Fiji’s Minister for Cooperatives, Manoa Kamikamica, has highlighted positive developments in the formation of women and youth-led cooperatives in the country. The ministry has rolled out strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing female involvement in cooperatives, which include improved access to grants and financial resources.
Recent data shows that the participation rate of women in cooperatives has increased significantly from 12 percent to 20 percent this year. Kamikamica attributes this growth to targeted outreach efforts, tailored training programs, and support systems designed to encourage more women to engage in cooperative activities.
In the past three years, 398 women and youths have been appointed to board positions within various cooperatives. The minister emphasized the ministry’s commitment to further improving the inclusion of women and youth in cooperatives by implementing more gender- and youth-sensitive policies.