Gender and Food Security in Fiji a Community-Based
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1 Gender and food security in Fiji A community-based gender analysis in Macuata Province, Vanua Levu Community-based gender and food security analysis in Macuata Province, Fiji The views expressed in this publication are those of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and do not necessarily represent the view of UN Women, The United Nations or any of its affiliated organisations. 2 Community-based gender and food security analysis in Macuata Province, Fiji The team CARE Data collection team ADRA staff Sarah Whitfield (Labasa) Ana Alburqueque Program Director Lead author Aloesi Ravula Iliapi Tuwai Country Director Pacific Resilience and Ana Namakadre Raksha Chandra Finance Manager Gender Advisor Ana Namakadre Justine Maravu Education Officer Finau Matavesi Mesake Dakua Communications Officer Gender and food security Salanieta Taginisiga Daniel Taufaga CANDO Project Manager analysis support team Peni Rainima Peni Rakanace Resilience Officer (Suva) Vasemaca Mainawalala (Labasa Office) Inosi Yabakivou Sala Kauru Acknowledgements The author would like to thank the support team who took part in the planning of the study, met with community leaders and project representatives, organised community visits and logistics and facilitated focus group discussions and interviews. A big vinaka to all the volunteers in Labasa for taking notes and conducting interviews, as well as the ADRA Labasa team for their support and much appreciated send off on the final day of the fieldwork. The active engagement of ADRA staff in Suva during the Participatory Analysis Workshop is also gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks to Ana Alburqueque and Iliapi Tuwai for providing overall support for the gender analysis. The team would like to extend our gratitude to Emosi Qaumila, Turaga ni Koro in Raviravi and Jitendra Sharma, ADRA project representative in Vunivutu, for hosting the field visits, as well as sharing their views for the study. We would also like to thank Alani Seniceva, Ashwini Prasad, Daya Wati and other community members for helping to prepare the tasty and healthy morning teas and lunches (and for cleaning up afterwards). In addition, we would like to thank Teresia Ragitawa and Sari Tabi for the informal discussions held at the Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre. We also thank the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) for financial support in implementing the study and UN Women’s Humanitarian team for their technical advice in this endeavour. The Community Based Gender and Food Security Assessment team extends its special gratitude to: Government of Fiji, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Commissioner Northern, Food Security and Livelihood Cluster, Nasekula Women Group Labasa, Women Market Vendor Association, Labasa Women’s Muslim league, Soqosoqo Vakamarama Macuata, Catholic Women’s Group Dogotuki and Colatou Youth Group for providing the team with their time, effort and insights on gender and food security of their areas/ communities. Most importantly, our sincere appreciation is extended to all the women and men from Raviravi and Vunivutu, representatives from women’s organisations and the representative from the Northern Development Program and youth group in Labasa who took the time to share their thoughts for this study. The opportunity to hear your views and experiences related to gender equality and food security is very much appreciated. Cover photos (Sarah Whitfield, CARE) Anasimeci Rabusa outside her garden, Raviravi village, Macuata Province Daya Wati showing her rice with suluka pandanus drying in the background, Vunivutu settlement, Macuata Province 3 Community-based gender and food security analysis in Macuata Province, Fiji Table of contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 3 Table of contents .................................................................................................................................... 4 List of tables ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Message by the Commissioner Northern ................................................................................................. 6 FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................ 8 Recommendations for the overall approach .......................................................................................... 14 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 15 2. The context of gender and food security in Fiji ............................................................................... 15 2.1 Health and nutrition .................................................................................................................. 15 2.2 Gender equality in Fiji................................................................................................................ 16 2.3 Gender and resilience ................................................................................................................ 19 2.4 Fiji Pro-Resilience Vakarau Wai Project ...................................................................................... 19 3. Approach and methodology .......................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................................. 20 3.2 Analytical framework ................................................................................................................ 21 3.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 22 3.4 Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 26 4. Description of area and selected communities ............................................................................... 27 5. Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 29 5.1 Access to and control over resources ......................................................................................... 29 5.2 Gender roles, divisions of labour and workload ......................................................................... 41 5.3 Participation in household decision-making, including over food and own income ..................... 53 5.4 Meaningful participation in community decision-making and leadership ................................... 55 5.5 Summary of key findings ........................................................................................................... 60 6. Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 64 7. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 68 Annex A Demographic details of the selected communities .............................................................. 69 Annex B List of participants and key informants ............................................................................... 71 Annex C References and resources................................................................................................... 74 4 Community-based gender and food security analysis in Macuata Province, Fiji List of tables Table 1 Participants in the Gender and Food Security Analysis ...................................................................... 24 Table 2 Data collection tools............................................................................................................................ 24 Table 3 Participants in focus group discussions and interviews ...................................................................... 26 Table 4 Men's FGD in Vunivutu ........................................................................................................................ 48 Table 6 Participation in community decision-making ..................................................................................... 58 Abbreviations ACAIR Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research ADB Asian Development Bank ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency CSO Civil society organisation FGD Focus group discussion FSL Food security and livelihoods HIES Household Income and Expenditure Survey IWDA International Women’s Development Agency MOHMS Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services NCDs Non Communicable Diseases NGO Non-government organisation SPC Pacific Community TC Tropical cyclone WASH Water Sanitation and Hygiene WPHF Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fun 5 Community-based gender and food security analysis in Macuata Province, Fiji Message by the Commissioner Northern This report offers a unique opportunity