SPBD scales up its Fiji Bloom programme
SPBD Fiji and Australian Volunteers International (AVI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalising its partnership to strengthen Women’s Economic Empowerment in the country through the Fiji Bloom programme.
The programme seeks to transform women-owned informal enterprises into formal business entities through access to business development support and accelerator services. Fiji Bloom was first launched in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and successfully completed its first cohort of 10 business accelerator graduates.
Now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased, AVI and SPBD Fiji are putting their collective focus towards the economic recovery of these women entrepreneurs by providing financial and business development training in more than 400 nationwide.
AVI will raise funds, mobilise volunteers and provide technical assistance to the Fiji Bloom programme.
AVI executive manager of International Services Ipsita Wright said partnerships based on mutual respect and trust lie at the heart of everything we do at AVI.
“This fantastic partnership will help support the next phase of Fiji Bloom, creating new opportunities for women in Fiji to rise beyond a micro-level business and grow into thriving formalised small medium enterprise owners,” she said.
General manager of SPBD Fiji, Elrico Munoz said: “this partnership presents a great opportunity for us to relaunch Fiji Bloom and work with empowering our women entrepreneurs at a time when they need us the most.”
Fiji Bloom is also supported by the Financial Management Counsellors Association of Fiji (FMCAF) and the Women Entrepreneurs and Business Council (WEBC).
For further information please contact Joana Tabua on 703 0109 or 331 1169.
Source: South Pacific Business Development