Date: 25 Jun 2026
The Fiji Council of Social Services, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, and supported by Balance of Power, recently held a three-day Governance Training under the Vakatawa Noke Initiative in Qauia Settlement, Lami.
The training brought together community leaders, women, men and youth, government representatives, and civil society partners to strengthen inclusive and community-led governance structures within informal settlements.
Opening the training, Co-Executive Director of Balance of Power, Mereani Rokotuibau, encouraged community members to work together to address the challenges faced within Qauia.
“The solutions to the issues in Qauia remain with the people of Qauia, and it is great that we have all come together to put together a plan for growth and progress in our community,” Ms. Rokotuibau said.
Acting Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and former Commissioner Central, Josefo Navuku, said the Vakatawa Noke Initiative was established through collaboration between government agencies and civil society organisations to strengthen governance mechanisms in informal communities.
“One of the common issues identified across these communities was the low level of governance structures,” Mr. Navuku explained.
He said the initiative helps communities better connect with existing government support systems and encourages more inclusive decision-making processes involving women, youth, elderly persons, and persons living with disabilities.
Executive Director of the Fiji Council of Social Services, Vani Catanasiga, highlighted the strong participation of women and young people throughout the training.
“It’s been great to see the strong participation of women throughout the training. More than 50 percent of participants were women,” Ms. Catanasiga said.
The Governance Training focused on establishing an inclusive Community Council structure supported by four subcommittees covering Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Crime Prevention, and Social Affairs.
District Advisory Councillor for Qauia Settlement, Taufa Qoro, described the training as an eye-opening experience for the community.
“At the first day, participants didn’t realise how important the engagement was, but by the last day we had all learnt so much,” Ms. Qoro said.
She added that community members are now eager to advance the work of the newly established governance structure and subcommittees.
For Qauia resident Miriama Tinai, the training was also an important step towards ensuring persons living with disabilities like me are included in community leadership and decision-making.
“I’m happy that in the process of establishing a governance structure here in Qauia, it is inclusive of people living with disabilities, women, youth, and men,” Ms. Tinai shared.
The Vakatawa Noke Governance Training aligns with Balance of Power’s commitment to supporting inclusive governance, women’s leadership, and locally driven development approaches in Fiji.