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Comments from Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chair Ngāti Kahungunu (Ngāti Porou, Samoa):

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Comments from Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chair Ngāti Kahungunu (Ngāti Porou, Samoa):

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·      Cultural road to commerce, which rather than be abandoned need to be taken back as a guide and finding the common language that Pacific has always had. Indigenous frameworks and culture has the tools for more effective trade, and the breaking of trade barriers means less reliance on aid.

·      Historically Pacific were some of the most sophisticated and expansive traders; “Bring the trade mojo back up” and ongoing and sustained networking is part of this.

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·       Allow the Pacific to be the driver of its own destiny. There is a place for values and what we ‘valued’. Tourism models need to be more respectful of values; environmental, etc. This might even mean ideas of capping tourism numbers. During covid, those business that already had an environment ethos or close links to nature, did much better (70% above others).

·       The answers to a community’s problems are within the community. Contracts that have traditionally been given to external, need to be kept and given to within.

·       Entrepreneurship needs to be fostered at a much younger age, too often it is implemented later in life. Support, grants and incubators need to be applied more broadly.

·       There has perhaps been a lack of Māori and Pacific liaison on fostering this.It is more the case that these are not as visible as they should be (i.e. some tech providers), and we do not hear nearly enough about these… it is time to celebrate these.

·       There needs to be more urgency around facilitating policy to support what we are discussing today, and these need to be more locally led.

·       The building of robust economies and recognition of this cannot be done in isolation, so there needs to be a collective call to action.

·       Working across several platforms, particularly given the advance of civil society has advanced greatly across the Pacific, and businesses (including private sector) need to stop thinking of themselves outside the development equation. Business can be more central within the development conversation.

·       Economic wellness within the region requires greater connected and resilience made up of, human and social development, livelihoods, and community wellness objectives. Support for women is core to this.

·       Availability of capital and commerce supporting infrastructure will be vital going forward, and the recovery following the impact of the pandemic. Need to ensure opportunities for business partnership, not just economic support, but also how to partner and understanding opportunities.

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Great ideas coming through on opportunities, however it is important to note that in the Pacific the policy, political, regulatory, financing environment and working arrangements that determine the extent to which most of these initiative can and/or cant move forward, is driven by the State apparatus - so, its critical to also consider what best approaches from CSO's, private sector etc are needed to influence, advocate, CHANGE, a predominately state run working environment?

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Utilising the power of the diaspora, WE Accounting have done this with the hiring of Fa'avae and Tyrone

Decisions and Impact is beyond the now

If you don't have a heart for the Pacific, you won't be invested for the long term impacts

Pakeha businesses given the funding, who then come to Pacific businesses and ask for support to deliver. Why don't we cut out the middle man and go direct to the Pacific Businesses who are already doing the work. You will probably find the money will be dispersed better and the outcomes will probably be better too.

Help our Pacific people in NZ to get into business, so they can collaborate and expand into the Pacific

Govt to stop hiring people to do the jobs that our Pacific / Maori people are already doing - hire the company instead and help them to grow and develop.

Develop a Pacific KEA but with Pacific values

Need for Intergenerational thinking

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From Rachel Afeaki to Everyone 12:05 PM
Malo e nguae  Tupe, Jackie and co, 'ofa atu all.  :)

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From Doreen Leona to Everyone 12:04 PM
Tankio tumas CID for this opportunity. we look forward to the next talanoa in June. Best reards

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From Marita - Talanoa Consulting / Treks to Everyone 12:04 PM
Vinaka vakalevu everyone for this hui and bringing everyone together. Look forward to future connections and talanoa

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From Shelley Burich - Vaoala Vanilla (Samoa) to Everyone 12:04 PM
Thank you everyone...a wonderful talanoa and looking forward to where we go to from here...

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Thank you CID, Afamasaga, Tupe & team for this hui

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From Josie Pagani to Everyone 12:04 PM
We will set up the next practical step asap everyone - thank you for being part of this hui

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E-commerce (shouting more about how easy this in NZ and pushing our govts into sorting this out!) / Sharing knowledge of Maori and Pasifika led business in NZ their governance arrangements etc that are much more relevant for indigenous-led business in the Pacific / Sharing and connecting IP legal advice for Pacific business

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Comments from Wharewaka (in-person) breakout rooms:

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Comments from Wharewaka (in-person) breakout rooms:

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·      Defining the problem:

o   What do businesses need, not just government to government, and the communications channels in the region?

o   How do we help business that have been impacted to come back quickly, particularly given the size of the infrastructure in NZ. Or even you might be a Māori business that just wants to expand into the pacific.

o   Is there too much governance/ Government or rules and regulations? Its already hard to start, drive and plan a business without dealling with all the requirements, and this is even more so when it comes to some finance requirements.

