Four Non-Government Organisations and social enterprises yesterday received computer sets from ANZ Fiji to help carry out their operations into communities.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ANZ Fiji partnered this initiative as part of ANZ’s educational programmes MoneyMinded and Business Basics.

MoneyMinded

MoneyMinded is an educational programme provided by ANZ that builds knowledge and confidence to help businesses make informed decisions about how to manage money.

ANZ Fiji country head Saud Minam said the bank was proud to support the grassroots level organisations and other UNDP programmes.

“ANZ’s MoneyMinded and Business Basics Programmes are proven to improve Pacific people’s money confidence.

“Partnering with UNDP means ANZ can help more people, so Pacific people can spend more time building a sustainable income to protect their livelihoods and support their families,” he said.

UNDP Pacific Office

UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji resident representative Levan Bouadze said NGOs are doing amazing work in remote, rural communities.

“These organisations are supporting vulnerable communities to cope with the COVID-19 crisis through upskilling, providing financial education and creating income generating opportunities.

“ANZ has been instrumental in providing them with business advice and support to ensure their programmes can be sustainable,” he said. NGOs and social enterprises were selected based on previous involvement in UNDP programmes.

Rise Beyond the Reef

Rise Beyond the Reef has been helping rural women who produce arts and crafts for sale to adjust their products to suit a domestic market, now that the tourism market has been decimated by COVID-19.

Co-founder and executive director Janet Lotawa said remote rural communities in particular have little support in the face of COVID-19.

“We are grateful for the support of UNDP and ANZ, enabling grassroots organizations like ours to work in the gaps.

“We believe investing in innovation can lead to opportunities for marginalised communities in Fiji to participate in a recovery economy, which is imperative to achieving a just recovery for all,” she said.

The four NGOs are Rise Beyond the Reef, Empower Pacific, Quantum Space – Learning and Innovation Hub, Pacific Blue Foundation. There were 10 computer sets donated.

Feedback: laiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj