Food security and nutrition tops Live and Learn list
Improving of nutrients in food and food security are two of the major focus of the non-governmental organisation Live & Learn Fiji, as they work on 29 communities in the Northern Division. Project Manager Kolosa Matebalavu says most of these communities are vulnerable to climate change and this is affecting their food sources, which eventually […]
Empowering Pacific Parliaments through Floating Budget Office
What is a Floating Budget Office? In the vast expanse of the Pacific, an innovative initiative that continues to revolutionize how parliaments analyze and understand their national budgets. The Floating Budget Office (FBO) is empowering Pacific nations to make more informed decisions about their financial futures. But what exactly is the FBO, and how is […]
The Yavusa Kavula Restoration Programme in Bua Province, is making remarkable progress in restoring grassland areas within the five Mataqali of Yavusa Kavula. This initiative is being undertaken between the Ministry of Forestry and the environmental NGO Live and Learn Fiji. As part of the programme, the Yavusa Kavula has already planted 2,836 native assorted […]
The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and Live and Learn Fiji are spearheading the Atoll Food Futures program. It focuses on the strategic planting of Vetiver grass to counteract the adverse impacts of climate change on the environment. The initiative primarily targets informal settlements including Kilikali, Mataniborosisi, Waikerekere and Bilo along the Suva corridor where […]
Eighty-three households in the villages of Kavula and Banikea in the district of Lekutu, Bua received farming tool kits from Live & Learn Fiji. This is part of an initiative to enforce food security by empowering farmers at the household level. The farming tools have been given under Live & Learn’s Climate Resilient Islands Programme […]
Training for sustainable agriculture and food security
Government officials and participants from Australia and neighboring Pacific countries have gathered in Fiji for a week-long training program aimed at addressing food security, ending hunger, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The event, organized by non-government organization Live and Learn Pacific Network, has brought together representatives to discuss challenges, share successful strategies, and work towards a […]
Tunabuna calls for collaborative effort to enhance food security
The ever-increasing frequency and strength of natural disasters, the impacts of climate change, and inefficient agricultural production are among many other challenges that have exacerbated the struggles faced by vulnerable communities in accessing basic nutrition. This has been highlighted by Assistant Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna while speaking during the Pacific Food Week workshop. Tunabuna […]
Residents of Kilikali Settlement plant seedlings during a workshop as part of the project by Live & Learn on Wednesday. IVE & Learn Fiji is a non-government organisation that has a strong history of implementing water, sanitation and hygiene projects in our communities. But they have gone a step further to help two settlements in […]
Food security has taken center stage in the efforts of the non-governmental organization Live and Learn, particularly in informal settlements across Fiji. Under the Atoll Food Futures program, Live and Learn has extended its support to five informal settlements, with the most recent addition being the Bilo Settlement located in Lami, just outside Suva. Project […]
Prevalence of anaemia prompts intervention in communities
The prevalence of anaemia among children and women in Vanua Levu has prompted Live and Learn’s Drought Recovery and Climate Resilience Project to intervene in 29 communities in the Northern Division. According to the recent National Nutrition Survey, 63.1 percent of children under five years and 40 percent of expectant mothers suffer from anaemia in […]
Improving of nutrients in food and food security are two of the major focus of the non-governmental organisation Live & Learn Fiji, as they work on 29 communities in the Northern Division.
Project Manager Kolosa Matebalavu says most of these communities are vulnerable to climate change and this is affecting their food sources, which eventually affects the lives of villagers, in particular expecting mothers as well as children. Matebalavu says the assistance and support is part of the drought recovery and climate resilience project, funded by the US Government’s Pacific American Fund.
“Our activities are also aligned with the Ministry of Health in terms of improving nutrients for our people of the vulnerable groups. This is because they have these issues around the prevalence of Anemia for Bua, Cakaudrove and Macuata for children under five and also for pregnant women, they have deficiency in certain nutrients and some of the challenges and issues we will be addressing through this programme is really around improving food security in drought prone areas.”
Matebalavu says they are also working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture in promoting smart agriculture and also sustainable resource management and empowerment for women to be engaged in this sector.
The project was launched in February this year (2023) and will run in Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata for two and a half years.
