01 March 2018

The Pacific Natural Products Research Centre (PNPRC) and Environment Unit of the Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS) combined to conduct a Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) consultation in the Tikina of Raviravi in Beqa Island from 6-8 November 2017. This was the second FPIC consultation held under the Global Environment Facility-Access Benefit Sharing (GEF-ABS) project that IAS is implementing.

Three village communities from the Tikina of Raviravi as collective owners of the qoliqoli, were advised by the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs (MTA) to send representatives for the workshop. They were Nawaisomo (base camp), Raviravi and Lalati. For this FPIC visit, a Conservation Officer from MTA and 2 junior staff members from PNPRC of i-Taukei heritage were included in the team as part of capacity building on ABS requirements and implementation practices. They were joined by personnel from the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs (MTA) and the Ministry of Fisheries (MoF) as part of the 3-day workshop.

The FPIC training provided capacity building through engagement and participation of government personnel (MoE, MTA and MoF) who work closely with communities and are key partners in the ABS projects. With the appointment of dedicated staff from the stakeholder Ministries, the FPIC implementation process required before each collection is slowly but surely progressing and evolving as capacity is built and the project moves towards formulation of ABS legislation and policy.

 IAS strongly supports the implementation of FPIC to contribute and progressively enable the people of Fiji to actively participate in decision making regarding the utilisation of their resources. This exercise also provides capacity building within government bodies (at all levels) particularly on ABS related issues.