Fiji

WASH Coalition

No formal WASH partnership exists however there are many working partners including NGOs, government departments and international organisations that work together under the WASH banner or other arrangements.

Focus

To improve the lives of Pacific Island people by helping to increase access to water resources and sanitation through improved management of water resources and the development of adequate and sustainable water supply, improved sanitation facilities and hygienic practices for all.

Milestone projects and main achievements – 2005 - 2006

Awareness

• SOPAC together with Live and Learn coordinated various World Water Day activities in the Pacific Region.
• Awareness materials produced included the ‘Liquid Treasure Pack’, based on the theme ‘Water and Culture’, which had stickers, photo cards, activity booklets and posters.
• The WWD campaign included radio talkback shows, quizzes, training and awareness programmes using the materials produced. Event was celebrated in Suva at the Fiji Museum.

• As UNESCO was the leading agency for global World Water Day events, UNESCO-Apia celebrated the WWD event on the 24 April in Apia, the delay due to national elections in March 2006 with partners MNREM, SWA, IWP SPREP.
• SOPAC through its various programmes has provided technical input to the Pacific Forever Education Kit, which is being developed by SPREP’s Education Unit.
  
  

Sanitation

• The Pacific Freshwater Education kit was reprinted for dissemination. The kit is intended to be used as an integrated learning package, which can be used in various subject areas to help students explore the properties and qualities of freshwater.
• A Directory of Environmentally Sound Technologies for the Integrated Management of Solid, Liquid and Hazardous Waste for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific Region also known as EST Directory was reprinted for further distribution.
• Funding provided to a Environmental Change and Water Quality Awareness Raising Workshop in Tuvalu.
  
  

Wastewater

• Training course for wastewater management has been jointly developed by the UNEP's Global Programme for Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land based Sources of Pollution (GPA/UNEP) with the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. The wastewater-training course is addressing one of the Guiding Principles of the Pacific Wastewater Policy and Framework for Action.
• The primary expected outcome is to increase capacity to identify and formulate feasible projects to improve wastewater management that are cost-effective and can in practice be financed, operated and maintained.
• Cases studies and resources on Wastewater Technologies and Management for Pacific Islands were compiled which included technologies, tutorials, software tools and publications.
• The first training was run from 24-29 October, 2005 in Suva, Fiji Islands, the second training took place in Guam for the Northern Pacific region, from 5 – 10 June, 2006. A third training course was held in Papua New Guinea from June 26- 30, 2006.
• The Wastewater Focal Group is being maintained and information on water, sanitation and hygiene issues is being shared.

Links and Resources

• Link to SOPAC's Pacific WASH programme website
• www.pacificwater.org - interactive portal for water, sanitation and hygiene issues in the Pacific