Fiji

FIJI Post-Disaster Needs Assessment
the poverty line (F$55.12 and F$49.50 per adult equivalent per week for urban and rural respectively). Data suggests that
some 90 percent (485,030) of the affected population has suffered and may continue to suffer income loss, falling below
the poverty line, into the emerging poor group. Currently, the government’s Social Protection Programme supports a little
over 200,000 beneficiaries. Despite measures, such as the housing grant, which was provided to some 35,000 people
in the amount of F$5,000, and withdrawals granted to 135,000 people, both from the FNPF, the government may still be
confronted with an additional 33 percent of the population seeking assistance, in addition to its normal beneficiaries.
Despite the injection to the economy of some F$250 million and assurances given that the FNPF is strong (with a reserve
of some F$5 billion), the withdrawal of money may have a long-term impact on the Fund’s viability and a reduction in the
volume of pensions, which participants may receive in the future.
Micro, small and medium enterprises may be at risk of losing momentum and entrepreneurial confidence due to the extent
of damage and change in economic flows suffered as a result of TC Winston. This will impact the ability of the local private
sector to lead much-needed employment creation and local economic growth in the affected areas and informal sectors.
2.2.4 Recovery Strategy and Needs
In addition to the immediate measures undertaken since TC Winston, such as the implementation of a Community Based
Emergency Employment programme, 41 which includes cash for work, farming tools, health and safety training, social
security link to FNPF, child labour awareness, link to overseas seasonal work and other social programmes, more must be
done. Recovery needs are estimated at F$31.5 million, as set out in Table 12. The following are a brief outline of policies,
which seek to address the medium- and long-term impacts of TC Winston.
Employment and Livelihoods
A task force may be established to review, develop and implement a comprehensive and innovative response programme
for the medium and long term to support disenfranchised informal and subsistence workers in rural areas. This should result
in the development of an informal economy policy based on a robust database in order to inform targeted interventions to
empower the informal economy and lead to increased formalization of micro and small enterprises. Such a process should
be facilitated through simpler registration procedures, coupled with formalization incentives (e.g., eligibility for subsidies
and credit).
The register of people seeking employment should facilitate a ready-to-work pool, available for deployment for employment
intensive infrastructure programmes as significant volumes of employment can be created during the reconstruction of
public and community infrastructure. Women and youth must be trained in non-traditional skills for ready absorption into
the construction sector during this phase and people with disabilities should be included as well.
The development of agricultural insurance may be considered to reduce the risk of shocks experienced by disaster. In order
to meet the major institutional and technical/operational challenges, such a package will require collaboration between the
government, the Insurance Council of Fiji, farmer cooperatives, the microfinance and banking sectors, and development
partners.
The development of an enterprise recovery programme with a robust public-private partnership should ensure that
enterprises restart and consequently regenerate employment.
Social Protection
An analysis of the proportion of households in the PBS that was previously just above the poverty cut-off score, but as a
result of TC Winston has drifted below, should be undertaken. The Department of Social Welfare has begun a process of
consolidating and centralizing the PBS Registry, which will be useful for this purpose, and estimates a recovery budget of
F$7 million for the recovery period for the expansion of current social protection programmes.
The impact of the top-up transfers delivered through the three core social assistance programmes in response to TC
Winston should be assessed, which will help inform future post-disaster cash transfer initiatives.
The emergency employment programmes or skills development trainings designed for immediate livelihood and income
generation should be targeted towards the pro-poor beneficiaries who are part of the PBS (10,931 households in the 12
severely affected areas), ensuring inclusiveness in terms of gender and people living with disabilities (PLWD).
A review of existing social protection measures and the development of policies for use in future disasters, as the basis for
the development and approval of informed social protection legislation, should be undertaken.
41
This pilot programme is implemented by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations and supported by the National
Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the MOA through the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster
Tropical Cyclone Winston, February 20, 2016
35