First-ever kindergarten and infant school for Dakuni Village breaks ground
Date: 29 March 2026 By: Priya Nand Media: Fiji Village Children in Dakuni Village on Beqa Island are set to benefit from improved access to education following the groundbreaking of the community’s first-ever kindergarten and infant school. The milestone project will allow young children to begin their education within the village, and will no longer […]
Source: Fiji Times (Feature Article) Date: 30th March 2026 By ALIFERETI SAKIASI Gone are the days when healthcare workers at Lomaloma Sub-Divisional Hospital had to rely on lamps and inconsistent power to store essential medicines or administer lifesaving treatments. A newly commissioned solar energy system, funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade […]
The Drawa block forest conservation Project continues to receive praise as a leader in indigenous led conservation efforts following a recent visit by a select number of Pre COP31 delegates. The Forest conservation Project is a community led initiative involving 8 mataqalis or land-owning units and sits on nearly 4,000 hectares of protected primary forest. […]
Written by: Litiana Dimaopa & Paradise Tabucala For generations, the women of the villages of Naiviqiri, Naivaka, Galoa and Yaqaga, in Bua, have depended on the sea for the livelihood of their families. A successful day of fishing meant a plentiful catch to sell, but it also came with a challenge. Without access to cold […]
Work has gained momentum within the three countries implementing the regional Kiwa EMPOWER Project 🇫🇯 Fiji The project team has been undertaking training on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in the 20 communities of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata. This is being carried in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Land Resources Planning Division of […]
Twenty communities in Vanua Levu are set to benefit from a three-year environmental resilience and climate adaptation initiative. This follows the successful launch of the national Kiwa Empower Project, valued at $7.5 million for Fiji, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands, funded by the European Union, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of the targeted […]
New portal to boost NGOs service reach to rural communities
Anew informative portal (website) launch marked a new era of online service delivery for target communities and rural settlements in the Northern Division. The launching held recently in Labasa was part of the Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) implemented by the Live and Learn Environmental Education Fiji organisation. Under the ECAP project, 18 communities in […]
Villagers learn Bee Keeping under EU funded project
EU Ecosystems-Based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) successfully launch the Beekeeping Training in Nakasa Village in Cakaudrove. This is being done through an initiative under the EU funded Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation Project. The Basic Beekeeping Training will be undertaken in 20 communities in the Northern Division, seven in Bua, three in Macuata and 10 in the […]
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 […]
Children in Dakuni Village on Beqa Island are set to benefit from improved access to education following the groundbreaking of the community’s first-ever kindergarten and infant school.
The milestone project will allow young children to begin their education within the village, and will no longer have to travel to Dakuibeqa Primary School.
The kindergarten, valued at $72,000, is being funded by the Fiji Water Foundation in partnership with Live & Learn organisation, while the Dakuni Infant School, costing $37,000, is funded by the Fiji Government.
The project was officiated by the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, Aliki Bia and highlights the importance of investing in education from an early age and ensuring children in rural communities are not left behind.
The project will not only improve access to early education but also ease the burden on families, strengthen village life, and create better opportunities for the next generation.
For Dakuni Village, this is more than just a school; it is a foundation for a brighter future.
Gone are the days when healthcare workers at Lomaloma Sub-Divisional Hospital had to rely on lamps and inconsistent power to store essential medicines or administer lifesaving treatments.
A newly commissioned solar energy system, funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and delivered through a partnership led by Cure Kids Fiji and the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Oxygen Programme, now ensures reliable electricity for the hospital and its medical equipment.
The commissioning ceremony, held on last Thursday, was attended by Ministry officials, the people of Vanua Balavu, and representatives from project partners including the University of Auckland, Live & Learn Environmental Education, Azimut 360, Fiji National University, and CBS Power Solutions (Fiji) Ltd, who completed the installation.
Three additional solar sites at Korotasere Health Centre, Yaqeta Nursing Station, and Yanuya Nursing Station were also officially commissioned.
A life-saving initiative
Speaking at the ceremony, Udila Tawake, National Coordinator for the Fiji Oxygen Programme, highlighted the critical role oxygen plays in saving lives.
“Severe pneumonia and newborn illness remain the leading causes of death among children in Fiji,” she said.
“Adequate oxygen treatment reduces deaths from severe pneumonia by 35 per cent. Oxygen is not just a treatment – it is essential for life, from newborns to the elderly, and from emergency to routine care.”
