New Grants Committee members for the Fiji Women’s Fund

Suva, Fiji – The Fiji Women’s Fund is pleased to announce the inclusion of two new members to its Grants Committee.  The Grants Committee is responsible for assessing and selecting proposals for funding and/or technical assistance allocation and is comprised of representatives from the women’s movement and civil society sector in Fiji.

Fund Manager, Michelle Reddy said the Fund was happy to have onboard, Susan Naidu and Sainimili Tawake, both feminists who have made immense contributions to gender equality and social inclusion, especially for women’s and disabled peoples organisations in Fiji.

Susan Naidu

They replace Sala Tupou-Tamani and Mareta Salacakau Fong on the Grants Committee who have completed their two-year terms.  We take this opportunity to thank them for their support and contributions leading to the disbursement of 30 grants to 20 women’s organisations in Fiji.

Susan Naidu is a Community Development Specialist who has worked with marginalised communities to influence positive social change with a special focus on women and children.  She has had a long career working for Non-Governmental Organisations such as the Ecumenical Centre for Research Education Advocacy (ECREA), femLINKpacific, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement.  Susan is currently the Assistant General Manager for Strategic and Community Development at the Model Town Charitable Trust. Most recently, Susan was appointed to the Board of the Lautoka School for Special Education.

“I hope that my years of experience in Community Development will bring another perspective within the Grants Committee knowledge base so that we take into consideration, the opportunities for the marginalised communities in Fiji via our projects,”she said.

Sainimili Tawake

Sainimili Tawake is a Regional Coordinator on Climate Change with the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF).  She has, over the past 20 years, worked in various national, regional and international organisations such as the Albinism Project and the Pacific Community’s Regional Rights Resource Team. Sainimili is passionate about human rights disability and gender issues and was instrumental in co-facilitating a study on women with disabilities and co-authored a report titled, Pacific Sisters with Disabilities at an Intersection of Discrimination.

“I believe that my knowledge and experience in advocacy and legislative lobbying can be of help to the Fund’s many grantees across Fiji,” said Sainimili.

About FWF
The Fiji Women’s Fund (the Fund) is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) Program. The Fund has committed AU$10.5 million from 2017 to 2022 for 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, please contact the Fund’s Communication Officer: Erica Lee, on +679 331 4410 or +679 331 4033 or email: erica.lee@womensfund.org.fj