Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 4 of 14 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment A. Recent Political Developments B. Economic Performance Assessment C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance D. Governance: Sound Development Management E. Implementation Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Republic of the Fiji Islands : I. Country Performance Assessment

---

C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance

1. Poverty Issues

10. There is concern about the rising level of poverty in Fiji Islands.⁷ Poverty alleviation and social development is a high priority of Government. A 1991 survey by the Government’s Poverty Task Force showed that the number of people living at or near the level of poverty is increasing. Drawing on data from the 1990-1991 Household Income and Expenditure Survey the Fiji Islands poverty report⁸ estimated that a quarter of households in the Fiji islands were poor and a further 20 percent were in constant danger of sliding into poverty should their circumstances change. While the most intense poverty is found in urban areas, the greatest number of people living in poverty occurs in rural areas. The poor in urban areas mostly live in densely populated, low-cost housing developments and squatter settlements. In the capital city of Suva, up to 25 percent of households are estimated to live in informal settlements and fringe villages. The problem of urban poverty is closely linked to employment opportunities in the public service and manufacturing industries which attracts people from the rural areas to cities and towns. As a result, more than 40 percent of the country’s population are now living in urban areas. Fiji Islands has experienced difficulties in designing programs that succeed in directly assisting the poor. The new Government is, however, expected to give much stronger priority to poverty alleviation.

2. Gender Issues

11. Women are relatively disadvantaged in terms of securing education, jobs, developing enterprises, and support of the law. Although women’s participation in the workforce has increased, they are mainly concentrated in lower paid, lower level jobs. There has also been an increase in domestic violence faced by women and children. A 1994 report by the Ministry of Education, Women and Culture, Science and Technology, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), provided a comprehensive statistical profile on women in Fiji Islands.⁹ The Government recognized the need to further improve the involvement of women in the development process and launched the Women’s Plan of Action 1999-2008 in October 1998. Key objectives include mainstreaming women’s and gender concerns, reviewing laws affecting women, developing women’s micro-enterprises, increasing women’s participation in all levels of decision-making, and promoting an environment free of domestic violence, sexual harassment and child abuse. An inter-ministerial co-ordinating committee was set up to implement and monitor the Women’s Plan of Action.

3. Human Development

12. Human development and the strengthening of social safety nets is a priority of Government. At the time of the last census in 1996, Fiji Islands’ population was estimated at 803,000 people. At that time, about 46 percent were indigenous Fijians, 49 percent were Fijian Indians, and 5 percent from other ethnic groups. Population growth amounts to about 1.1 percent per year. The UNDP Human Development Index ranks Fiji Islands in the “medium human development” category. Infant mortality rate is low at 18.3 per 1,000 live births, and life expectancy is about 72 years. It is estimated that all of the population has access to safe water and 92 percent access to sanitation.

13. Although Fiji Islands is a relatively healthy country, environment and life style related primary health problems are increasing. In the rural areas the main deficiencies are in basic sanitation and poor nutrition. Urban population growth over the last census period was 2.6 percent compared with 0.8 percent for the population as a whole. Rapid urbanization has brought health problems associated with poor housing, sanitation, diet and a sedentary life style. Adult literacy is high at 85 percent and there is almost universal access to primary education. However, there is a marked discrepancy in the quality and level of education, particularly between urban and rural areas. Urbanization has also led to an undermining of traditional food security, and traditional family support, increasing problems of squatter housing, over-taxed infrastructure, congestion, pollution and increasing crime.

4. Environment

14. The last few decades have seen serious and increasing land degradation and some coastal marine resources under threat. The now extensive practice of burning sugar cane and the lack of investment in soil conservation measures as land leases fall due for renewal is of particular concern with regard to soil quality. "A concerted effort must be made to reverse this trend through the enhancement of property rights and security of land tenure, legislative reform and enforcement, providing economic incentives, and most importantly through education and public awareness."¹⁰ In 1992, the Government prepared a report on the National State of the Environment and in 1993, a National Environment Strategy. The ADB TA supported the Government’s effort to establish a database for natural resources, improve environmental awareness, and prepare more comprehensive legislation.¹¹ The draft Sustainable Development Bill is currently being reviewed.

____________________

Back B. Economic Performance Assessment	Next D. Governance: Sound Development Management