Ambassador of Fiji Ratu Tui Cavuilati and Director Social Welfare Rupeni Fatiaki during the Joint Technical Working Group in Jakarta, Indonesia.PHOTO:SUPPLIED.
New information sharing and development opportunities have opened up for Fiji through a Joint Technical Working Group on Social Affairs meeting that convened in Jakarta, Indonesia this week.
The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Rosy Sofia Akbar and the Minister for Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E Madam Khofifah Indar Parawansa signed a joint statement which reflect the strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
The First Joint Technical Working Group on Social Affairs was co-chaired by the Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji Ratu Tui Cavuilati and the Special Advisor to the Minister for Social Affairs Mr. Eko Ernada. Also represented at this meeting was the Director Social Welfare Mr Rupeni Fatiaki who shared in-depth information on the role and services of the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
The Joint Technical Working Group meeting reiterated on the importance of effective implementation of the key areas of cooperation: These include:
- Sharing Information on Social Rehabilitation
- Social Security and Social Protection Programs
- Capacity Building for Fiji Officials; and
- Benchmarking or study field visits to learn best practices on community empowerment in its relation to poverty eradication and rehabilitation.
The Joint Technical Working Group has also agreed on the following:
- The extension of the current Memorandum of Understanding for next 3 years from the date of expiry. Both parties will work on it with the possible signing at the end of the year upon expiry this year
- The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (Fiji) to provide written proposals for 2 Fijian Officials to do attachment and study visits at the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center on Person Living with Disabilities and the Rehabilitation Center for Juvenile Offenders in Indonesia. This is as per the request of the Fiji delegation present at the First Joint Technical Working Group.
It was also agreed at the end of the meeting that Fiji will be host the 2nd Joint Technical Working Group in Suva in 2016.
Press Release