Digitally inspired economic growth requires a paradigm shift
“RIGHT now, we have the worst health facilities and the worst health services ever in the history of this country.” The Hon. Biman Prasad, Minister of Finance, while addressing the FCEF in Suva earlier this week was clear about how he wanted to move the nation forward in the coming weeks, months, and years.
“As a government we recognise that to achieve sustainable economic growth, we cannot carry on with a business-as-usual approach. We have to adopt new and innovative ways of thinking.”
He added, “we are determined to not only sustain the economic recovery that is happening now, but we also want to accelerate that recovery through 2024 and beyond.”
Whether you see the convergence of several factors as luck or serendipity, Fiji is in a uniquely special position at the moment. We are in the early days of one of those times in a nation’s history when we can be genuinely excited about realising our collective potential.
We can be excited about the degree of positive change a true paradigm-shift can bring. A new government, an inspired population, digital revolution, and enthused leadership.
Professor Prasad stated in his address that he had interesting discussions some weeks ago on the digital economy and ICT that could provide Fiji with a competitive advantage. I beg to differ here. Updating and modernizing ICT is more to do with competitive necessity than advantage. But in the full context of his delivery, we know what he meant.
He committed to supporting private sector led economic growth through improved delivery of key govt services.
“We have heard about digitisation and e-governance, but I can tell you we are not there, we are far from there.”
Some progress has been made in the digital landscape. The Fijian Government’s Digital Transformation Programme through digitalFiji have delivered e-services in a few areas under the Ministry of Justice. Reprints of birth certificates, a government directory, and business and company registrations. But we have some distance to go yet to digitally transform the Fijian economy.
There is a considerable amount of activity and noise in the digital space at the moment and that’s great for awareness. But we cannot just “do” digital. We need to have a vision to become a digital economy, to consistently and sustainably grow the economy.
The Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs, and Communications in an earlier speech in parliament had confirmed intentions similar to the Minister for Finance in recognizing the need for economic consolidation, recovery, and aggressive growth.
“We are one nation under God. We need to grow our economy aggressively”.
He had stated that his ministries would work closely with other key ministries, “to increase the economic pie”.
Integration of these ministries via a cohesive digital strategy is key. And that is not only to ensure efficiencies and meaningful, citizen centric collaboration, but at the same time to avoid wastage of invested funds by leveraging the economies of scale a unified strategy can present. Siloes not only represent a fragmented approach but also wastage and loss of opportunity.
To inspire truly unprecedented economic growth, digital capabilities need to be embedded within each function, each agency, ministry. Simultaneously across whole-of-government. Not doing so runs the risk of exacerbating the silo effect.
There has to be a comprehensive whole-of-economy and in fact whole-of-nation digital strategy to support both the private and public sectors to inspire change from their current paradigms. And it will take patience and planning, a cohesive digital transformation strategy.
Digital means different things to different perspectives and interpretations and as a consequence can send all of us in several different counterproductive directions. We need to caution ourselves and first define what we mean by digital.
The upcoming National Economic Summit would be a timely opportunity to integrate digital into our mindsets as a key driver of economic growth.
And that thinking will require a paradigm shift, not incremental, but revolutionary thought. The NES is our opportunity to articulate the digital vision, gain consensus on what digital actually means and get it right from the start.
If we don’t fully embrace customer and citizen services as the first priority across government and the economy as a whole, then we are going to continue to operate no different from the way we have been doing for decades. Doing the same thing and getting the same results we’ve always got.
Without this consensus, this unified view on what digital means, designing for digital is fraught with danger. Of wasted investment. And wastage is something the new government seems to be all too aware of having inherited substantial cost and time blowouts on ICT and technology first projects. As the Hon Minister for Finance said, “Get rid of this culture of reckless spending.”
In the coming weeks we’ll discuss outcomes driven by digital transformation across government including health, women and children, poverty alleviation, education, employment, finance, sugar, tourism, justice, sustainability, and disaster management.
We will also discuss use cases and scenarios for deep linking integration of ministries through three interdependent digital strategies.
Naleen Nageshwar is a Data and Digital Strategy Consultant. A Fijian Citizen currently based in Sydney, he runs his own consulting practice Data4Digital and is Managing Partner Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific for AlphaZetta Data Science and Analytics Consulting.
For questions and feedback naleen@data4digital.com
ORIGINALLY from Muanaira, Vutia Village, Rewa with maternal links to Nadroga, “Vi” — as most people know her — was born in New Zealand.
She relocated to Fiji in 1994 but moved back to New Zealand where she worked at the Auckland University of Technology and the University of Auckland.
Later she moved to Australia with her husband and two sons and secured a job at the University of Queensland.
In 2018, her life took a drastic turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Two years later she had a double mastectomy and has been cancer free ever since.
Vi began sponsoring charities in 2021 — starting with Breaking the Silence, Fiji.
She described herself as an artistic individual and shared that this was how the idea to fund the retreats was hatched.
She used to bake polymer clay for earrings and her sister suggested she sell them to make money.
