§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development which projects her Department supports in Fiji. [1239171
§ Clare ShortOur efforts in the Pacific are now concentrated on building up a regional programme focused on the reduction of poverty. This seeks to work with regional organisations and key multilateral organisations, particularly in the areas of education and governance.
The Republic of the Fiji Islands has received assistance through the Regional. Rights Resource Team (RRRT) Project and the Governance Fund.
RRRT provides a range of innovative support in legal education, training and technical assistance. A major aim of the project is to have a functional network of Legal Rights Training Officers equipped with participatory teaching and advocacy skills to design and deliver appropriately adapted human rights education and to disseminate information about the law and human rights to women, youth and disadvantaged groups in their communities. RRRT supports two Legal Rights Training Officer positions in the Fiji Islands and has provided 84W technical and training support to the Judiciary, Law Reform Commission, Human Rights Commission, Social Welfare Department and the Police.
The Governance Fund provides small grants aimed at encouraging the development of a culture for good governance and funds activities that raise public awareness and understanding of governance and which encourage meaningful participation through consultations in policy formulation Assistance has been provided in the Fiji Islands only where activities serve as a model for best practice and have a broader regional impact mainly to Civil Society Organisations and Government.
The Fiji Islands receive assistance through the Small Grant Scheme which is administered by the British High Commission and enables them to provide small development projects which address one or more of DFID's priority objectives.
We will be reviewing our programme in Fiji in the light of recent developments.