·      Identity opportunities and challenges:

o   Skills and capacity building, and education. It is also about sustainability and retention of skills based.

o   Pacific businesses might be time-limited and don’t have the same deliberations on what other requirements might be.

o   The need to build more effectively and mutually beneficial relationships between Pacific-based and New Zealand based Pacific communities. In the Pacific, there are some that might be resistance to accepting NZ-based help, so a change of mind-set might need to be fostered.

o   Pacific governments need to provide more incentive to work at home, and removing some of the barriers to doing business. What is the carrot or active promotion to bring some Pacific business people to ‘come back’ (?) this is important to relationship-building. The ‘why’ is not there that makes it competitive to other foreign investors or locations.

o   There is a fear of failure, and this could be driven by a lack of support… the lessons learnt from this is more important.

Quick wins:

o   Tax breaks.

o   Iwi and diaspora is some ways needs to come up with the solutions, and in some ways this is what the government system is waiting for. What is the ‘right idea’, and the inspiration that will allow them to run with it?

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From Teresa Tepania-Ashton to Everyone 11:41 AM
Unfortunately, I need to leave but I have thoroughly enjoyed the talanoa this morning, the passion, the energy and the sharing.  Happy to awhi wherever needed.

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- How can whakawhanaungatanga be resourced, supported and valued as part of business and development? Takes time, different approach, but unlock and create great opportunities for something transformational (not just transactional)
- WE accounting experience of travel and connections in Samoa and investing in that space (diaspora and opportunities there). Pacific business hub and different business networks established. Enabling these networks to bring people's together.
- Samoa trade and investment, and connecting opportunities in Samoa and here in Aotearoa and brokering/strengthening relationships.
- MFAT sector-based conversations and programming and ensuring Pacific-led at outset (e.g. health corridors) and procurement area and diversify range of suppliers and breakdown barriers entry Maori/Pacific business (and others).

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From Tyrone Laurenson to Everyone 11:40 AM
Likewise David and following on from Wyndi - thank you for your kind remarks and support for WE here in Samoa

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From Teresa Tepania-Ashton to Everyone 11:41 AM
Unfortunately, I need to leave but I have thoroughly enjoyed the talanoa this morning, the passion, the energy and the sharing.  Happy to awhi wherever needed.

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From Rachel Afeaki to Everyone 11:41 AM
Great talanoa - An increased understanding and acceptance of the value contribution of the Pacific Diaspora across all spheres of influence is very vital back to the region (respective home island Nations and it's leadership) and within NZ and Australia.

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From Marita - Talanoa Consulting / Treks to Everyone (Zoom) 11:13 AM
Completely agree with everything that has just been said. In Fiji, we have inherited a hideous colonial architecture for doing business in the region - particularly in tourism. The systems for business development in the Pacific do not support small and indigenous operators. From our perspective we see time and time again so called support on investment / digital marketing / experience development / management completely missing the market because it is delivered by external white advisers who don’t understand Pacific ways of doing business, of the interface between cultural obligations and enterprise development - we need a louder voice supporting reform in the Pacific -  and opportunities for Maori and Pasifika business in NZ to connect to similar operators that share the same values here, who know and  understand what is important to them and can give us confidence to push harder.

And from the consulting space, as Chris highlights, there are so many opportunties and so many barriers to Pacific consultants flourishing  - we’ve had some great examples of partnerships during COVID including with NZ based businesses and would love more of these partnerships.  https://devpolicy.org/localising-pacific-consulting-20211108/

We held a series on localisation in November and some great speakers shared their thoughts as part of a climate alumni network we facilitate - I’ve posted some of these to the talanoa board https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMYdCLJEydQQbWDVKGsiZw

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From Marita - Talanoa Consulting / Treks to Everyone 11:41 AM
Is anyone actually able to explain the e-commerce problem? I am really tired of being told that it is complex and endless meeting / strategies developed. Why can I open an online business in NZ in a few days and even COVID hasn’t solved our lack of access to PayPal / Stripe etc and the need to get online. One of the ways that NZ businesses are supporting indirectly is through the connections that are supporting this gap - by channelling funds through NZ-held accounts and businesses that can’t be brought into Fiji. This is one of the easiest ways that Pacific based businesses can tap into opportunities to connect to the diaspora (business to business and business to consumer)

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From Wyndi Tagi - WE to Everyone 11:39 AM Thank you @David! Love your mahi and appreciate the work you do in the Pacific!

