Women’s leadership is key to progress – Professor Biman Prasad

Women’s leadership in Fiji is not just about fairness — it is now seen as key to the country’s progress.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad highlighted this during the Fiji Council of Social Services Annual General Meeting and Women’s Leadership Pipeline “Pulse Check” Panel held in Suva.

The event brought together community leaders, government officials, and civil groups to look at progress, challenges, and opportunities, especially in relation to the 2025/2026 National Budget.

Professor Prasad says supporting women in leadership is key to the country’s growth because when women lead, communities get support and leadership improves.

He says women offer fresh ideas, strong leadership, and the ability to build strong communities — all of which are key to fair and lasting development.

He adds that growing up in Dreketi with six sisters and a mother without formal education taught him strong leadership values that still guide him today.

Professor Prasad also praised the strong women in the National Federation Party for supporting gender equality and helping to shape policies.

He says women’s leadership improves decision-making and makes communities stronger, leading to better and fairer governance.

Professor Prasad says national budgets are not neutral — they show what and who we value as a country.

He says that although more women hold board positions in Fiji, rising from 20 percent in 2021 to 25 percent in 2024 — there is still a lot to do, especially in Parliament, where only 9.1 percent of members are women.

Funds have been allocated in the 2025/2026 National Budget to empower women.

$4.1 million has been allocated to support the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence Against All Women and Girls.

$1 million has been set aside to support women’s election participation and to strengthen the Domestic Violence Helpline, and $500,000 has been allocated for the Women’s Expo.