Vendors from Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki thanked Government’s partnership with UN Women for their inclusive approach to those at grassroots level.

This was revealed during the certificate presentation at the completion of the Market for Change Certificate workshop at the Ba Hall yesterday.

Rakiraki Market Vendors Club president Varanisese Maisamoa said women should engage more in decision making in the market place.

“Women contribute a lot to the income of the market, their family, and social obligations. Despite their contribution, they are still neglected,” Ms Maisamoa said.

“The Market for Change Project has provided more opportunities for us from the workshop conducted by UN Women last December.”

She said vendors were taught how to address problems they faced, communication with the market master, how to improve their livelihood and allocation of stands for their produce.

“The workshop has broadened our understanding and roles as female vendors and will enable us to expand our business and gain new knowledge,”she said.

Tavua market vendor Vasenai Ralulu echoed similar sentiments.

“In February, I attended the UN Women’s Getting Started Workshop. I really learned a lot,” she said.

“Some of the key lessons I learned were the need to form an association to address our issues as market vendors and working together to improve market management and to be part of decision making.”

She said they also participated in financial literacy training, how to register a business, how to obtain a business licence, how to record sales and expenses, budgeting and saving.

“Everyone must understand that we are businesswomen and we contribute a lot to our household income and the market revenue,”she said.

Ba vendor Nilesh Prasad said about 70 – 80 per cent of female vendors sell from the Ba Market daily.

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