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From Christine Nurminen to Everyone 11:42 AM
Malo 'aupito 'a e lea Siale. I encourage your call to action about rethinking development differently in civil society with new partners that have shared values. Maori have used the terminology of mana motuhake. Reconceptualising development differently would be more about 'langa fonua'. That's a strengths-based approach to balance power dynamics between civil society, government and business partners. Sounds like another 'wananga' might need to happen. Malo & 'ofa atu. Talk later.

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From Shelley Burich - Vaoala Vanilla (Samoa) to Everyone 11:42 AM
Totally agree Marita - I am forever pushing for the payment gateways to be opened in Samoa

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From Laura Keil-Hall to Everyone 11:39 AM
Just adding onto David's acknowledgement of WE Accounting (Maori/Samoan owned business based in NZ) - they are a great example of how the Pacific diaspora can help with business development in the regions.

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From Shelley Burich - Vaoala Vanilla (Samoa) to Everyone 11:19 AM
And is what SWAG is all about - it's not about doing the work for them (the community), it's about giving them the opportunities, the tools, the resources and the network, to enable them to move forward with their business - moving them from informal to formal economies when they are ready.  It is about facilitating and nurturing our people with the skills and confidence they can do it without relying on donor/grant money all of the time.

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From Laura Keil-Hall to Everyone 11:25 AM

Thank you Audrey for highlighting that Civil Society & the Private Sector approach work really well. Private Pacific businesses & entrepreneurs (especially the Pacific diaspora) are eager & ready to assist.

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From Pacific Cooperation Foundation - David Vaeafe to Me (Direct Message) 11:27 AM

Talofa thank you for the invite, but have to step out now to go to another meeting. I look forward to the outcomes from today. Great Talanoa.

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From Glynis Miller to Everyone 11:38 AM

To note that a vast majority of SMEs across the Blue Pacific are themselves indigenous leaders who install cultural values, traditional connections to land and people in their business.

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Reflecting on the opportunities for Pacific consultants Mere and Niki shared their views

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Reflecting on the opportunities for Pacific consultants Mere and Niki shared their views

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"Few locals see consulting as a viable career. For some, it takes a fortuitous approach from a recruiting agency to apply, and for others, forays into consulting are only possible alongside full-time work. But there are signs that this is changing, with expanding Pacific-based consultancy firms, collaborations and networks."

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Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre

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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been rumblings of its potential to rebalance existing inequalities. Development commentators noted border closures were accelerating localisation efforts, creating new opportunities for local leadership in humanitarian spaces. "The physical absence of foreign aid workers," they say, "has created space and opportunities for local leaders to use their creativity and innovation. It has encouraged changes in established ways of working, enabling shifts in institutional cultures."

Fijian coral reef ecologist Sangeeta Mangubhai confirmed that with international scientists barred from travelling, local scientists in the Pacific are stepping forward into the void.

This reflects the experience of Pacific development consultants. "Though COVID is a challenge, it has offered opportunities for more locals to move into consulting", observed Lydia Nenai, a Port Moresby-based climate change consultant. "Looking around, I know there are nationals who know the context of the work that we do, but we constantly hire international experts that come in to do the roles locals are able to do. That realisation gave me the push to move into that space", she said.

As a result of the increase in demand, and expanding use of partnership models, the pandemic has opened opportunities for Pacific experts to think about consultancy as a viable long-term career option, which may have seemed too risky pre-COVID.

For Gaylyn Puairana from Solomon Islands, consulting offered the opportunity to apply her newfound skills after returning from studying abroad. "After completing my Masters in Applied Anthropology and Development Practices and returning to a full-time job in project management, I found my work to be fairly routine and wanted to use my new skills. So when I was contacted by the World Bank, I took the opportunity", Puairana said.

Few locals see consulting as a viable career. For some, it takes a fortuitous approach from a recruiting agency to apply, and for others, forays into consulting are only possible alongside full-time work. But there are signs that this is changing, with expanding Pacific-based consultancy firms, collaborations and networks.

