Fiji Community Engagement Study

The Market Development Facility (MDF) is an Australian Government-funded multi-country initiative that promotes sustainable economic development through higher incomes for women and men in partner countries. MDF connects individuals, businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations with each other and local and international markets to enhance investment and coordination and allow partnerships to flourish, strengthening inclusive economic growth. MDF is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by Palladium in partnership with Swisscontact.

From 2017 to 2019, MDF invested in understanding best practice community engagement methods for the private sector in Fiji. This included community engagement and dedicated research in four villages.

The research gathered in-depth information on how indigenous Fijian villages operate and how the communities connect to, manage and maintain business relationships.

As a development program that supports private sector investment in Fiji, MDF’s overarching goal from the research was to gain knowledge and insights that would support businesses to effectively engage with Indigenous communities to develop sustainable opportunities, which then generate employment and income for women and men.