuini Rabo.

In her keynote address, chief guest and Manager Programs- Pacific Women Lead, SPC, Tara Chetty said initiatives as these were important because we are dealing with massive scales of inequality that women and girls in all their diversity are facing.

“Issues like a lack of access to justice for gender-based violence is tough for any women or girl, but especially so for those living in rural and remote areas, or those of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,” she said.

Valued at approximately AUD 2.7 million for the period 2023-2025, the grants will be awarded to the following grantee partners:

• 15 new grantee partners: Cicia Women’s Network, Tikina Mudu Women’s Group, Soqosoqo Vakamarama- Cakaudrove, Bia Cake Women’s Group, Taveuni Empowerment of Women Support Group, Udukacu Skirts & Boots Women’s Club , Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei , Soqosoqo Vakamarama -ni Yasana ko Lau, Save the Children Fund Fiji, Then India Maathar Sangam, Rainbow Pride Foundation, Lifebread Stay Connected Foundation (Fiji), femLINKpacific, Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni , and Transcend Oceania.
• 8 novated & long-term grantee partners: Naitasiri Women in Dairy Group, Fiji Cancer Society, Women in Fisheries Network- Fiji, Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, and the Fiji Young Women’s Christian Association. Three long term partners of the Fund: Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Medical Services Pacific, and Rise Beyond the Reef.

These grants are supported through partnerships with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Equality Fund, Mama Cash, and with future support of the New Zealand Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Addressing women’s groups at the event, Counsellor (Development Cooperation) at the Australian High Commission, Sophie Temby said “The Australian Government has a steadfast and ongoing commitment to promote the empowerment of women and girls. And it is through supporting your initiatives, that we can take concrete action to promote gender equality.”

The Fund also acknowledge the support of Equality Fund, and Mama Cash GAGGA, who both relayed their gratitude to the grantees present on the work they continue to endeavour towards gender justice and women’s empowerment.

The Fund’s Governance Board Chair, Georgina Naigulevu congratulated the grantee partners receiving the grants and reminded them, “you are are here because you, as women, endeavoured to make a difference in your lives, in your communities, and in your work, to be agents of change in your community. Congratulations!.”

Women’s Fund Fiji works towards reaching women living in rural and remote locations and those who are marginalised, including women with disabilities and those facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Fund provides grants and capacity development support to these groups to support them in transforming perspectives and improving the lives of women they work with.

The Fund began implementation in 2017 as a five-year initiative of the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) program. The Fund became a local registered entity under Fiji’s Charitable Trust Act in 2021.

Since 2018, the Fund has awarded 76 grants to 38 feminist and women’s groups, networks and organisations, reaching 39,839 people, inclusive of 26,553 women and girls, 13,286 men and boys, 784 people with disabilities (466 women and 318 men) and 266 gender non-conforming people.

–ENDS–

About Women’s Fund Fiji

Women’s Fund Fiji is the Pacific’s first national women’s fund. We contribute towards strengthening feminist and women’s rights movements in Fiji by providing financial and non-financial resources to rural, remote, and marginalised organisations, networks, and groups, through grant making and capacity development support. We also lobby and advocate to transform philanthropy in Fiji and the Pacific to increase feminist resources for diverse women, girls, and gender non-conforming communities.

Media Contact:

For more information about the Fund and this release, contact the Fund’s Communications Officer, Onorina Saukelo, on +679 702 1507 or email: onorina.saukelo@womensfundfiji.org

Video: Meet our new and novated grantee partners