The Australian Government today pledged $16million over the next 7 years towards the establishment of the Fiji Women’s Fund.

The Fund is designed to advance gender equality in Fiji.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific,  Steven Ciobo joined  Rosy Akbar, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, to announce the initiative.

Minister Ciobo emphasized that this fund is a major commitment by the Australian Government to support measures to increase gender equality.

“Through the Fiji Women’s Fund we aim to provide flexible support to a wide range of women’s groups in Fiji – both big and small, urban and rural, national and grassroots. This reflects our belief that empowering such groups means supporting local champions of change to make a difference in their own communities,” he said.

Ms Akbar  thanked the Australian Government for its commitment and support towards women empowerment initiatives in Fiji.

“Through the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Shaping the Pacific program, a Gender Advisor has been contracted to work with our Ministry to support the implementation of the National Gender Policy. It is significant to note that the government, the private sector, Non-Government Organisations and Faith based Organizations will need to work to promote gender equality in Fiji.”