Thousands of green jobs to be created in Fiji through a new World Bank project

Thousands of green jobs to be created in Fiji through a new World Bank project

By Vijay Narayan
Tuesday 24/05/2022
[Image: File]

$106 million has been approved by the World Bank in support for unemployment assistance and the creation of an estimated 10,000 jobs through the new Jobs for Nature 2.0 (JFN2) cash-for-work program in Fiji.

The additional financing for the World Bank’s Fiji Social Protection COVID-19 Response and System Development Project will support the creation of jobs (between three to twelve months in duration) for 10,000 Fijians through the JFN2 initiative, as well as covering two rounds of government cash assistance delivered in 2021 to more than 340,000 Fijians who had lost their jobs – whether formal or informal employment – as a result of the pandemic.

The package will also support the strengthening of Fiji’s social protection system.

World Bank Resident Representative for the South Pacific Lasse Melgaard says the past two years have been extremely tough for Fijian families.

He says with this additional funding, they are further boosting their support to Fiji’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the systems and processes needed to assist those Fijians who need help when they need it the most, especially women and youth, while simultaneously bolstering Fiji’s disaster and climate resilience.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji’s ongoing recovery must not only reclaim the jobs and economic activity stolen by the pandemic, it must reset course for inclusive, sustainable and resilient development.

He says robust engagement with partners like the World Bank is foundational to the future they are looking to build.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this funding support will go directly to continuing their excellent, multi-sector work that began last year to strengthen the resilience of the most climate vulnerable communities and households.

The JFN2 cash-for-work program is a community-focused program to create jobs for Fijians in rural areas across the country and will be delivered with the support of Fijian village cooperatives and civil society groups, including women’s and youth groups.

The program will prioritize activities including wetlands protection (mangrove planting, seagrass planting, restoring waterways); riverbank rehabilitation and coastal bank protection (mangrove planting, vetiver grass planting); biodiversity improvement (forest restoration, land upgrade through native tree planting, coral reef protection); and waste and wastewater management.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Waterways and Environment, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the Ministry of Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation, Fiji National Provident Fund; National Employment Centre within the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations; and Fiji’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport.

This additional financing is an International Development Association (IDA) credit with highly concessional terms. The International Development Association is the World Bank’s fund for the world’s most in-need countries.

FEATURE NEWS
PM instructs Nalumisa to work on plans to relocate Nabua squatters, no timeframe given
Minister for Housing, Maciu Nalumisa will meet with executives of Fiji Muslim League later today to discuss options of relocating the affected familie...
3 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
214 reported drug cases recorded for November
214 reported drug cases have been recorded for the month of November. Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew says of the 214 cases recorded, ...
2 hours ago

Crime rate increases by 19% in November
Concerning statistics have been released by the Fiji Police Force with the crime rate for the month of November increasing by 19 percent compared to ...
3 hours ago

Tributes to 9-year-old killed in German Christmas market attack
Tributes have been paid to a nine-year-old boy who was killed in an attack on a German Christmas market. André Gleißner died after a car drove ...
3 hours ago

Heavy Rain Warning in force for Western and interior Viti Levu
A Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for the Western and interior of Viti Levu including Momi to Nadi, Lautoka, Ba through Tavua, Rakiraki, ...
3 hours ago

Rabuka asks youth at Suva Juvenile Rehab Centre not to underestimate themselves
While visiting the Suva Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka asked those gathered not to underestimate themselves as God ...
3 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Fijian Drua in Kadavu
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua are keeping in tradition with their previous pre-season training and will be in Kadavu till Friday afternoon. The ...
3 days ago

Vanuatu Earthquake
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake, which struck at a depth of 57km, occurred 30km to the west of the capital Port Vila at 1.47pm, according to the US ...
4 days ago

Investigation into alleged drink spiking incident at Warwick Resort after 7 guests get sick
Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka confirms that 5 guests have been discharged following an alleged spiked cocktail incident at Warwick ...
7 days ago

TOP