Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697738131449.pdf (Fiji)
STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS REVIEW REPORT ON THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI Parliamentary Paper No.
83 of 2018 Wednesday, 16th May, 2018 _________________________________________________________________ Published and Printed by the Department of Legislature, Parliament House, SUVA TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD .............................................................................................................. 3 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 7 FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................................ 8 GENDER ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................... 9 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 10 SIGNATURES OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE ........... 11 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................... 12 Appendix 1: List Of Acronyms........................................................................................................... 12 Appendix 2: Verbatim Report ............................................................................................................. 13 Appendix 3: Written Responses To Committee’s Questions ............................................................. 23 Appendix 4: Research Annual Report Summary ................................................................................ 29 Appendix 5: Responses To Committee’s Recommendations ............................................................. 33 2 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD I am pleased to present the Committee review report on the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports continues to strive to deliver its services on the facilitation of youth and sports development through the establishment of a conducive policy environment that provides strategic support systems, initiatives for personal development, character building, sports policy implementation and community based youth led programs.
The Ministry is mandated to achieve youth and sports development through skills training and non- formal education to support youth between the ages of 15 and 35 to return to education or to enter any form of training or employment to expand their ability to contribute to economic growth.

The Committee was pleased to note that the Ministry aligned its work and commitments towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
 Trainings were conducted and projects identified and funded to help young people generate income and improve livelihoods.

 The move to offer accredited trainings to empower young people and  Capacity building and project establishment to improve livelihoods and addressing gender and disability inequality.

Through multi-skills training and including more women in traditionally male oriented skills training, the Ministry is working towards empowering women to get jobs or start their own businesses.
Likewise, they have similar trainings to empower persons with disabilities.

Ministry of Youth and Sports recorded a total number of 138 with a target of 200 young women who completed multi-skills training program.

And also in 2016, through the support of the United Nations Development Program, the Ministry embarked on cash for work program with young people in Koro Island which supported the people to rebuild their homes after the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
3 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report The Committee acknowledges and commends the overall performance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2016 with a few findings and recommendations for consideration.

I thank the Deputy Chairperson, Hon.

Veena Bhatnagar and the fellow Committee members, Hon.

Salote Radrodro, Hon.

Ruveni Nadalo, Hon.

Anare T. Vadei and alternate Members Hon.

Alivereti Nabulivou and Hon.


Samuela Vunivalu for their contribution towards the scrutiny and the formulation of this bipartisan Report.

With these words, on behalf of the Committee I commend this Report to Parliament.

Hon.
Viam Pillay Chairperson of the Social Affairs Standing Committee 4 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report RECOMMENDATIONS The Standing Committee on Social Affairs has conducted a review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report and has few recommendations to be brought to the attention of the House: Recommendation 1:  The Ministry to strengthen partnership and collaboration with relevant authorities and key stakeholders to access the available assistance and resources.
Response from the Ministry of Youth and Sports  The Ministry continues to strengthen its consultations and collaboration ensuring that our clients are guided towards opportunities that exist with other Ministries.

The Ministry has a close collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture for our clients (youths) to access assistance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the small, medium and micro grants of $1,000.00 where a number of youths were assisted.
We work with the Ministry of Forests on training courses, the Ministry of Fisheries on cooperation with young people in the fishing industry, with the Ministry of Education to ensure our courses are accredited and also for the Technical College to provide accredited training in communities.

The Ministry has also reached out to the Fiji Corrections Services, the Fiji Police and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to cooperate on joint deliverables.
Recommendation 2:  The provision of financial assistance to those that have undergone training to be able to start up their own business and improve their livelihood.

Response from the Ministry of Youth and Sports The Ministry provides assistance, mostly in kind, to youths who have gone through training to establish their projects either as a group or individually primarily through support from other Ministries as the Ministry of Youth and Sports is primarily responsible for non-formal education.
Where the Ministry does provide support, we require the youth to make a contribution of their land, labour equivalent of one-third of the value of the overall assistance.

