Resilience

Resilient Communities

Nature based Solutions (NbS)

Climate resilience

Food preservation

Disaster Risk Reduction

Gender & Social Inclusion

Empowered communities

Resilient Communities

Nature based Solutions (NbS)

Climate resilience

Food preservation

Disaster Risk Reduction

Gender & Social Inclusion

Empowered communities

Kiwa Empower Project Officially Launched

The Kiwa Initiative launched its EMPOWER project with support from Australia and other donors in Solomon Islands on 24 June. The Kiwa EMPOWER project will restore ecosystems and improve the health of waterways to increase climate resilience in two remote communities: Sikaiana in Malaita Province and Nifiloli in Temotu Province. In Solomon Islands, the EMPOWER […]

Villagers work on restoring grassland areas

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 […]

Climate resilience with Vetiver grass planting

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 […]

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 […]

Gardening & Food preservation

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 […]

Cabinet approves team

Cabinet has approved the formation of a National Emergency Response Team. National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) director Vasiti Soko confirmed this while delivering her closing remarks at a five-day emergency operation centre training at the Fiji Teachers Union Hall on Friday. “This is nothing new in the disaster space globally,” she said. “Solomon Islands is […]

Let’s ‘be the change’ on World Water Day and beyond

Savusavu, Fiji, 22 March 2023 – Today, children from 10 schools in the Northern Division in Fiji were among the first in the world to celebrate World Water Day by taking part in an oratory and drama contest organized by the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport and UNICEF. The contest has provided a platform for […]

CSOs, university help with pandemic recovery

Three Fijian organisations were able to assist thousands of Fijians sustainably navigate the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through funding provided by USAID. The three were the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprise and Development (FRIEND), University of Fiji, and Live and Learn Environment Education Fiji. FRIEND project manager Melaia Salacakau said with the funding, […]

Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible

Today, children from 10 schools in Fiji joined others around the world to celebrate World Water Day by taking part in an oratory contest organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and UNICEF to advocate on the importance of groundwater. “Imagine when the top surface of the ground drops so far that the well is […]

Kiwa Empower Project Officially Launched

Posted on March 18, 2025October 22, 2025 by Paradise

The Kiwa Initiative launched its EMPOWER project with support from Australia and other donors in Solomon Islands on 24 June.

The Kiwa EMPOWER project will restore ecosystems and improve the health of waterways to increase climate resilience in two remote communities: Sikaiana in Malaita Province and Nifiloli in Temotu Province.

In Solomon Islands, the EMPOWER project will be implemented by Live and Learn Environmental Education, who will work directly with communities to incorporate indigenous knowledge and ensure solutions are locally-led. Congratulations to community leaders in Sikaiana and Nifiloli for your commitment to a more sustainable future.

During the Kiwa EMPOWER launch, Honourable Trevor Mahaga, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology said, “To the donor partners … we extend our deepest appreciation. Your support has not only provided funding but has reignited hope. Through your partnership, Solomon Islands can step towards community led climate adaptation, resilience building and biodiversity protection.”

HE Rod Hilton, High Commissioner to Solomon Islands said, “ Australia is proud to support this project. We are especially pleased that it will focus on two harder to reach communities, because remoteness can increase vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and disasters”.

“Nature-based solutions,” High Commissioner Hilton said,“like those implemented through the EMPOWER project, address the environmental and social challenges of climate change simultaneously.”

The Kiwa Initiative brings together five donors; France, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Australia has proudly contributed to Kiwa since 2020 – providing SBD32 million across the Pacific region. The Australian Government remains deeply committed to action on climate change, both at home and in our region. The Kiwa Initiative is an important demonstration of this commitment.

Source: Australia High Commission Press Release

Date: 02/07/2025

Villagers work on restoring grassland areas

Posted on June 17, 2024October 22, 2025 by Paradise

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.

Source: FBC News

Date: 17/06/2024

Climate resilience with Vetiver grass planting

Posted on March 18, 2024October 22, 2025 by Paradise

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.

Source: FBC News

Training for sustainable agriculture and food security

Posted on January 17, 2024October 22, 2025 by Paradise

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.

Source: FBC News

Date: 17/01/2024

Tunabuna calls for collaborative effort to enhance food security

Posted on January 17, 2024October 22, 2025 by Paradise

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.

