Republic of the Fiji Islands

The current official figure for incidence of poverty in Fiji is 45%. Of this, 25% live in Ba province which has the highest population density and also the highest percentage of Fiji’s poor.

12% of those classed as poor live in Macuata (Labasa). This gives FRIEND a total target population of around 108,780 individuals that could stand to benefit directly from our efforts.   

People living in squatter communities make up 17% of the population; this translates into 140,000 people around the country.

A large portion of the beneficiaries of FRIEND programs live in these informal settlements.  
FRIEND targets communities that are under-served and marginalised, irrespective of their race, colour, religion or gender

Most of the beneficiaries do not have any source of regular income or are dependent on other family members who themselves may be casual workers, or on low incomes earning wages averaging $50.00 - $100.00 a week.