A common thread seems catalytic to taking the first step - valuing one's capabilities. Samoan marine and fisheries consultant Maria Sapatu-Kennar began consulting after years in government, regional organisations and NGOs. "I wanted to do more, to pursue new ideas and to move up the ladder in my career. So I closed my eyes and made the bold move to try out for a consultancy as a project coordinator for government work", she recalled.

The same realisation dawned on Peni Tawake, a Fijian consultant and accredited partnership broker whose first consulting experience involved undertaking political economy analysis in Papua New Guinea. "It gave me a sense of validation of my expertise, that I have a degree of specialist knowledge to contribute, and the confirmation for me personally that Pacific Islanders can do consulting work", Tawake said.

"Saying yes to things I am scared of has so far been a plus, as well as valuing my work and managing my imposter syndrome by acknowledging that I bring knowledge, networks and contacts to this role", said Suva-based gender and technology consultant Shaunalee Katafono of TraSeable Solutions.

The points of difference locals bring to consulting have long been lauded: deep contextual knowledge; understanding what is likely to make lasting impacts; and locally relevant technical expertise. However, in some cases, international agencies and local elites can dominate consultancy spaces, so that they remain inaccessible to newcomers. Mindsets also need to change about 'what a consultant looks like'. "At times in meetings when I am introduced as a consultant, I can see the look of surprise on people's faces, as I seem 'quite young' for what they expect a consultant to look like", Sapatu-Kennar said.

"As Pacific Islanders, we often carry copious amounts of self-doubt due to colonisation of the mind. To realise that we are just as good as, if not better than, non-Pacific consultants - particularly regarding our innate knowledge of the Pacific, and how to contextualise programs - there is a degree of decolonisation of the mind that needs to happen", Tawake added.

Puairana affirms that perceptions need to change across the board. While she has successfully consulted with international agencies, she is yet to convince organisations led by fellow nationals to take her on. It is also clear that systemic change requires recruiting agencies to rethink their procurement processes, and how they may exclude local, country-based consultants.

Opportunities for personal and professional growth are what draw locals to consulting. "As a Pacific feminist, consulting opens up a world of exploration and learning. I can contribute skills and expertise and extend myself into an area I am deeply interested in - the Blue Economy and Oceans space", said Fijian consultant Mereoni Chung.

Pacific consulting or contractor firms often focus on engineering, construction and project management. Increasing demand shows room for growth in climate change, disaster risk reduction, gender and social inclusion, and environmental consulting.

As their numbers grow, local consultants are reaching out to collaborate, share opportunities and exchange skills - like Kenneth Katafono, ICT and blockchain consultant, whose blog on consulting in the Pacific attracted such an enthusiastic response that he wrote a sequel.

"There is no formal setup in the Solomon Islands, but a group has gathered out of interest. Our first training was on taxes and record-keeping, and more than ten female local consultants attended", Puairana shared. Samoa-based Sapatu-Kennar draws strength from a Facebook Messenger group, 'Blue Connect', of colleagues and friends who share information, opportunities and moral support.

As with any career change, there are learning curves to consulting, including understanding taxes and regulatory requirements, cash flow planning, marketing one's skillset, clarifying terms of references, negotiating rates and contractual obligations.

According to Chung, a more equitable and localised consultancy sector in the region would lead to more impactful, locally led, owned and driven interventions:

"A successful, thriving consultancy landscape would see local consultants having a powerful role in informing many spaces. Our community of practice would be reflected positively in the society we live in, the way we think, the rules we have, and our internal capacity."
The Australia Pacific Climate Alumni Network is hosting a series of hybrid events in November on localising Pacific climate consulting. Visit and for updates.

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Localising Pacific consulting - Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre

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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been rumblings of its potential to rebalance existing inequalities. Development commentators noted border closures were accelerating localisation efforts, creating new opportunities for local leadership in humanitarian spaces. "The physical absence of foreign aid workers," they say, "has created space and opportunities for local leaders to use their creativity and innovation.

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Comment from Emeline Siale Ilolahia, PIANGO

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Comment from Emeline Siale Ilolahia, PIANGO

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·      Digital connectivity and resilience as an ongoing challenge, and the limitations of this become more pronounced during the 3 pandemic waves: particularly as experienced in Fiji.

·      Some geographic ‘limitations’ has become a benefit during the pandemic and has provided opportunity to ask how development must change going forward.

