WiFN-Fiji – Ministry of iTaukei Affairs signs MOU

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of  iTaukei Affairs

Director and Senior Officers of Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs, i-Taukei Affairs Board and WiFN Fiji Staff

Ladies and Gentleman

The Women in Fisheries Network – Fiji (WIFN-Fiji) is a group of scientists, gender practitioners, interested individuals, organisations and community members that work partnerships that enable opportunities for women to be informed in all aspects of sustainable fisheries in Fiji and increase the meaningful participation of women in decision-making and all levels of management of sustainable fisheries and facilitate networks and at the national level.

WIFN-Fiji has been very active in consultations for the National Fisheries Policy and the National Adaptation Plan. It also led a voluntary commitment made by the Fiji Govemment at the UN Oceans Conference where it committed to achieving gender equality in sustainable fisheries management. One is by offering capacity building opportunities to women to improve their livelihoods in the fisheries sector.

At the local level, it works with communities in development planning and the provision of training in management of fisheries resources, post-harvest techniques for quality assurance and financial literacy.In the Network continued effort in advocating the contribution and role of women in the fisheries sector and Fiji’s food security, the Network is to collaborate with relevant government ministries.

Therefore, WiFN-Fiji and Ministry of I-taukei Affairs & the l-taukei Affairs Board is agreeing and signing a MOU on Development of National Baseline on Women in Fisheries and Women Empowerment in the Fisheries Sector. The MOU is to foster a friendly collaboration through mutual cooperation in research, exchange of information, for planning and appropriate policies for the women in fisheries.

The area of cooperation includes information exchange for the purpose of Research & Development, joint research activities, women development, policy, planning and advice, legislation and Training and Capacity Building.

The two parties have respective responsibilities in the MOU to ensure that the purpose of the MOU is achieved, there are other clause in the MOU which includes the protection of confidential information and adhering to respective parties’ policies.

On that note the Network would like to thank the MTA and TAB for agreeing and signing the MOU and looks forward to collaboration between the parties towards the development of women fishers in Fiji.