FIJI is marking five years of community-led housing and resilience work under Habitat for Humanity’s Pacific programme.
At the Pacific Housing Forum, stakeholders say the initiative has strengthened community ownership, improved skills training and increased inclusion in development decision-making.
The programme, implemented by Habitat for Humanity Fiji in partnership with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, has focused on strengthening climate-resilient housing through participatory planning, technical training and locally driven infrastructure development.
Habitat for Humanity Fiji Projects and Community Development Manager Losalini Nalawa said the milestone represents not just programme delivery, but the impact of communities leading their own development priorities.
“This is a day of celebration. It has been five years of programming, and we have been honoured to work with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand,” Nalawa said.
She said the initiative was designed around a community-first model, where residents identify their own needs and solutions through structured consultations and workshops.
“Our participatory approach is the key element. It enables community ownership,” she said.
“We are only there for a short time. The key is to hand over knowledge and skills to community members so they can drive it for themselves.”
The programme has reached 17 communities across five provinces in Fiji since 2021, including remote maritime villages and informal settlements, where access to basic infrastructure remains a challenge.
Nalawa said 360 people were trained through Build Back Safer carpentry and plumbing programmes, while 220 women participated in basic plumbing training to improve household resilience and self-reliance.
She said a further 80 participants completed vocational training in partnership with Fiji National University, strengthening long-term employment pathways in construction-related skills.
Across the programme, 26 houses were built, alongside community-selected infrastructure such as footpaths, drainage systems, water supply pipelines, evacuation shelters and sanitation facilities.
Nalawa said while the physical outputs are important, the deeper impact lies in community empowerment and decision-making.
“We are not just talking about houses. It is the knowledge shared and the skills built within communities,” she said.
She said women’s participation had grown significantly through the programme, particularly in community discussions on housing, water and sanitation, and disaster preparedness.
“We are seeing women speak up in village meetings and advocate for their needs and the needs of persons with disabilities,” she said.
Habitat for Humanity New Zealand community engagement lead Jen Johnstone said the programme is anchored in a participatory model that ensures communities lead the planning process from the start.
“We work alongside members of the community to understand their needs, and they are the ones who decide what their priorities are,” Johnstone said.
She said community workshops help identify climate risks, assess vulnerabilities and develop action plans, with a strong focus on inclusion and ensuring marginalised groups are not left behind.
Johnstone said technical training programmes run alongside the community planning process, equipping participants with carpentry, plumbing, and other vocational skills that directly support resilience-building.
She said inclusion is embedded throughout all stages of the programme, with specific efforts to ensure women and persons with disabilities are meaningfully involved in decision-making.
The five-year programme, supported through New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is now transitioning into its next phase, with lessons learned expected to inform future housing and resilience initiatives across Fiji and the wider Pacific.
