UNITED Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Bank South Pacific (BSP) yesterday started a Training of Trainers (TOT) under the Market for Change (M4C) project.
Markets for Change project is a six-year multi-country initiative that aims to ensure marketplaces in rural urban areas if Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting gender UN Women project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
In her opening remarks, UNDP officer-in-charge Cecilia Pau’u highlighted the importance of the project.
“UNDP is much delighted to have on board its partner- BSP accredited trainers from Honiara and Auki to jointly host this TOT which trainings will be provided to market vendors to improve their financial literacy and business competencies as well as enable them to access financial services,” Ms Pau’u said.
“UNDP is the responsible party to UN Women to implement activities that will achieve the M4C Outcome 2 of strengthened economics security and rights of market vendors especially women market vendors,” she added.
“UNDP/BSP will deliver training programme under the Continuing Market Business Education (CMBE) comprised of five learning objectives.
“We hope to bring to trainers information about the M4C project that trainers would deliver training with passion and to understand the challenges of training learning market vendors,” Ms. Pau’u stated.
The CMBE training will be inclusive to cater for market types- the resellers and rural producers.
She outlined that UNDP/BSP will deliver training to market vendors who trade in two municipal markets, the Honiara Central Market owned and managed by the Honiara City Council and the 2nd at Auki managed by the Malaita Provincial Government.
The team will leave for Auki today to commence training this week.
Ms Pau’u revealed that women make up around 90% of market vendors in Solomon Islands yet their socio-economic conditions at the market does not reflect the revenue they contribute to local and national economy.
She also highlighted many lessons learnt from Fiji market vendors especially the situation which Melanesian women market vendors faces in a modernized world.
In addition UNDP will partner with health education providers, local government and market vendors to promote health and well-being, within the market for healthier and happy market vendors.
By TEDDY KAFO