5 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Recommendation 3:  Benchmark the training institutions with the Tutu Rural Training Centre in Taveuni and improve on its standard of training.
Response from the Ministry of Youth and Sports  Tutu Training Centre is blessed with large tracts of fertile land that it owns and this is the main reason that Tutu is very successful.

Trainees are allowed to plant Dalo and Yaqona at home while they undergo training – this is a pre-requisite.

Dalo is harvested in the short term and after the 4 years of training, the yaqona is harvested.
The training centres under the Ministry of Youth and Sports are very small in size and used only for training and practical purposes.

Tutu also receives an operational grant from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry offers courses at the training centres which are accredited.

MYS is proud to note that the FHEC has approved the accreditation of three of the courses offered through our training centres.
Similar to the Tutu system, we provide residential training but it is focused on a one year programme whereas Tutu allows a 4 year programme with long periods for the youth to return home to tend their crops.
6 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Youth and Sports’ core responsibilities are focused on facilitating youth and sports development through the establishment of a conducive policy environment that provides strategic support systems, initiatives for personal development, character building, sports policy implementation and community based youth led programs.
The Parliament at its sitting on 5th of March, 2018 referred the 2016 Annual Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs to scrutinize.

The review of this Annual Report involved consultation, collation of information and data and a presentation from the Ministry of Youth and Sports which assisted the Committee members to fully understand the Ministry’s operations, achievements and challenges encountered with those financial years.
On the 7th May 2018, the Committee convened a meeting with the Officials from the Ministry to deliberate on its 2016 Annual Report.

The discussions were basically focused on the Ministry of Youth and Sports administration and gender breakdown, organization structure, functions, policies/programs in place, budgetary allocation, achievements and challenges faced.
The review report on the Ministry of Youth and Sports Annual Report contains the Committee recommendation, Committee findings, gender analysis and the conclusion.

7 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report FINDINGS The Committee after scrutinizing the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report identified the following findings:  The Ministry is not capitalizing on opportunities offered by other relevant stakeholders to assist youths.
 Although the Ministry’s focus is directed towards training and empowering of youths in various sectors but due to the limited budgetary allocation, the Ministry is unable to financially support or assist those that have undergone training for economic empowerment opportunities.

 The training institutions governed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports could align their focus to that of Tutu Rural Training Centre in Taveuni.
8 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report GENDER ANALYSIS Gender is a critical dimension to parliamentary scrutiny.

Under Standing Order 110 (2) where a committee conducts an activity listed in clause (1), the Committee shall ensure full consideration will be given to the principle of gender equality so as to ensure all matters are considered with regard to the impact and benefit on both men and women equally.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports gives importance to the notion of gender equality and women in development as a key strategic outcome with the Gender Policy which includes mainstreaming gender equality into all Government sectorial policies.

For instance, MYS recorded a total number of 138 with a target of 200 young women who completed Multi-Skills training programme.
The Committee is pleased with Ministry’s position in playing a significant role towards youth development and sports development for men and women in Fiji.

9 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report CONCLUSION The review of the 2016 Annual Report for the Ministry of Youth and Sports was conducted in a comprehensive manner which covered all the required aspects.
The response from the Ministry was acceptable and they managed to clarify on the issues raised by the Members during their presentation.

Moreover, given the time that has lapsed, the Committee has still made a few recommendations for appropriate actions.

Overall, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs acknowledges and commends the Ministry on its performance.
10 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report SIGNATURES OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE 11 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: LIST OF ACRONYMS Acronyms Meaning SO MYS Standing Orders Ministry of Youth and Sports 12 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report APPENDIX 2: VERBATIM REPORT The Committee resumed at 3.05 p.m. Submittee: Ministry of Youth and Sports In Attendance: 1) Mr. George Francis 2) Mr. Abdul Rasheed - - Director Senior Co-ordinator Finance DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you Honourable Members.
Once again welcome to the meeting, a very good afternoon and ni sa bula to our guests here today.

