Regional Development In Fiji_jica Seminar 080728

Regional Development in the Fiji Islands. - A case study of Lawaki Village, Tailevu North. Regional Development Seminar for JICA International Students in Japan, 2008.

By

Koliyavu Ratu Timoci Turagayawa Photo: Anonymous

Background


Fiji has more than 330 islands located in the the South Pacific Ocean: 18,333 km2 land area




Population of 931 741, population growth rate of 1.388% (2008)




35% below national poverty threshold (2004)




Tropical climate without extremes of cold or hot




Multiracial country - English is the official language




GDP - $FJD 5,500 per capita (2007) –396 259JPY

Fig 1. This figure shows the organizational structure of the Regional Development Ministry in Fiji. Source: Fiji Government Website

Case Study- Small Grants Scheme: Lawaki Village Eastern Division.

• Location: 17°38'S, 178°34'E • 20.71km from nearest town • Village area 3.8105 km2.

Figure 2. Map locations of the Fiji Islands (right) and the local area (left) Source: Google Earth, Anonymous.

Population and Age structure in Lawaki


Total population = 175 ; 40 Families




More than half of the population are middle aged (26-75years)




About a third of them are students (7-25yrs)




Pre-school aged children and older aged people accounted for the rest of the population (7 %).

INDUSTRY & STAPLES

Tourism

Root crops

Forestry Subsistence farming and fishing Fruits and vegetables

Sugarcane

Agriculture Photos: SPRH (USP), Fiji Government Website, JB, Anonymous

Utilization of Resources

Photos: IAS (USP), QVSOB Website, Anonymous

Village Farming Report, 2008 Total Crop Percentage 2%

0%

1 2 3

5%

4

2%

5

21% 44%

6 7 8

5% 1% 4% 3%

9 10 11 1%

8%

4%

12 13

Figure 3.Total crop percentages for the last year. Refer to presentation summary for individual listings as numbered in this figure. Source: Lawaki Village Committee Report, 2008.

Aid/Incentives/Subsidy 

Small scale framing subsidies (equipments, animals, cash incentives).



Rural housing programs - village school (Japan Aid), a village dispensary (Nursing Project) and donation of school boat (for Qoma Island students).



Village Hall and Drinking water



Setting up utilities such as drinking water systems, electricity and upgrading of major roads and village footpaths (partly funded).



Scholarships for tertiary studies (regional to national scale).

Major Challenges


Rising fuel/food prices----- increase in poverty




Poor Organization structure




Communal ownership of land




Lack of technological skills




Rapid increases in population

Photo : Fiji Government Website

Photo: Anonymous

National Challenges


Poor governance & corruption




Rising food / fuel prices




Food security and poverty




Poor organization /implementation strategies of development




Lack of funding and investments in national services sectors




Lack of technological capacities, knowledge and skills




Regular changes of government / policies




Politically volatile status at present

Current Mitigation Tools


Reforms / Reshuffles / Restructures




Foreign Investment & Industry promotion




Human resource development and capacity building initiatives/projects




Private-Public partnerships (PPP’s)




Bilateral & Multilateral initiatives

Government Role


Main machinery- proposals, policies, funding, implementers, monitoring.




Initiator- PPP’s, Regionalism, International initiatives




Fund distributor and follow ups

Private Sector Role


Main Engine – innovations / facilitators for economic growth & development




Exploiting marketing opportunities




World class standards of services




Policies and decision makers – state partnership




Decentralization / Convergence Policies

Thank You

Acknowledgements Government of Fiji
Government of Japan
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Regional Economic Development Initiatives, Japan
Lawaki Village Committee, Fiji
Korovou Initiative, Fiji