Source: FBC News

Date: 17/01/2024

Gardening & Food preservation

Posted on November 3, 2023November 27, 2025 by Paradise

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.

Source: Fiji Sun

Date: 03/11/2023

Cabinet approves team

Posted on May 7, 2023October 22, 2025 by Paradise

“This is nothing new in the disaster space globally,” she said. “Solomon Islands is the first country in the Pacific to form a National Emergency Response Team. It’s also looking at ensuring that when you are deployed, you are deployed understanding humanitarian principles. You understand the different classes that exist within you, understand the logistic plan, how to prepare well for response. All of these small things, we take for granted but they really do save lives.”

She said decision makers relied heavily on the information that came from the Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) during disasters. “Everything is so important because as decision makers, we rely on the information that comes from you.

“So how you operate in emergency operation centers, how you work as a team, how you ensure that information is correct and verified, that comes from the district, to the divisional, to national.

“Those processes are very important to be followed because any delays between may cost a life,” she said.

The training program was organised by Live and Learn Fiji, a recipient of Australian Government funding through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership’s Disaster Ready 2.0 program.

It was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development and Maritime and National Disaster Management, as well as other government ministries.

Source: Fiji Times

Date: 07/05/2023

Let’s ‘be the change’ on World Water Day and beyond

Posted on March 22, 2023October 22, 2025 by Paradise

Savusavu, Fiji, 22 March 2023 – Today, children from 10 schools in the Northern Division in Fiji were among the first in the world to celebrate World Water Day by taking part in an oratory and drama contest organized by the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport and UNICEF.

The contest has provided a platform for the children to share their voice and advocate on the importance of accelerating change when it comes to saving their homes from water scarcity as well as water borne diseases – one of the leading causes of death for children under five across the Pacific.

“Water is an essential need to survive, and we all need to take responsibility. Since everything on earth is connected to water, we, ourselves, need to look after it,” said Ethan Rossi, 14, from St. Andrews Primary School who was also the winner of the primary level oratory contest. “I am grateful that a platform like this has been provided for children like myself to be able to lead, inspire, and empower others on the importance of water.”

Approximately 96 per cent of Fiji’s total population has access to improved drinking water. However, while access is good, there is still the need to ensure that services are available on demand, and free from contamination, especially during and after disasters.

“The theme ‘Accelerating Change’ is correct as this is very much the focus of the Government’s development programmes in all sectors including water,” said the Hon. Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu. “The theme also seeks to inspire people at different levels and sectors to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference.”

Students from primary and secondary levels took part, including Savusavu Secondary School, St. Bedes College, Navatu Secondary School, Seaqaqa Central College, Ahmadiyya Muslim College, Khemendra Sanatan Primary School, Nasavusavu Public School, Nasavusavu District School, St. Andrews Primary School, and Muanivatu District School.

The children advocated to key stakeholders, including the media, about how water affects everyone and equally, there is a need for everyone to take action. Families, communities, schools and even children can make a difference by changing the way they use, consume and manage water in their daily lives. This can be achieved as easily as through saving water by taking shorter showers and fixing leaking water pipes.

“While Fiji has made remarkable progress towards improving the lives of Fijians through improved services of water and sanitation, we still must not forget that a third of children in the Pacific do not have access to good sanitation, and one in ten do not have access to safe drinking water,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Jonathan Veitch.

“We thank the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, and other partners, in supporting UNICEF to provide a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of children on this critically important topic.”

This event is supported by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Heritage and Arts, Ministry for Lands and Mineral Resources, Water Authority of Fiji, Live and Learn and Habitat for Humanity Fiji.

The Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport also acknowledges the valuable support from various donor and key stakeholders for improvements of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Fiji including the Government of United Kingdom, Government of Australia, Government of New Zealand, Government of the Republic of Korea, Government of Japan and the European Union as well as United Nations agencies including WHO and UNESCO.

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UN 2023 Water Conference:

This week marks the first UN Water Conference in the last 46 years!

Taking place in New York from 22-24 March 2023, the conference comes at a pivotal moment in history, on the heels of a global pandemic that underscored the importance of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene access. The world is also in the throes of a rapidly worsening climate crisis, with water becoming scarcer in some areas due to drought, and dangerously destructive in others through floods and storms. No one stands to suffer more than children.

