Fiji Sun

10-Year Plan For Suva City

Council works with UN-ESCAP and University of Melbourne to make Fiji’s capital vibrant in the next decade.

- JERNESE MACANAWAI Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj

The Suva City Council (SCC) has embarked on a collaborat­ive initiative with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) and the University of Melbourne from Australia.

This partnershi­p aims to enhance the developmen­t of the capital city through the Internatio­nal Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Institute by creating a comprehens­ive 10-year developmen­t plan.

The collaborat­ion commenced with a two-day Voluntary Local Review workshop at the Suva Civic Centre, inaugurate­d by the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Katamotu. The workshop served as a platform for aligning the strategies of the Suva City Council with the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals (SDGs) at its core.

This collaborat­ion aims to localise the SDGs, specifical­ly for

Suva City and establish them as the foundation for the council’s long-term developmen­t plan.

Mr Katamotu said the implementa­tion of the SDGs would create an inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainabl­e city.

The city would have improved health and well-being of its residents, gender equality, clean

water and sanitation, economic growth, infrastruc­ture developmen­t, and strong institutio­ns. The Voluntary Local Review sets a precedent for other Pacific Island nations as it focuses on Suva City’s landscape. It encompasse­s the developmen­t of small and micro-enterprise­s, Suva Municipal Market, improving drainage and waterways, efficient sanitation and waste management systems, attracting investors, and prioritisi­ng the safety of residents.

The plan will be presented during the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July.

 ?? Photo: Jernese Macanawai ?? Minister for Local Government Maciu Katamotu, (left), with Suva City Council executives at the Suva Civic Centre on May 30, 2023.
Photo: Jernese Macanawai Minister for Local Government Maciu Katamotu, (left), with Suva City Council executives at the Suva Civic Centre on May 30, 2023.

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