We have with us Mr. George Francis, Director Youth and Sports and Mr. Abdul Rasheed, Senior Co-ordinator Finance from Ministry of Youth and Sports.

We had deliberated on the Annual Report for the Ministry Youth and Sports 2016 and today we have a small presentation.

If you have a small presentation or if you do not then we can go straightaway into question and answer session.
I leave it in your good hands, Mr. George Francis.

Thank you.

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you Deputy Chairperson and Honourable Members.

First of all, please allow me to convey the apology of the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports whose is currently away overseas for medical reason and she had actually nominated me as the current Director for Youth and Sports to present on behalf of the Ministry in terms of the 2016 Annual Report achievements this afternoon.
My presentation this afternoon will start with a brief presentation on the major achievements of the Ministry in 2016, and some of the challenges that the Ministry of Youth and Sports encountered while implementing the programme or the plan for the 2016 Annual Plan and also I will be talking a bit on the future plans for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, before I conclude and give time for questions.
To begin with, Deputy Chairperson and Honourable Members of the Social Affairs Committee, we are all aware of the devastations that was brought about by TC Winston in 2016, which I believe brought about chaos and also readjustment of programmes to meet the needs of people who were actually suffering from the devastations.
In addition to that, Deputy Chairperson, the introduction of the new financial year, I believe that was the shortest financial year that we had and given the budget for the 12 months to be actually utilised and implementing for the period of seven months was also a challenge.

So all in all, I think the Ministry had actually tried to put together its resources in order to achieve what it had initially set out in its Annual Corporate Plan for year 2016.
At the beginning of the year, after devastation of TC Winston for almost two months most of the Divisional staff of the Ministry were involved in the rehabilitation, DISMAC operations which had actually contributed to the challenges that we were facing in 2016.
Let me begin with the achievement we had, Deputy Chairperson, on Outcome 31 of the Annual Corporate Plan 2016 on gender equality and women in development, whereby the Ministry of Youth and Sports targeted to train 200 young women to go through multi skills training in the communities.
I think this is an 13 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report issue of concern whereby we had to strengthen the gender equality in terms of elevating the status of young women in the community and after the completion of the seven months, as I had mentioned, the shortest financial year, we managed to train 138 or 69 percent of young women.
The registration of youth groups in the divisions, we had a target of 180 active youth groups to be registered, supported and monitored.

We achieved 63 percent.

On the young farmers established, this is after they had gone through the programme of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we actually had put aside a budget allocation for the establishment of our young farmers to establish income generating projects.
Actually we had a target for 40, we achieved 10 in like young farmers who were established with the income generating projects.

Project Establishment for Improved Livelihood - We had targeted 100 trainees or youths whereby we achieved 641 so we actually exceeded the target that we had.
We also had a programme whereby we collaborated with the iTaukei Affairs in trying to get young people in the communities to be trained in terms of knowing their roles and responsibilities in the villages and the communities with the iTaukei Affairs.

There were 120 youths who completed leadership training with the iTaukei Affairs Board.

We achieved 79 with a very little budget allocated in that training.

So, we had targeted 120 and 79 were trained.


Establishment of young family gardens - It is a programme whereby we target peri-urban areas.

Young families with backyard gardening whereby we targeted 100 and we had established 80 of these were established or were actually implemented.

Through specific skills training, these were through the Youth Training Centres which basically focussed on carpentry and agriculture through the non-formal education.
The Ministry had actually targeted 185 and out of that we managed to train 15 within that seven months because the 15 were actually going through a training for a period of six months and then they graduated while most graduated towards the end of the year which was November and December.

Utilisation of youth grant - Actually in that one, we also had a short fall of 8, we targeted 60 and 52 were assisted.

Mobile Skills Training - This is a training that we take out to the community.
Mobile skills training includes carpentry, cookery and sewing for young women and other scarce skills training.

The intention is to up-skill young people in the community in order to get involved in activities that would assist them especially in income generation.

So, we target 360 trainings on Mobile Skills Training but we managed to train within that seven months 290 youths.