“This was during COVID-19 and even though I was going through a tough time and working, I decided to do something different — something to inspire others.
“That even though they are sick they can do this.
“I started sending 40 hampers every month though this charity. I would order everything online from Max Value and they would take all those hampers and deliver it to the HART in Suva.”
She was then invited to take part in a Breaking the Silence, Fiji Pinktober virtual high tea which was hosted by Ela Waqanivavalagi and Ulamila Cakau.
“I am always looking for a place where I can fit in and help as well, and it was through this zoom session that I met the founder of the Self-Care Retreat program, Mereane Vavataga.
Hearing her share about the program she had going on for cancer survivors really hit home.
“I sent her an email and asked what I could do to help.”
Vi said cancer survivors “are chasing life but at the same time trying to come out from the other side”.
“We needed to keep pushing and pushing and that was what I had gone through. Even though I had to keep pushing, I knew I could be a helping hand for other people, even though I was going through a tough time myself.
“I didn’t look at my sickness, I was looking more at how God was going to help me, and He did just that.
“Even during my toughest time, I was very busy.
“I had orders coming in almost every day and I had my full-time job as well.”
Apart from sponsoring Breaking the Silence, Fiji, Vi has sponsored 30 cancer survivors for two separate self-care retreat programs.
“The sponsorship funds came from my earring business which is called Ouch Qei.
“I sponsored them the first time then I thought of doing it again for the second time.
“The third time was last year and I decided to head down to Fiji and be a part of the retreat.
She said the retreat was an eye-opener and just what she needed.
“We’ve decided that for this March retreat, Mereane will organise it but for the second retreat that will happen this year in September, I will organise it.
“I have already been given the green light to bring with me a female pastor, a nurse and a consultant who is an oncologist and radiation doctor and a few more officers who will accompany us.
“I want to bring Australia to our retreat.
“I have activities planned and I just want everything to be different, exciting and on another level.
“Like God has given us another breath of life so why not enjoy it as much as we can.”
Vi said every cancer patient and survivor’s story differed.
“My husband was very supportive, he was my hero and after my chemotherapy I asked my oncologist if I could go to Fiji before undergoing my surgery, so I told my husband I was going and that I would be taking our boys.
“When we were in Fiji, I felt that heaviness like that was my last destination and I felt done and that I couldn’t carry on.
“I think in a way my husband could feel it as well and he began to feel depressed.
“My sister called and said I think Te is not well and you need to come back home.”
Despite all that was happening, Vi continued to take every challenge head on.
“After my surgery when I woke up, I couldn’t see my husband anywhere near my bed and it hurt but that was because
My husband was very supportive, he was my hero and after my chemotherapy I asked my oncologist if I could go to Fiji before undergoing my surgery, so I told my husband I was going and that I would be taking our boys
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Vivina Momoka
he was in the hospital as well.
“Never once did I have a retreat or break, even after my surgery I had to wait for a few more weeks to go back to work and I also had to look after my husband. So just hearing Mereane talk about the
retreat made me realise that even though I didn’t have that, I could help other cancer survivors be a part of something so amazing.”
She said one of the challenges she faced was having her sons take up consultation with a psychologist.
“Even though they knew what was going on, I had to be very mindful and that is why they had their own consultations with a psychologist. This was just to make sure that we were all on the same page and communicating.
“Another challenge would’ve been the time I had a stroke and one good thing about my boys, they know who to call and the number to call. So those were two challenges I had gone through which was quite tough.”
She has emerged stronger despite the ordeals and presently works at the Pacific Labour Facility as a service support co-ordinator.
Her message for International Women’s month is to “be nice to everyone because through this you will encourage those around you to keep moving forward”.
MEREANE Vavataga decided to establish a Self-Care Retreat after one of her closest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The self-care retreat program was a safe space that was designed to allow cancer survivors to be the best version of themselves, and it was developed after taking into account the immediate response she had after hearing the news of her friend’s affliction.
“Denial and silence are the first two stages people go through once they find out they have cancer and that was what my girlfriend Makelesi went through in 2021,” she said.
“Our other friend, Vitinia, and I stuck by Makelesi throughout her journey and once she had the courage to get checked, we accompanied her.
“Makelesi is a hardworking lady, but we knew that once she learnt of her sickness, things would change.”
To get Makelesi’s mind off her illness, Ms Vavataga suggested they have a girl’s trip.
“My granddaughter told me that there was a homestay in Beqa which was located right next to Beqa Lagoon, so Makelesi, Vitinia and I decided to go there.
“It was there during the trip with my girlfriends that I realised that cancer was a very sensitive issue, like you can’t just walk up to a cancer patient and say ‘oh so you’ve got cancer?’ What is it like to be a cancer patient? Because when that is done, they tend to withdraw and that’s what I saw.”
She said the trip allowed them to take a breather and appreciate life.
“Beqa Lagoon was closed that time because of COVID-19, so the three of us decided to go for a stroll. It was during that moment where my brain started working and I thought “if I can bring Makelesi here then I can bring other women as well”.