·      Traditional ways of doing things and relationship to resource use has provided guidance going forward. Need to look within diaspora and own communities, and enough of the external international consultant come in.

·      Humanitarian work can cause Pacific governments to ‘freeze’, but we are seeing civil society and diaspora mobilising to respond so important to understand this as a source of mentorship, and micro-financing. Uncertainly in all of this shows that thinking is happening about how to best respond.

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This is a blog from Niki in our team about claiming the space as Pacific experts

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This is a blog from Niki in our team about claiming the space as Pacific experts

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The recovery presents an opportunity for the development machinery to relook at the mode of implementing work in the region and the way the system defines who the experts are that can support the implementation of development assistance.

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Claiming the space as Pacific experts – Talanoa Consulting

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Growing up in Fiji, I was exposed to the development world from a young age through my Mum’s work and I often heard the term expatriate. For some time I automatically associated it with the term expert. It didn’t take too long into my first job in development to realise, with much frustration, that…

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Nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders

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Nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders

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Over the last year we've been able to get our Duavata Conservation Leadership Programme up and running - using the expertise of tourism operators supporting regenerative practices to nurture the next generation of conservation leaders. This is an article from last year - and we're now on to the 3rd cohort of participants (just haven't updated the news!). We work in close partnership with NatureFiji-MareqetiViti and the Uto ni Yalo Trust - and it has been our absolute honour to do so. We believe there are real opportunities to better connect expertise within communities and within the tourism sector to work better.

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The Duavata Conservation Leadership Programme kicked off on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. Participants were nominated from five coastal villages in the Macuata Province with connections to Nukubati Island Resort. The participants were aged between sixteen and twenty-five and were selected by their Turaga ni Koro based on interactions and responsibilities within the village, with some already actively farming, fishing, and others academically inclined.

The Programme offers nature-based educational experiences to young Fijians to build their understanding of, and for some reconnect them with, their unique natural and cultural heritage. Through these experiences and the new relationships they bring, Duavata hopes to nurture the conservation leaders of tomorrow.

After experiencing a marine and a terrestrial activity, the participants are asked to undertake a project within their own communities, first by identifying the problems they have or were facing and then designing and implementing a nature-based intervention. This challenge allows them to put into practice and process the knowledge gained from the programme as well as empower them to be proactive in supplying their needs within their communities as young conservation leaders.

All five villages are located along the northern coast of Vanua Levu. They had suffered the full brunt of the Category 5, Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa followed by TC Ana and then TC Bina. Some villages experienced the tidal surge, landslides and wind damage causing loss of forest, wildlife, plantations and homes. They also experienced significant post cyclone effects, including shortages of drinking water and food, as well as being cut off from towns due to blocked roads piled high with fallen trees, branches and debris.

The Conservation Leadership Programme was originally designed to take place on Viti Levu, to introduce school aged youth to themes of conservation that they may consider as career options. With the global pandemic reaching Viti Levu in April, Duavata members on Vanua Levu, Nukubati Island Resort in Macuata and chocolate-maker and cacao farm tour provider, KokoMana in Savusavu, quickly rose to the occasion partnering with Ocean Ventures and reaching out to their local communities.

Lara Bourke, Director of Nukubati Island Resort, noted, "It was unfortunate for the Suva kids to miss out, but this training and exposure could not have been more appropriate for the youth of the coastal communities in Macuata. The young people have been able to reflect on how their current farming and fishing behaviour and current practices might be adjusted to improve the health of their surroundings, from the ridges to the reef".

The communities that the participants come from predominantly live a subsistence existence and somewhat a hunter and gatherer lifestyle. With no electricity and modern furnishings to keep and store food, a good portion of their days are spent on harvesting food from the sea and their plantations. Many of these youth, outside of school hours, have tasks in the division of labour still present in village communities. They actively play a role in sourcing food, such as fish, octopus, crabs, mussels and clams from the sea, fruits, root crops and coconuts from their plantations and firewood from their forest. From a young age they accompany their parents or grandparents learning about various sources of food, medicines and local know-how of farming techniques, waste management and house building. With time and maturity, they travel and work in groups of kids of similar age, building lifelong friendships and community and, like a human library, storing vast amounts of knowledge of the flora and fauna passed on to them from their elders.