We also have a Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme which is actually conducted in high schools whereby we targeted 325.
After the completion of that financial year (seven months) we exceeded our target and we managed to train 668 young people on this programme.

Moving on to Sports Development - On the construction of sports facilities or sports grounds.
There were six sports grounds that were earmarked for this year, but unfortunately, we only managed to construct one and the other five were actually rolled over to the new financial year 14 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report which was 2016-2017.
The National Sports and Wellness Day, we are all aware of the holiday put aside for this particular purpose in order to encourage young people and the members of the community on physical exercise or physical activity to address issues that have been eventuating in terms of NCDs and other diseases.

So, it was the first time for the Ministry to roll out to the communities.

In the past we were only focusing on inter-ministries and departments sports competition whereby only civil servants were involved.
So, in 2016 it was the first year to roll out to the communities, we realised the need for the communities to be well aware and to be active in terms of combating some of the diseases that have been rising in the nation.

So, overall there were 20 venues identified and there was an allocation of $30,000 but it had exceeded to $67,000 which actually resulted from the rolling out of this programme to the community.
The donation of sports equipment, a total of 100 young youth groups and schools were assisted from sports equipment and other training materials.

I believe I have already sent a detailed listing of all the recipients of this donation - schools, youth groups and other organisations that requested for this basic sports equipment and training materials.

Madam Deputy Chairperson, we can just move onto the challenges that the Ministry encountered while implementing some of these programmes in 2016.
One of the main challenges that we encountered was the adverse weather condition that hinders the progress of programmes and projects.

So, we have to address risk management in that case and also the OHS in terms of the safety of our officers out there on the ground.

Also one of the challenges was the maritime islands - the irregular boat schedules.

This is in terms of the delay in our programmes and we have seen that this is beyond our reach so we have to be flexible in this case.
The unavailability of the building materials, I think this was one of the major issues during the year 2016 whereby there was a shortage of building materials.

This is in regards to the high demand from the communities or the villages who were really devastated by TC Winston.

So in that case there was a need for better planning on our side in order to address that challenge.

And then we have the traditional community obligations which I believe is one of the challenges that is also beyond our reach.
For example, a day before our programme commenced in the community, there is a death in the village or in the settlement so we have to readjust our programme in order to ensure that that obligation is done before we come in.

Gender stereotypes and we are actually working with young men and women to change this through full inclusion and education.
The staff are not trained as trainers for the information of the members, we have training centres that are located around the country and one of the future plans or one of the initiatives that the Ministry is currently doing is upgrading the training status of these training centres in terms of accrediting the courses that we offer.
In accrediting these courses, we also need to up-skill our trainers, so we offer training programmes for our trainers and also adjusted their job descriptions to appoint people who are qualified.

15 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report The services are not offered to those who have not received, I think there are still some of our clients, the young people who are out there in the communities which we have yet to reach.
So one of the mottos of the Ministry is reaching the outreach and that is something that we are actually challenged with in terms of the geographical locations and the status of these areas where these young people are located.

Relevance of training, through training needs analysis.

We are changing the training offered to include Introduction to Soft Skills and also becoming more inclusive.
Now that we have realised that more and more young people are here in the urban and the peri-urban areas, so our focus now is more or less on the urban areas, on the women, on the persons with disabilities and also included are the marginalised youths.

So that is something that we are trying our best to also include in our programmes to reach out to these young people.

That is basically some of the challenges that we are faced with during the implementation.
Finally, I will just go through quickly on some of the plans of the Ministry, Honourable Deputy Chairperson.

One of the plans that we are focusing on now is the restructuring of the Ministry to meet its focus in terms of a new strategic plan, appointing the best person for the job on the basis of open merit and improved service delivery and as I mentioned, the accreditations of courses that we offer from our Youth Training Centres is also something that we are working towards.
Mainstreaming sports into the Ministry as a youth activity.

In the past we have been actually separating the two in terms of sports and youth development and now we are trying to mainstream sports into the Ministry’s activities so that they go hand in hand to sort of address and get the young people more involved in both these areas.