The Pacific has just recently again seen the result of this first-hand with the recent droughts in Kiribati and Tuvalu as well as the twin cyclones that hit Vanuatu. These are not new for the region, but the weather and rainfall patterns have become more erratic because of the climate crisis over the past few decades.

World leaders, relevant organizations and other participants will convene for the first time in 46 years to review progress toward ensuring access to water and sanitation for all. At the conference, UNICEF is calling for:

Rapid scale-up of investment in the sector, including from global climate financing.
Strengthening climate resilience in the WASH sector and communities.
Prioritizing the most vulnerable communities in WASH programmes and policies.
Increasing effective and accountable systems, coordination, and capacities to provide water and sanitation services.
Implementing the UN-Water SDG6 Global Acceleration Framework and investing in the key accelerators.

About the Fiji Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport:

The Ministry is responsible for policy formulation, planning, design, regulatory, coordination and implementation of programmes, projects and services relating to infrastructural works, utilities (water and electricity), transport (air, road, sea), meteorology and hydrology.

Similarly, responsible for policy and legislative oversight of the Fiji Roads Authority, the Water Authority of Fiji, the Land Transport Authority, the Maritime Authority of Fiji, and Energy Fiji Limited. The Ministry develops infrastructure that moves people, the economy, and the nation forward. It provides services for the protection of life and property with environmental integrity.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Mohammed Nistar Khan, Department of Water and Sewerage, Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, mohammed.khan@govnet.gov.fj

Zubnah Khan, UNICEF Pacific, Tel: +679 9988137, zukhan@unicef.org

Date: 22/03/2023

CSOs, university help with pandemic recovery

Posted on February 10, 2023October 22, 2025 by Paradise

Three Fijian organisations were able to assist thousands of Fijians sustainably navigate the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through funding provided by USAID.

The three were the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprise and Development (FRIEND), University of Fiji, and Live and Learn Environment Education Fiji.

USAID grant receiptants Melaia Salacakau Project Manager FRIEND , LIVE AND LEARN Fiji Project Manager Kolosa Matebalavu, Women’s, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Lynda Tabuya and University of Fiji Lecturer Priyatma Singh at the USAID Pacific American Grant Award Spotlight Event on Tuesday at the Grand Pacific Hotel. Photo: Fiji Government

FRIEND project manager Melaia Salacakau said with the funding, they were able to increase skills for 2300 Fijians through seven livelihood training programs.

“So the different livelihood schemes training (and) intervention that we put together was soap-making training, oil efficient training, food processing activity, food production, compliance training, seafood processing training and sea salt training,” she said.

She said they targeted areas such as Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka and the Yasawa Group as they were heavily reliant on the tourism industry.

Ms Salacakau said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the livelihood training greatly assisted people in terms of earning an income and eventually supporting themselves.

“Some of them have been have been selling overseas to family and friends as well as in their community.

“As for the sustainability of the project, FRIEND is putting together an e-commerce platform where all the beneficiaries will be able to sell and market their products globally.”

The University of Fiji, the only grant recipient outside of the NGO and CSO space, worked with two communities in reviving their aquaculture farms for tilapia farming.

Lecturer Priyatma Singh said they noted that during the peak of the pandemic, food security became a concern. They had a non-functioning pond which the university decided to revive through the American Pacific Grant.

“So it’s not just this training centrally, of course, we helped them to upgrade their skills but they also with resources and some very important equipment that was needed for them to sustain the pond,” Singh said.

“So we provided them with the training in a pond preparation activities. We also provided training with the feeding, with harvesting, financial literacy, provided them with the trainings marketing as well.

“One of the other things we have done is incorporated the outcomes of the project into our Environmental Science course at the university.”

Live and Learn Environment Education Fiji project manager Kolosa Matebalavu said they received the grant under the disaster risk management area.

He said through their community programs they realised that the one-size-fits-all approach did not work as it never addressed the needs of everyone in the community.

“When we’re talking about communities that have different groups of people that live in our communities, they have different needs, they have different capacities, they have different strengths and most of the time when we take a one-size-fits-all approach, that’s how people get mixed up, don’t respond to their needs,” he said.

The USAID grants have a duration of 12 to 20 months and are divided into two categories; the small NGOs and CSOs eligible for a funding of up to $US150,000 ($F327,000), while the more experienced NGOs are eligible for a grant ranging from $US300,000 ($F654,000) to $1 million ($F2.18m).

