Exploring Sustainable Development

What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development is widely understood to mean ‘development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. The concept of sustainable development tells us that we must balance the need for social progress and economic growth with preservation and enhancement of our natural environment.

 

Fiji & the SDGs
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SDG Overview
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Fiji '19 Review
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Fiji & the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Fiji’s prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama states that to deliver on the 2020 agenda, it is essential to take a collaborative approach and build strong relationships with development partners, businesses, civil society, and Fijian citizens, to drive forward sustainable development. Current successes in Fiji so far include;

  • Unemployment is at its lowest rate and 100,000 jobs have been added to the economy since  2009.
  • Inclusive growth has focused on wealth inequality, and the introduction of a welfare programme has created a saftey net to protect those deemed more vulnerable in society. 
  • With changing weather patterns enhancing as a result of climate change, Fiji is on the front line  by reducing its carbon emissions. It is “climate sensitising” development by shifting to more renewable sources of energy. 
  • Legal and social justice institutions have extended access to justice, tackled corruption, and supported Fijian democracy.
Learn About The Think Pacific International Development Journey...
Since our birth in 2009
How We Support Some of Our Biggest Partners
Through Formal Agreements

It is no surprise that the final goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is ‘Partnership for the Goals’ as truly sustainable development involves partnership at all levels. We at Think Pacific feel privileged to have some amazing partnerships. It is the government-level partnerships which guide our work and the community-level partnerships that inspire it.

Fiji Ministry of Health

Our projects are guided by the action plans of the National Centre for Health Promotion and the government directive, ‘Towards a Healthy Fiji Programme’ (TAHF). This is a holistic development approach being implemented in rural areas, which supports combined initiatives to achieve whole solutions to poverty issues by developing knowledge and education, facilitating vital infrastructure and empowering Fijian people to live healthy, sustainable lives.

National Employment Centre Fiji

Think Pacific hold a memorandum of understanding with the National Employment Centre of Fiji.  Through this agreement we work closely to maximise the transfer of skills and to strengthen Fijian expertise and capacity.  We promote village based businesses, facilitate training for Fijian youths and invest in local skills. We engage unemployed Fijian youths in employment and placements annually. We proud to provide the first opportunities of work based learning, career experience and often long term job opportunities for young Fijians registered through the NEC.

Fiji Ministry of Youth & Sports

Think Pacific signed an MOU with the Ministry of Youth & Sports on the 12th June 2014.  Think Pacific support and implement on our projects, the Ministry’s concepts and initiatives for expanding opportunities for young Fijians to develop themselves, including nurturing sports teams and youth groups, providing mobile skills training, supporting youth mentoring and growing extra-curricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in Fijian schools.

Fiji National Sports Commission

Think Pacific signed an MOU with the Fiji National Sports Commission on the 21st May 2014.  The key areas of co-operation between Think Pacific and the Fiji National Sports Commission include the facilitation of key sporting concepts and initiatives such as the Sports Outreach Scheme, the Educate the Educators training programme as well as supporting National events and developing grass roots Youth & Sports clubs in rural settings.

How Can You Do Good in the World?

If you, along with countless other volunteers, interns and global learners, have been asking yourself this question, and want to explore a fun little model that might provide a starting point for the answer, watch this video. This model of learning service is a product of the work of Claire Bennett and inspires a lot of what we do at Think Pacific. This video may start to give you the necessary mindset for having a global and sustainable contribution.

This video looks at doing good from the angle of international volunteering but there is a greater message here. After watching you may want to consider these questions?

  • The video talks about personal development and global development being interlinked. Do you agree?
  • How have you seen these links in your own life?
  • Which of the 4 quadrants (knowledge & skills, attitudes & empathy, thoughtful action and daily choices) do you most associate with “doing good in the world”?
    • Why? Is there a quadrant you think most important?
  • What do you think is meant by a “learning mindset”?
  • Why do you think this is in the center of the model?
  • Is there anything missing from the model presented? How would you answer the question yourself?