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_{Financial Literacy Training participants.}

Empowering communities for a resilient future and advancing marine conservation efforts, close to 50 community representatives from the provinces of Bua, Cakaudrove, and Macuata successfully completed a four-day intensive Livelihood and Finance Literacy Training Workshop, aimed at strengthening local capacities in financial management, sustainable livelihoods, and effective business governance.

Held from July 15-18, 2025, at Wailevu Village, Labasa, the workshop was a collaborative initiative led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in partnership with ANZ Fiji, with support from the Macuata Provincial Council Office.

The workshop, funded by the GEF 7 Coral Reef Rescue (CRR) Project, was designed to empower communities to better manage their resources and foster resilient livelihoods, ultimately contributing to the conservation of Fiji’s vital coral reef ecosystems.

"Empowering our communities with practical skills in financial literacy and business governance is fundamental to building sustainable livelihoods and strengthening their ability to adapt to environmental challenges," stated Ms. Neelam Bhan, Project Coordinator for the GEF Coral Reef Rescue Project at WCS Fiji. “This workshop has equipped participants with the knowledge and tools not just to improve their personal and communal financial well-being, but also to make informed and inclusive decisions that benefit their communities and the precious marine environment they depend on.”

ANZ Fiji led two full days of comprehensive financial literacy sessions as part of their MoneyMinded Business Basics program. These interactive modules covered essential topics such as planning for the future, budgeting, making money last, distinguishing needs from wants, and assertive financial decision-making.

"As the secretary of our women's business group, this training helped me see the importance of being firm with financial decisions," shared Ms. Veniani Dinuku from Namalata Village, Bua Province. "In our Fijian culture, generosity can affect how we operate businesses, but to grow and be sustainable, we must prioritize budgeting and making smart choices even with family."

Mr. Ilisoni Taginadavui, Secretary of the Nasawana Youth Cooperative, added, "This training has broadened my knowledge, particularly in bookkeeping and budgeting. It has helped me understand how to better manage income and identify areas where the business may be losing money, so we can improve overall efficiency and profitability."

The latter half of the week, facilitated by WCS and supported by the Department of Co-operatives, Macuata, focused on critical areas including Business Governance, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Participants engaged in practical exercises such as forming their ventures, pitching ideas, and defining their mission statements to achieve their vision. Additionally, setting core values like integrity, teamwork, objectivity, confidentiality, and growth, and establishing practical codes of conduct for ethical business operations

"In this training, I've learned how to grow our businesses using local resources as our main product, while also finding alternative ways to earn a living," stated Ms. Teonila Dikai from Raviravi Village, Bua Province. "This helps ease the pressure on fishing and allows us to protect and sustain our natural resources at the same time."

Mr. Seru Moce, NROC of Macuata Province and a Member of the National Hub for Coral Reef Conservation from Mali Island, Labasa, shared his appreciation: "I’m grateful to WCS-Fiji for the opportunity to facilitate this finance literacy training, bringing in community representatives from across the Bua, Cakaudrove, and Macuata Provinces. Managing money is often a challenge, but this training gave us practical tools to do better. The National Hub is also crucial; it helps protect our coral reefs by bringing communities and experts together to share knowledge and find better ways to care for our ocean for future generations.” The establishment of the National Hub for Coral Reef Conservation signifies Fiji's important step in safeguarding its globally significant coral reefs, serving as a dynamic ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing that will guide conservation decisions at all levels.

About the GEF Coral Reef Rescue (CRR) Project:

The GEF CRR project is implemented by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-US), with the University of Queensland (UQ) as the lead execution agency and the WCS as the national technical facilitator in Fiji (in-country lead). The GEF CRR Project contributes to the Global Coral Reef Rescue Initiative (CRRI), a global multistakeholder partnership focused on safeguarding coral reef ecosystems threatened by climate change. The GEF 7 CRR project is working to safeguard globally significant climate refuge reefs in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Philippines, Madagascar and Tanzania.

About ANZ’s Money Minded program:

This initiative is part of ANZ’s flagship financial wellbeing programme MoneyMinded which aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to better manage their finances. Developed in Australia in 2003, MoneyMinded Pacific was adapted and tailored for the Pacific region in 2010 and is now delivered across 24 countries.  MoneyMinded Business Basics is an extension of the program specifically aimed at for entrepreneurs and small businesses.