Fifty communities in the Northern Division will benefit from the Learning Environment Adaptation Project (LEAP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Pacific American Fund.

It was launched by the US Ambassador to Fiji, Marie Damour, Assistant Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Jovesa Vocea and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji country director Iliapi Tuwai at Nawaido, Bua on May 18.

Communities included 34 in Bua Province across six districts and 16 in Macuata Province from two districts.

Mr Vocea said in this project, ADRA would work closely with the Ministry of Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management through the Commissioner Northern’s Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.

“At the end of the three-year project, we expect to see community development planning functioning in 50 communities and existing income generating activities of women’s and youth groups will increase their income by 30 per cent and activities will include environmentally friendly practices,” Mr Vocea said.

“The goal of the project is to improve the resilience and adaptive capacities of women and men subsistence farmers in vulnerable communities in Bua and Macuata provinces for natural resource management.”

Mr Tuiwai said ADRA’s implementation success leaving footprints across Fiji was a testament of their healthy collaboration with the Fiji Government, working with relevant ministries to address the needs on the ground.

 Story By: Shratika Naidu

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