The Ministry leading on issues of youth development in partnership with other ministries and stakeholders.
We are also strengthening more on soft skills straining with support from the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and we are offering a wider number of training opportunities with accredited providers.

Currently we are working with the Fiji Education Commission in taking out some of our programmes into the communities facilitated by trainers from the Technical College of Fiji which I believe are recognised by Fiji Higher Education Commission.
So some of the programmes especially carpentry that we are running in the communities which is actually funded by the Ministry are run by these accredited trainers.

At the end of the training, the youths receive not certificates of participation but a certificate of attainment, which is something they can work further on and then excel into high tertiary skills training.
Also, explaining the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme to provide creative thinking, problem solving skills to young people, working with business industry to address the skills shortage and also addressing physical and mental health better through physical activities and sports.

Upgrading of training centres.


This is something that we are currently working on; the upgrading of our training centres to provide a conducive learning environment for our young people so that they are able to enjoy their learning while they are in the centre.

16 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Finally, the sports facilities, that is, the need to be rugby fields, promoting other sport activities.
I believe in the past, one of the programmes that the Ministry used to conduct was the upgrading of the rugby sports fields.

Now we are actually working on the sports facilities, no more rugby fields.

It is sports facilities which means that we can assist the construction of multipurpose courts, volleyball courts and so forth.

So that is the future plan of the Ministry, Honourable Madam Deputy Chairperson.
That concludes my presentation this afternoon and if there are any questions I am pleased to answer them.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Vinaka vakalevu.

Thank you, Mr. George Francis, Director for Youth and Sports.

That was a much enlightening presentation.

As you were presenting, we were going through the tables and reports and the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are on page 13.

We also have a question in relation to that, that in some of the trainings conducted, the achievement was lower than the target.
Can you provide reasons for this mismatch?

Actually when I am looking at the number of young women who completed multi skills training programme and the report submitted were, like your target was 100 but 69 percent were present.

What could be the reasons for not achieving the 100 percent?

I mean there could be many reasons.

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you, Honourable Madam Deputy Chairperson.

One of the main reasons for this shortfall was the shortened financial year that we had.
Actually the plan was for 12 months and we were only given seven months so that was one of the main reasons why we never achieved the targets that have actually been mentioned.

Also, as I mentioned the impact of TC Winston where most of our colleagues particularly in the North and West, and also in the Central/Eastern were involved with Disaster Management Committee (DISMAC) for more than two months.

So it led to the Ministry’s focus moving to rehabilitation in addition to achieving our targets.
We actually came up with a catch-up plan.

We tried our best to try and cover up for the time that was used in those DISMAC operations, but unfortunately we were not able to meet the target as I had mentioned in that regard.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you.

I can understand that, but just look at page 15.

I mean, I can understand you have achieved 79, 80 to 100; those are pretty good numbers on the youth capacity building and project establishment or improved livelihood.

What happened here?
What happened here?

The training completed National Seeds of Training, National Seeds of Success Training Trainers.

Your target was there but there was like zero achievements?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairperson.

During the 2016 we were also in the process of reviewing the seed of success.

So we were reviewing the seed of success unfortunately there was no training done on this programme.
We have completed the review now that we have actually gone back to the full implementation of this programme after the recent review that was done.

17 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you.

I must thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports after Cyclone Winston the efforts put in towards rehabilitations, clean-ups and all those campaigns.

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu for all the initiatives and all the effort.
I was looking at Page 21 while you are presenting the Sports Development, Sports Section 2016 Financial Year Report.

I think you said that six complexes were earmarked for that but you had only one.

I was looking at your challenges as well, I can understand, some things are just beyond our control like the weather.

I am glad that you realised that something went wrong with the work plan.

Hopefully that will not be repeated in the near future because of bad work plan.
So basically the Ministry has realised that something went wrong in their work plan.

Thank you so much for that one too.

The question here is, how does the Ministry evaluate its service delivery in terms of providing efficient and effective services to its customers?

