LocationsMinistry Begins National Consultative Process to Review Rural Development Framework
November 15, 2024
The review brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, local communities, development partners, civil society organisations, and sectoral experts.
Suva, Fiji – The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management (MRMDDM) has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming rural communities across Fiji as it begins nationwide consultations to comprehensively review the Integrated Rural Development Framework (IRDF).
The IRDF, established in 2009 has served as the guiding document for rural development across Fiji. Now, in a bid to strengthen the effectiveness of rural development, the Ministry, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) project, is launching a comprehensive review of the
framework.
This exercise aligns with the intentions of Government as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2025 – 2029, identifying the development of the rural areas as one of the key priorities of Government.
To launch the work on the review of the IRDF, the Ministry begins its first two-day national consultation workshop in the Central Division today.
The workshop brings together key stakeholders from government agencies, local communities, development partners, civil society organization's, and sectoral experts to collaboratively provide insight that will support the formulation of a way forward for integrated rural development, enhancing Fiji’s resilient and sustainable development.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka said the roll-out of the national consultation today marked the beginning of an important first step towards re-thinking and re-imagining how “we can more effectively build resilient rural communities as an integral pillar of our future shared prosperity and well-being as a nation”.
The review of the IRDF will lay the groundwork for the development of a proposed National Rural Development Policy.
“The review of the IRDF and the proposed National Rural Development Policy is part of a Change Management Program that we have established in our Ministry. We have decided to contextualise these strategic initiatives through a change programme because we understand and accept that we’ll need to adjust how we work to ensure our services are at an optimum level and more relevant to our stakeholders,” said Hon. Ditoka.
“The Ministry does not exist in a vacuum so while it might seem straightforward to carry forward the IRDF review and build from it for the future, we also must ensure consistency with other reform efforts happening around us at the moment.”
Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, above, said that the national consultation marked a key step in building resilient rural communities for our nation’s future prosperity and well-being. Sitting, is UNDP Pacific Office Deputy Resident Representative Mr Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov.
The Deputy Resident Representative for the UNDP Pacific office in Fiji, Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov reaffirmed UNDP’s ongoing support for the Ministry’s efforts.
“UNDP has been a proud supporter of the Ministry since 2016. Through the partnership, the Ministry has transformed the way it designs, implements and manages community projects,” said Mr. Abdurahmanov.
He also highlighted the success of the partnership in supporting 89 gender- and socially-inclusive, risk-informed community projects, which utilized reformed planning and budgeting processes. “This has included the development of a Resilient Strategic Development Plan and the integration of risk reviews into project appraisals,” he added.
Mr. Abdurahmanov also commended the Ministry’s efforts to scale up climate finance in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Our partnership exemplifies the effective use of climate finance for Pacific Island communities, and with UNDP’s support, the Ministry is making systemic changes to ensure its development projects are risk-informed and aligned with climate resilience efforts,” he said.
The MRMDDM and the UNDP renewed their strategic partnership earlier this year, by signing a FJ$1.5 million agreement, that will advance the integration of risk-informed approaches into community infrastructure in Fiji.
The partnership is made possible through the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Korea International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
For more information please contact:
Risiate Biudole, Communications Analyst, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, risiate.biudole@undp.org or Aqela Susu, MRMDDM Senior Media Officer, Email: aqela.susu@govnet.gov.fj
Related
content
content