The Fiji Oxygen Programme, which consists of 11 Ministry of Health staff and five Cure Kids personnel, including biomedical technicians and engineers, has been at the forefront of ensuring standardised and sustainable access to oxygen across Fiji.
The programme supports the installation of solar panels in rural and maritime areas to guarantee a reliable power source for oxygen delivery systems.
“By integrating renewable energy solutions, we are improving health care outcomes and building a climate-resilient health system for the future,” Ms Tawake said.
“This ensures our healthcare workers can deliver quality care in a safe and efficient environment, while patients receive the oxygen therapy they need when it matters most.”
Government support and collaborationMinister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu, praised the partnership with New Zealand, which has already funded similar solar projects at Nacula Health Centre in Yasawa and five other health facilities across Fiji.
“This initiative improves both the working conditions of our staff and the level of care provided to the community,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
“The solar panels, costing $249,000, will not only power oxygen concentrators but also supply electricity to the entire facility, ensuring uninterrupted service and safety for both staff and patients.”
The Lomaloma Sub-Divisional Hospital serves a population of 2,871 across 16 villages and five private estates.
Dr Lalabalavu emphasised that reliable oxygen supply is particularly critical for rural and maritime communities, where consistent electricity and medical resources are often a challenge.
“Facilitating round-the-clock availability of oxygen will improve access to oxygen therapy for patients presenting with respiratory illnesses. This timely treatment is lifesaving and reduces child mortality significantly,” he said.
Building capacity for sustainable health
Beyond infrastructure, the Fiji Oxygen Programme and Cure Kids are investing in capacity building.
Training healthcare workers, developing standard operating procedures, strengthening maintenance systems, and creating national policies ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of the programme.
“This work is driven by our ambition to support respiratory patients across Fiji while recognising the importance of our healthcare workers,” Ms Tawake said.
“Reliable solar energy means that staff have the resources they need to provide excellent care, and communities can be assured that lifesaving oxygen is always available.”
The commissioning of the solar energy system at Lomaloma marks a significant step in creating a resilient and sustainable healthcare system, ensuring no one in Fiji dies due to a lack of oxygen
The Drawa block forest conservation Project continues to receive praise as a leader in indigenous led conservation efforts following a recent visit by a select number of Pre COP31 delegates.
The Forest conservation Project is a community led initiative involving 8 mataqalis or land-owning units and sits on nearly 4,000 hectares of protected primary forest. This is Fiji’s first verified community-owned REDD+ and carbon trading project which was launched in 2011.
Instead of logging their forest, landowners sell their carbon credits to generate sustainable income.
The delegates included Live & Learn Solomon Islands Carbon and Conservation lead Mr Bill Rerigeto Apusae, Solomon Island Government representatives Mr David Tufi who is the Chief Climate Change Officer-Mitigationand Mr Sammy Airahui who is the National Programmes Coordinator and Secretary for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) National Designated Authority within the Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Also present were Ms Emmy Primadona who is the Project and Policy Coordinator for the Indonesian Conservation Community (KKI WARSI) and Mr Albert Milala who is a Senior Adaptation Officer at the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) in Papua New Guinea. They were further supported with the presence of the Country Manager for Live & Learn Papua New Guinea, Ms Rosemary Isicar and Dr. Rakeshni Lata and Ms Sherylin Hassan who are both Pacific Island environmental and climate specialists from Fiji, both of whom work on regional climate resilience and environmental sustainability programs.
The peer-to-peer exchange allowed for representatives of the eight landowning units to be present along with members of the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative (DBFCC) along with Live & Learn Fiji’s REDD+ Coordinator Mr Beato Dulunaqio and Nakau Programme’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Robbie Henderson.
The visiting delegates were able to learn firsthand some of the challenges the landowners themselves had experienced and how they were able to overcome these identified challenges. Speaking on the community’s journey into carbon trading, Mrs Waita Dikica, Business Manager and Committee Member of the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative, told delegates that it took seven years of sustained awareness and consultation to secure the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous landowners before the project went ahead. Mrs Dikica’s presentation also highlighted the benefits the project has brought to different groups within the community.