In the vast expanse of the Pacific, an innovative initiative that continues to revolutionize how parliaments analyze and understand their national budgets. The Floating Budget Office (FBO) is empowering Pacific nations to make more informed decisions about their financial futures. But what exactly is the FBO, and how is it making a difference?
The FBO is a Pacific Parliament-led initiative providing critical collaborative support to parliaments during the review of their national budgets. Upon the request, UNDP facilitates a team of experienced parliamentary researchers from across the region supporting the national parliament capacity in analyzing their budget.
Through this effort, parliaments throughout the region will be able to share best practices and information in an inclusive environment.
The FBO’s work is essential to making sure that public budgets, which are frequently complicated and technical, are transparent and subject to in-depth analysis. The FBO actively engages a variety of stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), in the budget review process by advocating a whole-of-society approach.
UNDP’s Support
UNDP Pacific has been providing technical assistance to parliaments to build the capacity of legislators to strengthen the relationship between parliament and the executive and civil society since 2017.
FBO supporting via briefs with internal government business discussions, UNDP Pacific has been offering technical assistance to parliaments in efforts to build capacity of legislator.
The budgets are often complex and require in-depth technical experience and knowledge in public finance, the FBO offers collaborative budget analysis to support Pacific parliaments and MPs while strengthening the region’s capacity for parliament research. As a result, UNDP has been considering how to advance a flexible architecture that would allow Pacific Parliaments to exchange knowledge and provide mutual support throughout their different budgetary procedures.
Under the direction of a team leader from the host or national parliament, the researchers create concise studies on important industries, offering unbiased and impartial information to legislators and civil society organizations. The independent approach builds trust and advances a culture of accountability and transparency in budgetary matters, which is essential for effective governance and development.
In 2021, UNDP invested in enhancing the quality of analytical tools available to parliamentary researchers, focusing on strategies to improve the PFBO’s budget analysis processes. This resulted in the development an automated budget analysis tool that streamlines the production of budget briefings for MPs, reducing resource demands while increasing the speed and accuracy of the analysis.
FBO in 2024
This year, the FBO was hosted by the Parliament of Tonga in April and the Parliament of Fiji in June consisting of participants from Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand. This helps the national parliament in staff capacity-building, enhancing knowledge of budget processes in other parliaments, learning about budget analysis practices and templated used in other parliaments and developing and strengthening budget researchers’ network.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) workshop
A key factor in forming and bolstering democratic processes is civil society. This is why FBO briefings are not only presented to Parliamentarians but also to varying CSOs. When civil society understands the complex budget documents and decisions, they can play an active role in advocating for various public interests.
By engaging CSOs, the FBO aligns with a whole-of-society and collaborative approach, which is critical for sustainable development. A one-day workshop was conducted by the Parliaments of Tonga and Fiji to help CSOs understand the allocated priorities of the budget and develop a basic understanding of budget analysis. By involving CSOs and the public in the analysis of public finance, FBO ensures that budgets reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.
Representative from the Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei, Ana Vesikula, said public finance management is important for the country for nation building, peace stability and for sustainable economic growth.
“It is important to have the public informed and engaged from consultation to the implementation of the budget along with the various levels of the society and stakeholders. Having the budget in three main languages in Fiji would assist people to understand and have more knowledge of the budget of what is allocated, why and how,” she said.
Gender and Resilience Officer from Live and Learn Fiji, Joseva Ravula, said as a first-timer to this workshop, it highlighted the importance of the budget, what it meant, what it is and for who. “One of the things that brings to the table is the importance of people knowing the budget. I am not sure whether the information about the budget is very inclusive; to think about those who use braille – was it accounted for; those who have hearing impairments if it was accounted for them. When we look at the inclusivity of information, we need to meet the needs of our people because they have the right to hear, to see, to be answered with the information surrounding the budget,” he said.
UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji provides essential support for parliamentary development across the region through two regional projects: the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI), supported by the Government of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the second phase of the Strengthening Legislatures in Pacific Island Countries project, supported by the Government of Japan. In addition, this work is also made possible via the Fiji Parliament Support Project, supported by MFAT and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Yavusa Kavula Restoration Programme in Bua Province, is making remarkable progress in restoring grassland areas within the five Mataqali of Yavusa Kavula.
