"RURAL WOMEN CULTIVATING GOOD FOOD FOR ALL"

INTERNATIONAL RURAL WOMEN'S DAY

Each year, 15th October marks International Rural Women’s Day, a day to recognise and celebrate “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” According to the United Nations, rural women and girls play essential roles in food systems – from production, to processing, preparation, consumption, and distribution of food – as well as in securing household and community nutrition. In Fiji, nearly half of Fiji’s population (44.1%)1 reside in rural areas while according to a recent Gender Analysis Report - 2020 Fiji Agriculture census found that 76.6% of the total 246,373 agricultural households, 47% of these people are women. With the majority of rural women reliant on agriculture-based livelihoods, they are more susceptible to shocks because they depend heavily on natural resources (land, water, plants, animals), and human labour. When a disaster strikes, affected families often lose all their productive assets, leaving them unable to continue providing for themselves and leaving them dependent on external assistance for food, shelter and other essentials. Rural women are at the frontline when natural resources and agriculture are threatened and they are the most susceptible to death and diseases postdisaster. The pandemic has pushed many ruralbased communities further to the outer fringes of development, Rural women have been excluded from many social protection schemes and many of the covid-safety protocols meant to curb the spread of the virus has also impacted their livelihoods. Despite this, over the past 18 months, we have witnessed the resilience and determination of rural women as vital first responders, rebuilders and peacebuilders in their communities At the Women’s Fund Fiji (WFF), our primary goal is to work with diverse women, girls and gender non-conforming groups, networks and organisations across Fiji. The Fund places special attention on reaching women living in rural and remote areas and those who are marginalised, this includes women with disabilities and those experiencing some form of discrimination. WFF is the Pacific’s first national women’s fund and began implementation in 2017 as a five-year initiative of the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) program. Today, we honour and highlight the amazing contributions of our grantee partners in improving the lives of rural women.