The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council and Fiji Commerce and Employer’s Federation, concluded a week-long training-of-trainer program, last week that will help businesses in Fiji prepare for and recover from natural disasters. The training is part of USAID’s Ready project, which is strengthening the environmental and disaster resilience of Pacific island countries.

The program targeted 60 local trainers in Suva, Nadi, and Labasa and imparted the skills they’ll need to conduct training at the local level and support and mentor small and medium business operators to establish their own business continuity plans. The cohort of trainers in all three locations also included representatives of the local chamber of commerce, government, and non-governmental organizations. Specifically the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Fiji Council of Social Services, Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization, iTaukei Land Trust Board, the National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprises Development, and Fijian Holdings Limited Fund participated. Following the training, participants in all three localities will deliver the course to managers and employees at small- and medium-sized enterprises, including local tourism operators, hotels, women’s groups involved in local craft production, and local banks.

Next year the U.S. government will be celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of USAID. Since 1961, with the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act by congress, the U.S. government has been providing innovative and progressive foreign assistance around the globe. USAID has been a constant presence in the Pacific and we look forward to opportunities for expanding and innovating programs to work with our Pacific partners.

The U.S. government is committed to working in the Pacific islands to build the capacity and commitment of partner countries to direct their own development journeys. USAID’s five-year Ready project strengthens the capacity of governments and institutions to develop and implement effective environmental and disaster mitigation policies and strategies. Ready works in 11 Pacific Island Countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.