This initiative is being undertaken between the Ministry of Forestry and the environmental NGO Live and Learn Fiji.
As part of the programme, the Yavusa Kavula has already planted 2,836 native assorted seedlings.
In addition to restoring native vegetation, the initiative aims to plant 10,000 mandarin seedlings to boost local agriculture.
Recognizing the importance of this project, the Ministry has funded a temporary nursery to assist the community in raising their own seedlings for various planting operations, including mandarin cultivation.
Forestry Minister, Kalaveti Ravu, visited Kavula to officially open the temporary nursery this week.
The restoration programme was inspired by a site visit to Nayarabale Village in the District of Vaturova.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and Live and Learn Fiji are spearheading the Atoll Food Futures program.
It focuses on the strategic planting of Vetiver grass to counteract the adverse impacts of climate change on the environment.
The initiative primarily targets informal settlements including Kilikali, Mataniborosisi, Waikerekere and Bilo along the Suva corridor where communities deal with numerous challenges stemming from erratic weather patterns.
The Ministry’s land use section is at the forefront of efforts to address soil erosion and stabilization.
Utilizing Vetiver grass known for its ability to form dense narrow edges when planted closely, the approach has proven effective in controlling soil erosion and stabilizing watercourses.
Originally developed over 50 years ago for Fiji’s sugar industry, the use of Vetiver grass has become a standard practice for soil and water conservation, particularly in small-scale farming and residential compounds.
Vetiver grass finds widespread application across Fiji from reinforcing road embankments to stabilizing stream banks and contour hedges in farmland.
Farmers routinely employ Vetiver to fortify farm roads, regulate runoff water and shield vegetable crops from erosion.
Acknowledging climate change as an enduring natural occurrence, the collaboration highlights the necessity of nature-based solutions such as Vetiver grass to combat its effects.
Eighty-three households in the villages of Kavula and Banikea in the district of Lekutu, Bua received farming tool kits from Live & Learn Fiji.
This is part of an initiative to enforce food security by empowering farmers at the household level. The farming tools have been given under Live & Learn’s Climate Resilient Islands Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Senior Agriculture Officer for the Bua province Anare Leweniqila challenged the farmers in the individual villages to take this opportunity to plant more crops for commercial purposes in addition to subsistence farming.
Kavula Farmer’s Group leader, Maikeli Sogari, says they aim to strengthen the indigenous practice of solesolevaki in order to plant more in a smarter way.
Climate Resilient Islands is a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade initiative, implemented by Live & Learn Environmental Education, with funding provided by the Kiwi Government.
Government officials and participants from Australia and neighboring Pacific countries have gathered in Fiji for a week-long training program aimed at addressing food security, ending hunger, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
The event, organized by non-government organization Live and Learn Pacific Network, has brought together representatives to discuss challenges, share successful strategies, and work towards a zero-hunger Pacific.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna highlighted during the training the role of agriculture in the Pacific economies, acknowledging its contribution to Fiji’s GDP and the livelihoods of 80 percent of its population.
Tunabuna underscored the pressing issues facing the Pacific islands, such as natural disasters, climate change, and the loss of traditional knowledge, leading to food loss and waste.
He cited statistics showing that the Asia and Pacific region faces significant challenges, with food losses ranging from 20 to 21 percent.
The address emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to combating food loss and waste, recognizing its impact on food security, nutrition, and the environment.
Tunabuna praised the efforts of Live and Learn Pacific Network in providing a platform for Pacific Island nations to work together to find sustainable solutions.
He also stressed the importance of good governance and shared various policies developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways to support various programs, including the Gender in Agriculture Policy, Youth in Agriculture Policy, and Food and Nutrition Security Policy.
The ever-increasing frequency and strength of natural disasters, the impacts of climate change, and inefficient agricultural production are among many other challenges that have exacerbated the struggles faced by vulnerable communities in accessing basic nutrition.
This has been highlighted by Assistant Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna while speaking during the Pacific Food Week workshop.
Tunabuna says food loss and waste remain challenges in the design of sustainable food systems.
He adds that the Pacific Food Week workshop will enable participants to improve their technical understanding of key food systems concepts that underpin various approaches to food security and development.
