COVID-19 Financial Assistance to Women Fisher in Fiji; Phase 1 – 01 to 26 March, 2021

Women in Fisheries Network – Fiji (WiFN-Fiji) is implementing a COVID-19 Financial Assistance to Women Fishers. The target provinces to benefit from this financial assistance are women fishers from Tailevu, Rewa, Ra and Ba provinces which were largely affected by COVID-19 due to the Suva and Lautoka lockdown in 2020.  The project aims to provide financial assistance to both women fishers who have participated in Network activities and those who haven’t.

The assistance is a humanitarian cash response funded by Oxfam, Pacific under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.

A total of 950 women fishers will benefit from this financial assistance with $140 per person. The first group will include those that have attended a training/workshop hosted by WiFN-Fiji; are current Network members and those who were interviewed in the COVID-19 market survey from Suva, Nausori and Laqere market in May, 2020. This financial support is meant to assist them with buying essential food items and other household necessities.

The other group are those who haven’t participated in any WiFN-Fiji activity. These women can use either their market vendor ID or market stall fees receipt (from March, 2020 to date), or a support letter from either middle man/woman; Turaga ni koro or a Statutory Declaration form for those who sell by the roadside. The support letter template will be provided at the registration venue. A JP will also be at the registration venue for signing of the declaration form.

Registration of beneficiaries for Phase 1 will be conducted at the respective provincial offices from 9:00am to 5:00pm on the following days;

  • 1 – 2 March, 2021 at Rewa Provincial Office, Nabalili, Lomanikoro, Rewa
  • 3 – 4 March, 2021 at Ratu Cakobau House, Tailevu Provincial Office, Nausori
  • 8 – 9 March, 2021 at Ra Provincial Hall, Dadamu, Nanukuloa, Ra
  • 10 – 11 March, 2021 at Namoli Village Hall, Lautoka

Women fishers are to bring their photo ID and fill the registration form. Sections of registration form includes fishing activity involved in, subsistence/commercial fishing, how you and your household were affected by COVID-19 and types of seafood/freshwater sold and personal details. The registration form will require Turaga ni koro’s verification and signature, women fishers from villages are encouraged to come with the Turaga ni koro on the registration dates. Otherwise, you can bring your registration form the next day. If you register on the last day you can bring your registration form to the Provincial Office on the Friday of that week.

For non-village resident’s verification will be required from the District Officer.

There are three methods of payment;

  • Bank account; ATM cards, deposit slip or other form of bank details to be provided
  • M-PAISA – if your mobile number is not registered under M-PAISA, a Vodafone agent will also be present for registration
  • Post Bill Pay – name provided to be same as that in your valid photo ID.

Attached the sample registration form and sample support letters.

2021_WiFN-Fiji_COVID-19_registrationform_March2021_

COVID-19Assistance_TNK_SupportLetter2021_

COVID-19Assistance_middleman_SupportLetter