Fiji’s Social Welfare Ministry has launched the REACH Pilot Project in Tonga and Samoa after government officials in the two countries endorsed the project.
Fiji’s outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr. Josefa Koroivueta said the two countries indicated strong interest in adopting the model after recognizing its success in Fiji.
Dr. Koroivueta said the REACH Pilot Initiative will promote peacebuilding, social cohesion, and inclusiveness in Samoa and Tonga.
“Our trip into the Pacific was basically to share with Samoa and also Tonga the best practices and also the benefits that REACH as a platform would bring to the people, will bring to the government and to the nation,” Dr Koroivueta told FBC.
He said they have trained the trainers in Tonga who are ready to roll the project.
“Tonga was very very excited, they were inspired, they were truly engaged and we were quiet surprised to see them take this on. Most of all the willingness by them to undertake the advance mission and the commitment to have the first pilot in Tonga,” Dr Koroivueta said.
He added that they are sharing Fiji’s best practices with Tonga under the South-South Cooperation and the good relationship the two countries share.
The Fiji REACH Project is the flagship project with UNDP, aimed at creating awareness and raising service delivery on social, economic and legal rights enshrined in the 2013 Constitution.
Photo by UNDP