The workshop is organized by the Live and Learn Fiji Environmental Education—Resilient Food Systems and the Climate Resilient Islands Program and is attended by participants from Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Residents of Kilikali Settlement plant seedlings during a workshop as part of the project by Live & Learn on Wednesday.
IVE & Learn Fiji is a non-government organisation that has a strong history of implementing water, sanitation and hygiene projects in our communities. But they have gone a step further to help two settlements in Fiji grow their own food even though they do not own land.
Humbled to be part of the World Food Day and National Agriculture Show at the Vodafone Arena last week, the organisation works in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways Fiji by supporting informal settlements in the country.
Demonstrating the purpose and the use of the raised garden bed at the Agriculture show, Live & Learn food security and livelihood coordinator Ponijese Korovulavula said with the support they receive from the Australian Government, they were able to pilot this project into informal settlements as most people living in these communities do not have land ownerships.
Mr Korovulavula said the project is called Atoll Food Futures program and its main concept is to help people living in informal settlements plant, store, grow and keep their plants. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by Live & Learn.
The project works with community members across three countries (Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu) to improve the production of fresh, locally grown produce. It is designed to empower people to grow fresh healthy produce at home, through skill building, agriculture training and also by sharing indigenous knowledge surrounding home gardening and food preservation.
“We have encouraged communities to plant shallow rooted crops as it doesn’t consume a lot of water and nutrients.
This food cubes doesn’t come in land or farm sizes but people can use it as a source of food security.”
Mr Korovulavula said they are impressed by what most communities have done so far.
“Most people in the communities we’ve introduced the project to have developed an advanced way by planting seeds in the food cubes and later transferring it into other containers,” he said.
According to Mr Korovulavula, informal settlements are the ones that suffered the most from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and this project is something Live & Learn has brought about to help reduce this issue.
“We thank the Australian Government for funding and giving us the opportunity to reach out to these informal settlements, even though they have no land ownership, this concept is a way to help them in the future.”
Mr Korovulavula added for their food cubes concept they’ve supported settlements like Kilikali in Nadawa and Waikerekere outside Lami Town. Live & Learn is committed to work with vulnerable communities to improve food and nutrition security.
Food security has taken center stage in the efforts of the non-governmental organization Live and Learn, particularly in informal settlements across Fiji.
Under the Atoll Food Futures program, Live and Learn has extended its support to five informal settlements, with the most recent addition being the Bilo Settlement located in Lami, just outside Suva.
Project Manager Ponijese Korovulavula points out that informal settlements are home to many vulnerable populations, and they face numerous challenges, including limited access to fresh and nutritious food and the impacts of climate change.
“We are training them on how to be smart in terms of planting and also for our training we have included how they raise seedlings because most of them for the training, they does not have access to it because they have been isolated.”
Korovulavula explains that the decision to focus on informal settlements comes from the understanding that these communities are often overlooked in vital community development initiatives. The goal is to bridge this gap and empower communities to achieve food security and address the challenges posed by climate change.
By collaborating closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Australian government-funded project under Live and Learn has provided essential training in seed raising, good agricultural practices, seed extraction, and seed saving.
These initiatives are designed to equip residents with the knowledge and tools needed to sustain their food sources.
The prevalence of anaemia among children and women in Vanua Levu has prompted Live and Learn’s Drought Recovery and Climate Resilience Project to intervene in 29 communities in the Northern Division.
According to the recent National Nutrition Survey, 63.1 percent of children under five years and 40 percent of expectant mothers suffer from anaemia in Fiji.
Project Manager, Kolosa Matebalavu says their intervention is tailor-made to address the issue of iron deficiency identified in communities.
Matebalavu says this is through the practice of climate-smart agriculture.
“It is actually equipping them with the knowledge around how they can make use of the traditional knowledge that they already have, passed on from generations, and the existing practices … but also adding in some of the new techniques and innovations on how they can help them address some of the climate impacts.”
Matebalavu says their aspiration is aligned with the Ministry of Health’s objective in improving nutrition and decreasing anaemia from 40 percent to 20 percent by 2030.
He says they are also working with the Ministry of Agriculture, encouraging people to grow and eat nutritious food from their backyard or farm.
Live and Learn’s Drought Recovery and Climate Resilience Project is a three-year programme, funded by the United States Agency for International Development.