Already equipped with knowing the local flora and fauna, a strong work ethic and having first-hand experience of impacts of disaster from intensified weather patterns, the young conservation leaders participated in the two-day programme learning the interconnectedness of rainforest and the ocean, "ridge-to-reef". They would discuss concepts on this and then immediately see examples as they did their terrestrial ecology session at KokoMana with Richard, Joeli and Sam and a marine ecology session with Matt and Sara of Ocean Ventures on Lea Reef in Natewa Bay.

"I feel privileged and fulfilled to share, in the iTaukei language, what I have learnt" shared Joeli, the Farm Manager at Kokomana, "It is crucial the young leaders learn about the benefits of sustainable agro forestry, especially with the current practice to clear trees in the mountains to farm yaqona and other cash crops". The Kokomana experience allowed participants to reflect on the detrimental impact of the clearing of trees in the mountains, causing the degradation of soil quality and depleting waterways that further effect the health of the reefs and fish stock and diversity of species.

Taking hope from the talanoa, Joeli added: "To be able to inform the participants about how practical and accessible agro forestry is, is a win, as these concepts can be easily used in their villages to improve the nature that supports their livelihood not just for the immediate populace but for generations to come". Leone from Nukubati Island Resort, and originally from Mali Island in Macuata, said "The youth are fully aware of the ailing health of the soil nearby their villages, as they have had to move higher into the mountains to farm, some over three hours away". Leone was pleased to see how the youth were engaged and invested in improving their resources. Having grown up in similar settings, he was very happy for the youth to have this exposure.

Each group was kept small so that the participants could make the most of each experience. In total 40 young people took, spread across five groups. Each group undertook a terrestrial experience and a marine experience.

We followed the experience of the fourth group from Naqumu Village.

Terrestrial Ecology Session at the KokoMana Cocoa Farm

The day involved a 7am pickup by the Nukubati team from the village, with eight excited youth driven to Savusavu to the KokoMana Cocoa Farm belonging to Chocolatier and Biologist Richard Markham. On arrival, after the formalities of temperature checks and sign-ins the session began with a briefing from Richard on the logic of how a terrestrial ecosystem works.

Through diagrams taped to the wall Richard helped the participants visualise the terrain and how watershed systems work, discussing the advantages of biodiversity in the flora and the links to fauna. He described the functions of various tree types, its foliage, roots systems and the smaller planters at ground level, their relationship to waterways and rainfall, and how they provide nutrients that improve soil fertility and water absorption.

Afterwards, the group toured the property with farm manager Joeli to see agroforestry in practice. In the seven years at KokoMana, Richard has regrown a tropical forest on what was once an old cassava plantation. Joeli led the youth through the compound, showing them how agroforestry farming is practiced, and pointed out everyday plants and trees that were typically not valued on traditional farms, but served various functions relating to shade, moisture retention and soil quality. The young people's interests were peaked with his explanations on the advantages of maintaining trees and allowing their leaves and broken branches to return to the ground as compost, as the practice in many plantations is to clear the land of all trees and burn waste to prepare the field for planting. Joeli pointed out this was a missed opportunity for allowing the tree to give back nutrients. He then pointed out trees and plants that release the same nutrients found in the commonly used NPK farming chemicals.

The participants were then taken to the cocoa harvesting station where Joeli demonstrated how they harvest the cocoa and explained the fermentation and drying process. The rest of the tour involved a visit to the farm's creek side that came to life when the trees grew, and they observed how with the shade and compost from the foliage and root systems, the soil was rich enough to grow healthy cocoa trees and other useful plants and trees to support the KokoMana chocolate business. With this example, the youth were shown how they could rehabilitate the land surrounding their villages by growing trees in order to keep their plantations closer to their villages in a seven-year or less timeframe.

As it was common in most villages along the coast of Macuata, the villagers have found the immediate land surrounding their village was no longer viable for farming, as they had removed all the trees and biodiversity, which meant poor soil fertility. Due to this, villagers are moving higher into the mountains, some three hours away by foot, to plant food and repeating the same practice with not realising the implications. Richard and Joeli encouraged the youth to plant trees to achieve improvements in soil fertility, return water to their creeks and restore endemic biodiversity.

The youth were then treated to chocolate-tasting with Sam, KokoMana's chocolate-maker, followed by a delicious local food lunch. The day ended with a reflection discussion on lessons learnt and possible ideas for the youth's community project. In the reflection session in their own dialect, with Leone as facilitator, the participants reflected on their own experiences on their farming techniques and habits and how they might tweak their approaches. A youth reflected how he had cut down trees for his uncle just days prior to farm cassava and regretting his actions of bringing down the old trees. Leone encouraged and challenged him to change his future actions while learning from the past.