“I am a committee member and I can tell you that this has been a long journey before we could start trading carbon. Live & Learn Fiji took seven years visiting the villages and landowning units, raising awareness on carbon trading and the importance of preserving our forests. We learnt a lot. For us, the project taught us a lot and empowered us to make decisions not only for us but our future generations. At a personal level as a woman living in the village, my journey with the project has enabled me to now make presentations on behalf of the carbon business – DBFCC to Directors, Executives and even decision makers like iTLTB. From the carbon income received we have set up an education fund, opened three village canteens run by the women of the land-owning units, invested in building community halls and footpaths within the village to allow for easier movement of our community members including the elderly and persons with a disability. We have also supported the purchase of 3 brush cutters for each of the youth groups and their rugby jerseys. The Carbon trading business has helped us preserve our forests and at the same time we are earning a living from it. We employ our youths as forest rangers. They have been upskilled in applying specialist tools to monitor the trees and our forest. All of this has been achieved through our forests.”
Responding to questions on why the Drawa Forest Conservation Forest has been a success despite the challenges, Live & Learn Fiji’s Beato Dulunaqio who has been looking after the REDD+ Drawa Forest Conservation Project for the past 6 years, says that the main motivator has been open dialogue.
“This is a big project and a new one when it was first introduced. For Live & Learn Fiji, we have adopted an approach where we believe that for any Project to be successful, it needs to be community led and that is why we work closely with the whole community. It is all about awareness and being honest instead of promising things which may not eventuate as this will lead to distrust from within the community. For the Drawa Project, we took seven years working closely with stakeholders and the Nakau Programme ensuring that the landowners were included from the start to make decisions on managing their resources such as their forests. This is why we have been able to reach this far.”
Speaking on her experience following the visit, Live & Learn PNG Country Manager, Rosemary Isicar highlighted that they have always heard of the Drawa forest conservation project and seeing it for the first time has been an experience she will never forget. She further added that seeing first-hand how it has brought about sustainable benefits to the land-owning units has provided them with a pathway to work with their communities and to also advocate for such projects back in Papua New Guinea. She further added that seeing the canteen in Drawa village and listening to how the women manage the canteen has provided useful insights for community projects in areas where they can work for equitable participation.
In rounding off their visit, Sherylin Hassan praised the diligence and support shown by the young forest rangers as well as the landowning units adding that their work is making headways both nationally and internationally; not only as Fiji’s first community-owned REDD+ carbon trading project but is also a success story in Nature based Solutions to climate change, adding that Drawa Forest is one of Fiji’s largest Nature based Solutions (NbS) initiative.
Live & Learn Environmental Education Fiji and the Nakau Programme have supported the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative since the project’s early development, with Live & Learn Fiji coordinating the partnership in Fiji with the DBFCC and Nakau providing technical support for the sale of carbon credits on the international market.
For generations, the women of the villages of Naiviqiri, Naivaka, Galoa and Yaqaga, in Bua, have depended on the sea for the livelihood of their families. A successful day of fishing meant a plentiful catch to sell, but it also came with a challenge. Without access to cold storage, fish and seafood had to be sold quickly or eaten on the same day before they spoil.
Today, that challenge is becoming a thing of the past. From 23–26 June 2026, four new solar-powered freezers were installed, each housed inside a risk-informed disaster-resilient shelter. These shelters, designed and built with community input, ensure that surplus seafood can be stored safely and sold when markets are accessible.
The women’s clubs of all four villages spearheaded the fundraising for the shelters which were constructed by each of the communities. By the time the Dawn Renewable Energy technical team came to install the systems, the shelters were completed.
Alongside installation, 120 participants with 74 female, 46 male, 31 youths and 2 persons with disabilities took part in training sessions that covered the basic use of the freezer, proper maintenance and safe handling of the solar system. The sessions emphasized the steps to be taken as well as the precautions, to ensure longevity and resilience.
“Fishing has always been our main source of income, but travelling to Nakadrudru to sell our catch took time and money, and we often had to sell quickly rather than for a good price because we feared the fish would spoil. We’ve waited so long for a solution, and now we cannot contain our joy — with our newly installed solar-powered freezer, we can safely store our catch, sell it wisely, and improve the livelihoods of our families.” — ArietaLeader of the Women’s Group, Yaqaga Village
The successful implementation of the project was made possible through the collaboration and strong partnerships between all four communities, Live and Learn Fiji, Dawn Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management – PA Bua’s Office, ADO Lekutu’s Office, and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs through the Roko Tui Bua’s Office.
The Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) Small Grants Initiative (SGI) is supported by the New Zealand High Commission, Suva, Fiji. The UNDP Gov4Res Programme is supported by New Zealand, the Australian High Commission Fiji, KOICA Fiji Office, and the UK in Fiji.