The grant started in August 2020 as USAID assisted Pacific Island countries in their fight against the impacts of Covid-19.

USAID, through various means, has provided Fiji with up to $122 million worth of assistance to combat the negative impacts of the pandemic.

Source: Fiji Times

Date: 10/02/2023

Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible

Posted on March 22, 2022October 22, 2025 by Paradise

Today, children from 10 schools in Fiji joined others around the world to celebrate World Water Day by taking part in an oratory contest organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and UNICEF to advocate on the importance of groundwater.

“Imagine when the top surface of the ground drops so far that the well is not deep enough to reach it or pump up water, leaving the well dry. Devastating, isn’t it? We need to protect our ground water as it is a scarce resource and living things depend on it,” said Selai Daunakamakama, 14, from Nausori Primary School who was also a participant of the oratory contest. “I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be able to raise my voice today and speak on the importance of this very valuable resource.”

Groundwater supplies a large proportion of the water we use for drinking, sanitation, food production and industrial processes. It is also critically important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, such as wetlands and rivers. Overexploitation of groundwater can lead to land instability and subsidence, and, in coastal regions, to sea water intrusion under the land.

“Water is one of the most important and vital resources on earth. All life forms on earth require water to survive. If there will be no water, there would be no life on earth. Water is everything and without water there is no life,” said the Minister for Infrastructure, Meteorological Services, Lands and Mineral Resources, Hon. Jone Usamate. “Having access to safe and clean drinking water is a constitutional right under Fiji’s 2013 Constitution. It is also an ambitious target under Fiji’s National Development Plan which aims for 100 per cent access to clean and safe water to be realized by 2021 for urban areas and by 2031 for rural areas.”

Hon. Minister Usamate added that to achieve this, the Fijian Government has allocated funds through its implementing agencies namely, the Water Authority of Fiji and Mineral Resources Department for rural and urban water projects. While there is a focus on accessing water through surface water sources, groundwater is also explored in areas where surface water easily dries up particularly during dry spell. This is common in most of Fiji’s maritime communities, communities along the coast and some inland.

Students from primary and secondary levels took part in the oratory contest, including Nausori District School, Nausori Primary School, Vuci Methodist School, Vunimono Arya School, Vunimono Sanatan Dharam Primary School, Vunimono High School, Sila Central High School, Lelean Memorial School, Dilkusha Methodist High School and Pt Shreedhar Maharaj College. The students advocated to key stakeholders about how good groundwater management is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals to protect, conserve and restore water-related ecosystems.

“Protecting our groundwater is critical for surviving and adapting to climate change as well as meeting the needs of a growing population,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Jonathan Veitch. “We thank the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services, and other partners, in supporting UNICEF to provide a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of children on this critically important topic.”

This event is supported by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry for Lands and Mineral Resources, Water Authority of Fiji, Save the Children, Live and Learn, Pleass Global Limited, Rotary Pacific Water, Habitat for Humanity Fiji and Partners in Community Development Fiji.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services also acknowledges the valuable support from various donor and key stakeholders for improvements of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Fiji including the Government of United Kingdom, Government of Australia, Government of New Zealand, Government of the Republic of Korea, Government of Japan and the European Union as well as United Nations agencies including WHO and UNESCO.

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About Groundwater:

Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers. Groundwater is a source of recharge for lakes, rivers and wetlands. An aquifer is a geological formation or part of it, consisting of permeable material capable to store/yield significant quantities of water. Groundwater is a very important natural resource and has a significant role in the economy. It is the main source of water for irrigation and food industry.

For the environment, groundwater plays a very important role in keeping the water level and flow into rivers, lakes and wetlands especially during the drier months when there is little direct recharge from rainfall. This is also essential for the wildlife and plants living in this environment.

About the Fijian Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services:

The Ministry is responsible for policy formulation, planning, design, regulatory, coordination and implementation of programs, projects and services relating to infrastructural works, utilities (water and electricity), meteorology and hydrology. Similarly, responsible for policy and legislative oversight of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and Energy Fiji Limited (EFL). The Ministry develops infrastructure that moves people, the economy, and the nation forward. It provides services for the protection of life and property with environmental integrity.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Mohammed Nistar Khan, Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services, mohammed.khan@govnet.gov.fj

Zubnah Khan, UNICEF Pacific, Tel: +679 9988137, zukhan@unicef.org