Marine Ecology Session with Ocean Ventures in Natewa Bay

It was another early start for eight excited participants with a 7am pickup from the village and the cross island drive to Natewa Bay. Here, Matt and Sara of Ocean Ventures facilitated the marine ecology session that involved a lesson on reef health and its relationship with the terrestrial activities reflecting on the lessons learned at KokoMana.

The participants were taken out on the Ocean Venture boat to Lea reef in Natewa Bay that fringed on an untouched mountainside absent of human intervention. Everyone was directed into the water for a snorkel to observe the abundant marine biodiversity on the reef. Here they found a healthy number of soft, hard and sponge corals, many coral reef fish varieties and populations, an array of starfish species and multiple sightings of sea slugs, octopus, stone-fish and sea anemone. The participants being familiar with the poor health of their own reefs could quickly gauge and immediately link the healthy terrestrial conditions to the healthy performing reef they were exploring.

Matt and Sara guided the youth on how TC Yasa shifted, broke and toppled corals in the water, and how they turned them back the right side up and fitted broken pieces back into place to aid their recovery, stating that while the reef is a self-generating organism a bit of assistance could help it recover quicker and in turn rejuvenate the biodiversity of marine life. In addition, Matt and Sara showed the youth a coral nursery they had mounted after TC Yasa. The coral nursery structure was made from galvanised pipes, steel rods and rope. Matt and Sara collected coral pieces that had broken off the reef during the cyclone and intertwined them into the rope to grow. Like a cassava stem, there is a trick to which direction to replant the coral - the easy tell is to fit it in with the broken side inserted in the reef. They encouraged the youth to support their marine ecosystem with direct action such as replanting coral pieces and indirectly by guarding the land conditions better especially by restoring their forests with trees and strong rooted shrubs, using less pesticides and commercial farming fertilisers in their plantations and protecting their mangrove ecosystems.

The mangrove and coral reef systems are important food sources for coastal village communities. The poor health of the reef has forced the villagers to travel further out to fish, costing more money for fuel and more time out on the ocean. Matt and Sara work with a few villages along the Natewa Bay coastline to support them in rehabilitating their reefs, such as Lea, Viani, Nasinu, Drekeniwai and Natewa Village.

The day ended with another delicious local food lunch provided by KokoMana back on the mainland and a few photos with Matt and Sara to make memories of an unforgettable experience for the Macuata youth.

Conservation Leaders to put learning to practice using nature based interventions

Once all five groups complete the two-day experience they are challenged to identify and implement a project in their village. We will report on their interventions next up! In the meantime, please consider planting a native species tree in your compound.

With our Governments commitment to planting ten million native trees, maybe those in village settings and also the urban areas, might look to planting trees on their immediate landscape, nurturing small dots of ecosystems in their compound. And the more often this dot occurs, we might live to see the day when all ecosystems can be stringed together like a pearl necklace, that we will all wear and enjoy together. A tree planted as our own personal commitment to our future selves and our future children, our neighbours, parents and grandparents. Please contact your local forestry office to grab seedlings when this emergency season has eased. Consider planting at least a single native species tree in your home or community to help green up your neighbourhood. It will bring back the birds and moisture and shade and could regulate the weather overall. In the meantime, stay sane, stay safe and please be kind Fiji.

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Duavata championing ridges to reef conservation leaders in grassroots Macuata communities

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The Duavata Conservation Leadership Programme kicked off on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. Participants were nominated from five coastal villages in the Macuata Province with connections to Nukubati Island Resort. The participants were aged between sixteen and twenty-five and were selected by their Turaga ni Koro based on interactions and responsibilities within the village, with some already actively farming, fishing, and others academically inclined.

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We're a values based collective of tourism operators in Fiji who believe that tourism can be a powerful force for change when done right

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We're a values based collective of tourism operators in Fiji who believe that tourism can be a powerful force for change when done right

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This link shares a bit more information about the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective and our vision for transforming tourism in Fiji to better reflect our values and provide genuine opportunities for community based and small operators. We're the collective voice of like-minded tourism operators who believe tourism should enhance cultural heritage & the environment.

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Duavata - Fiji's Sustainable Tourism Collective

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We're Duavata, the Sustainable Tourism Collective.