Work has gained momentum within the three countries implementing the regional Kiwa EMPOWER Project
🇫🇯 Fiji
The project team has been undertaking training on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in the 20 communities of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata. This is being carried in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Land Resources Planning Division of Northern Division
The training focused:
Planting resilient crops (crops can withstand unfavorable weather) & repellent crops (those that chase insects aways from vegetable and crops)
Nursery construction in communities (to protect delicate plants from harsh weather conditions and then transplant once ready)
Food security for all through Backyard gardening
Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), ensuring women and vulnerable groups have equal access to knowledge and opportunities
Also running concurrently is the Indigenous Knowledge Training being conducted by the Team with the services of Sauvaka Culture Consultancy. The training is centered on creating awareness in communities on indigenous practices in terms of Nature based solutions to climate change.
🇹🇻 Tuvalu
Implementation plans have been finalized for both Niutao and Nanumea with focus on nature-based solutions such as climate smart agriculture, agroforestry and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The regional Team spent a week in country to finalize implementation plans, annual work plan, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework and do a refresher on Project visibility requirements and work on GEDSI integration throughout implementation.
The project team will be rolling out community training in comings weeks followed by implementing NbS initiatives.
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
Detailed activity planning, review of annul work plan and M&E framework has been completed to roll out interventions in Nifiloli (Temotu Province) and Sikaiana (Malaita Province).
These efforts being undertaken by the Kiwa EMPOWER Project teams in the three countries to strengthen climate resilience, empower communities, and advance inclusive nature-based solutions.
Twenty communities in Vanua Levu are set to benefit from a three-year environmental resilience and climate adaptation initiative.
This follows the successful launch of the national Kiwa Empower Project, valued at $7.5 million for Fiji, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands, funded by the European Union, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Most of the targeted communities are coastal and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Under the project, they will undergo training and implement nature-based solutions to strengthen climate resilience.
Regional Project Manager Subesh Prasad says this marks a significant milestone in addressing the needs and ongoing challenges faced by affected communities.
“We acknowledge the support of the commissioner’s north office. Their support has been very instrumental to this Kiwa Empower project, not only on this but also on all the other Live & Learn projects that have been implemented in the Northern division.”
Country Director for Live & Learn Environmental Education Fiji, Dorris Susau, commended the resilience and commitment of communities where the project will be implemented.
“When we design and implement it, it is aligned with national priorities, and more importantly, it addresses the need of the community in the manner that is relevant and appropriate to you, so it’s not about us; it’s all about you.”
She highlighted that partnership and collaboration remain central to the Kiwa Empower Project, with a commitment to continue supporting rural and remote communities in the North.
The project will focus on key areas including conservation, disaster risk reduction, food security, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, water resource management, and human health.
The twenty participating communities are Naivaka, Naiviqiri, Nasau, Ravuka, Cawadevo, Visoqo, and 14 others across Cakaudrove.
Non-Government organisation, Live and Learn Environmental Education Fiji, country manager, Doris Susau (left), and Ecosystems-based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) (right), Subesh Prasad shows Divisional Planning Officer, Setareki Dakuiboca (middle) the new portal and its operation during its launch in Labasa on September 8, 2022.
Anew informative portal (website) launch marked a new era of online service delivery for target communities and rural settlements in the Northern Division. The launching held recently in Labasa was part of the Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) implemented by the Live and Learn Environmental Education Fiji organisation.
Under the ECAP project, 18 communities in the North are part of ECAP-related projects where sustainable community livelihood projects like beekeeping, agriculture and others are supported. The programme is funded by the European Union. Organisation president, Doris Susau, said the launching fulfilled the project objective to build local socioeconomic resilience to climate change in vulnerable communities in the Northern parts of Fiji.
Ms Susau said the portal was developed to establish tools visible to the climate change sector, Government and communities. She said it would connect and closely share the learnings and knowledge resources from the project with their active communities and interested stakeholders. “Structured exchanges will be used to share learning within and between communities and this will be via sharing links on the social media, widely used by our communities,” she said.
Chief guest, Divisional Planning Officer, Setareki Dakuiboca, shared his gratitude to the organisation as it positively impacted the livelihood of its target communities.
EU Ecosystems-Based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) successfully launch the Beekeeping Training in Nakasa Village in Cakaudrove. This is being done through an initiative under the EU funded Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation Project.
The Basic Beekeeping Training will be undertaken in 20 communities in the Northern Division, seven in Bua, three in Macuata and 10 in the Cakaudrove Province
Delegation of the EU for the Pacific Head of Section Civil Society, Pedro Velazquez launched the project and the training on Tuesday.
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.
