Australian Assistance for the urban poor

21 November 2011

The Australian Government has provided financial assistance to the People’s Community Network (PCN) to assist it in its efforts to address poverty in urban settlements by providing the opportunity for squatters to become farmers of their own land.

Under a PCN pilot project, 25 families from the informal settlements of Wailei and Jittu will be soon be able to farm land in Lomaivuna.

With a grant of F$190,000, PCN has purchased a truck, a van, farming tools, a generator and office equipment. The truck and farming tools will be used as part of the farming project for those who re-settle in Lomaivuna.

As part of the project, the new farmers will be trained in ginger, vegetable and root crop farming techniques and in animal husbandry.

In an official hand-over of the vehicles and other equipment at the Jittu settlement today, the acting Australian High Commissioner, Ms Judith Robinson, told the community she hoped the assistance wouldl transform lives towards better food security, higher incomes and improved living conditions.

“We realise that an important way to reduce poverty is through sustainable agriculture and increased opportunities to generate income, and much of Australia’s assistance to Fiji in coming years will be focused on achieving this, through civil society organisations and through market development.

Ms Robinson said that as a major donor, the Australian Government is concerned about the impact that food security, rising costs of living and economic uncertainty is having on poor people in Fiji.

“Reducing poverty in rural areas and urban settlements and increasing community resilience are key objectives of Australia’s aid program in Fiji,” she said.

“Our development assistance program amounts to approximately F$70 million each year and we are working with development partners here – particularly civil society organisations – to reduce poverty and address food security by promoting peace and stability, good governance, rural development and agricultural research.”

The People’s Community Network is one of 32 civil society organisations in Fiji that were successful in receiving funding this year under an AusAID Infrastructure and Capital Grant worth FJ$2.5 million.
**ENDS**