Two months after their trip, Ms Vavataga did just that. With the memorandum of understanding she has with the Fiji Cancer Society, she managed to get together a group of six breast cancer survivors and took them to Beqa Lagoon in 2021.
“Because it was during COVID-19 the rates were quite cheap and so together with the six survivors, seven corporate women came as well to make the numbers.
“I was able to get sponsors for the six women, but the corporate women paid for their own. That was my first retreat, and it was a success.”
Ms Vavataga organises two trips in a year, one in March and the second in September and this year will mark her third of hosting self-care retreats which will take place on March 20, 21 and 23 at Dreamview Villas, Rakiraki.
“I have also increased the number of survivors that I take with me, I first started with six but now I will be talking 15 women, this is excluding the corporate women.”
She said the three-day retreat allowed for the women to express their feelings — feelings they have kept to themselves before, during and after cancer treatment.
“Not being able to talk about these kinds of issues has always been a drawback in Fijian culture.
“For this retreat that is about to take place, we will have psychotherapist Selina Kuruleca who will speak on mental health, a registered councilor who will talk on emotional healing, and cancer survivor and retired health worker Jiu Tikoitoga who will speak on food and nutrition.”
Ms Vavataga said the retreat allowed cancer warriors to branch out and gain confidence.
“When I first met these ladies, they were quiet, they often kept to themselves, and they were always feeling down. One of the main things you could tell they had with them was shame. Some came in with family problems and others with the fear of doing chemotherapy.
“But because I try and keep the groups small, it has allowed for the ladies to open up to each other and share their challenges and ways they can overcome them.”
Apart from the retreat, Ms Vavataga organises Bible study sessions for the women.
“Being a part of each other’s lives doesn’t just end after we finish the retreat, with the different groups that I take, I make sure to have them over every Wednesday for a Bible study session.
“The retreat is just the opening, but
I consider myself to be that friend that these women can lean on. I don’t pry, I just sit and listen and give them a few words of encouragement where needed.”
The only challenge she has faced was looking for sponsors.
“We fast and pray for our sponsors. I survive on sponsorships only and we have been blessed over the years for our sponsors both locally and internationally.
“There’s one in particular and her name is Vi, she is an angel sent from above because despite being strangers and despite her being a breast cancer survivor, she has managed to sponsor 30 cancer survivors altogether during two separate retreats and we are forever grateful to her. She will also be joining us for our second retreat in September.”
For Ms Vavataga, being surrounded by
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Mereane Vavataga
THE European Union (EU) recognises the severity of the negative impact of climate change in the Pacific and together with partners such as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji, the EU implements projects to support climate smart agriculture, green income-generating activities, circular economy, water and sanitation and empowerment of vulnerable communities.
For the past three years on Koro Island, the EU-funded Learning Environmental Adaptation and Development (LEAD) of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Fiji project has focused on identifying possible solutions for supporting the transition to an economy that is climate resilient, circular and leads to low carbon emissions.
This has been done by building capacities of both local CSOs, particularly women’s groups, and community members for developing climate smart agricultural techniques, diversified green income generation initiatives, recycling and waste management systems as well as coastal rehabilitation and marine conservation activities.
As we commemorate International Women’s Day this week, we bring you highlights of the impacts of this project on the island especially in empowering women and girls in the work to achieve climate adaptation and mitigation to build resilience and for their sustainable livelihood.
In the village of Tuatua, what seemed like a long-term goal to achieve for the women’s club is nearing completion thanks to the income generated by the solar freezer business through the LEAD project.
For three years the women of Tuatua Village have been saving for the construction of their Women Resource Centre with proper convenient facilities that are women friendly.
Finally managing to save up to $7000 from the sale of their mats and contributions through fundraising, the establishment of their solar freezer business was able to generate consistent income for them and within six months of operation, they were able to collect up to $2000 in which $1100 was used to transport the building materials across.
“For three years, our focus has been on the construction of a women centre and collected around $7000 in that period from the sale of our mats. With the establishment of our solar freezer business, we collected enough within the six months of operation which allowed our dream to materialise,” club committee member Ulamila Matai said.
“Our income from the solar freezer business became consistent and we don’t have to sacrifice a lot of our time to come together to weave. We are grateful for this business which paid for the freight of the items to be transported across.”
Made up of 50 women, the Tuatua Women’s Club sells frozen products from Suva as well as fresh fish from the island and save their income instead of sharing it among members.
“We have started with the construction and we are looking forward to having our own community centre because this is where we will operate our business too. We have kitchen ware and utensils that belong to the club and only use them during any village function so this will be a place to store them safely.”
One of the greatest achievements, according to Ms Matai, will be the construction of a proper toilet that is woman friendly.
“Before we had none and we usually go to our own house to relieve ourselves. Grateful that the project has assisted us to
Pictures: ADRA achieve our target and it has also encouraged us to continue work as a group to generate more income through weaving and handicraft work now that we have a regular income through the solar freezer income.”
The Tuatua Women’s Club is generating an income of $300$400 a week.
Through the project, seven solar freezer businesses were set up on the island.