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CID has been working with WFP to support Pacific National Emergency Managers during Pacific responses...,

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CID has been working with WFP to support Pacific National Emergency Managers during Pacific responses...,

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We are interested in any feedback on how we can better support more effective public support during Pacific-based emergencies. Thank you to Pacific Media Network for the video.

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Council for International Development NZ

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Localising the consulting space in the Pacific

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Localising the consulting space in the Pacific

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Gaylyn shares her experience on working as a consultant in the Solomon Islands.

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Australia Pacific Climate Alumni Network

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Gaylyn Puairana - Localising Pacific Climate Consultancy

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Localising the consulting space in the Pacific 

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Localising the consulting space in the Pacific 

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We have been working with an amazing network of Pacific consultants to support the localisation of the consultancy space in the Pacific. This is a  video from one of our talanoa sessions on localisation held in November.

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Australia Pacific Climate Alumni Network

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Taholo Kami on Localising Pacific Climate Consulting

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Challenges: 1. Impact of Covid-19 affect Vanwods Members; 2. Sustainability of Community Off-Grid RE systems; 3. Coordination of SMART Sistas Annual event  

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Challenges: 1. Impact of Covid-19 affect Vanwods Members; 2. Sustainability of Community Off-Grid RE systems; 3. Coordination of SMART Sistas Annual event  

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VANWODS
Challenges: 1. The impact of Covid-19 affects women to close their small businesses that is their only means of earnings to feed their families, pay bills, meet school fees and be able to repay back their loans from Vanwods and their savings. Women who are members of Vanwods borrowed money to run their small businesses of selling cooked food, sewing, planting and selling flowers, kava business, run retail shops, fishing, selling handi-crafts and many more. During the lock-down their operations are ceased to comply with health protocols. This has really affected their income to be able to meet their daily expenses and most importantly to feed their families.

COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY SYTEMS
Challenges: The biggest challenge is the sustainability of the RE systems installed in the communities. The BRANTV project has installed the RE equipment and run micro and mini-grids in the community to supply electricity. The major challenge foreseen is the sustainability of these energy systems. There is a lack of capacity in business management, accounting and technical know-how.

SMART Sistas
Challenges: financial support towards SMART Sistas to meet cost of annual events and cost of its administration. Every year SMART Sistas committee request funding from potential sponsors towards implementing its annual activities. Limited financial access has contributed to limited registrations into SMART Sistas Camp and only girls program is organized every year due to not sufficient funding to run boys program. Lack of funding avilability also affects engage dedicated tutors and trainers to run training programme. Lack of funding affects administration of the committee. All committee members are voluntary basis and coordinates from their own home. There is no proper room allocated for SMART Sistas and a dedicated staff to run its administration and coordinate its activities. This has always been a challenge since SMART Sistas began in 2014.

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1. Support Vanwods Microfinance in Vanuatu to increase lending portfolio for women and also to support the administration 2. Support Sustainability of Renewable Energy Off-Grids Micro and Mini-Grid systems in the communities of Vanuatu.  3. Provide financial support towards annual events of SMART Sistas programme in Vanuatu.      

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1. Support Vanwods Microfinance in Vanuatu to increase lending portfolio for women and also to support the administration 2. Support Sustainability of Renewable Energy Off-Grids Micro and Mini-Grid systems in the communities of Vanuatu.  3. Provide financial support towards annual events of SMART Sistas programme in Vanuatu.      

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1. Strengthen Financing Access for Vanwods Microfinance in Vanuatu to increase lending portfolio and to support running of administration. Vanwods has been in operational for more than 20 years in Vanuatu.

2. Support sustainability of Community projects on Renewable Energy Off-Grid systems. The RE systems installed in the communities by the BRANTV Project funded by UNDP. These project sites will have to be sustainable after project terms end in November 2022. Thus, funding is required for capacity building and tailored tailored towards business management and accounting and basic book keeping. There are more than 20 communities with RE Off-Grid systems installed to provide electricity for lightings, charging mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and power productive uses to generate income.

3. SMART Sistas is a programme established to encourage young girls between the age of 11 and 15 to pursue their career with Information Communications and Technology (ICT). SMART has been established since 2014. Funding is needed to run its annual event on ICT Camp, Technovation and Global Robotic Challenge.

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Pesa 92

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Development Hui Tatou Tatou Update feb (small)