How do you evaluate actually?


MR. G. FRACIS.- Thank you, Honourable Deputy Chairperson, I think we have actually listed out some of the ways in which we are evaluating the progress or the training or delivery that the Ministry is actually doing: 1.

Through the monitoring and evaluation whereby our officers are out there on the ground gathering information on the impact of programme; 2.

The status of our delivery in terms of the service that we provide to these young people; 3.
The talanoa session attended by our Minister and Assistant Minister is also a platform where young people raised their opinions and views in terms of the service delivery of the Ministry; 4.

Training Evaluation forms a medium that young people actually put across their views on the delivery of the Ministry and the areas of improvement; and 5.

The Customer Feedback through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Social Media; platforms like Facebook, Twitter and website.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you, Director.


Actually I am impressed I have met some of the youth communities in my Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The Youth Clubs have advanced so much and they are making money, they are into business now and that calls for commendation actually; their achievements.
So thank you for engaging them but do you think you need more awareness there on the ground, especially with some of the youth groups, they cannot come up with like all those projects and all, I mean do you think more help is needed in that sector on the ground?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Deputy Chairperson, yes, we agree that definitely there is a lot of improvement.

There are young people who are out there who still need assistance and there are some that are advanced.
For example in terms of reporting the progress their projects, some of them they report through Viber and through Messenger stating the status or the progress of their projects.

But definitely there is a need for more assistance out there in the communities.

DEPUTYCHAIRPERSON.- What about the maritime zones?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- If you remember one of the statements that I made was one of the mottos of the Ministry is reaching out to the unreached.
18 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Yes.

MR. G. FRANCIS.- So we are actually going out.

As I speak one of our team is in Ono i- Lau conducting a carpentry training, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) training for the young people that is through the MSAF Boat Master license.
So those are some of the things that we are currently doing in terms of reaching out to the unreached who are being neglected for quite a number of years and less assistance were going towards them.

So we are putting our strategies together in terms of going out and reaching out to these unreached young people.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you.

Director can you elaborate on Outcome Seg 7 in the Public Sector Reforms a little bit?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you, Honourable Deputy Chairperson.
This is, as mentioned, a cross-cutting outcomes across all Ministries and if you look at the current reform, there is a lot of processes and what is actually needed to assist in the operation of the Ministry, especially in formulating of policies as guiding principles to guide the Ministry in terms of some of its current operations.
So when we look at the Public Sector Reforms it is related to the Civil Service Reform, open merit recruitment, selection process and also as I had mentioned the number of policies and Standard Operating Procedures that needs to be in place to actually guide the Ministry along in terms of its operation.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Honourable Members any supplementary questions to that?

HON.

S. V. RADRODRO.- Thank you, Deputy Chairperson and thank you Director and the team for your presentation this afternoon.
My question is on the training.

I see a lot of your focus is on training, empowering the youths in the various areas, but what I find short of your report is that, for example, these numbers that you have trained, these 138 women and the 641, what kind of financial assistance is given to those that you have trained for them to be able to put that training into intangible projects so that it will make an impact in terms of improving their lives in some kind of business projects?
I raise that question because that is one of the issues that youths bring out when I visit constituencies, like they have done the training, but then there are not being assisted financially to be able to put in place the training that they had undertaken.

That is the question on the training whether they are given financial assistance to be able to progress onto the next level.
For example, in your 2017 Report, you would be reporting on those that have been given financial assistance out of those that have been trained, whether the Ministry provides them the financial assistance or the Ministry networks with other Ministries to be able to help these youths being given financial assistance?

For example, the Ministry of Youth trained them and then they apply for the $1,000 grant from the Ministry of Trade, but still they are not being assisted.
So what kind of assistance you give them and whether you monitor and evaluate whether your training has gained some kind of tangible benefits to improving the lives of these youths?

That is the question on the training.

MR. G. FRANCIS.-Thank you, Honourable Member for that question.

Yes, after our training, we provide financial assistance to young people.

For example, the multi skills training conducted for young women.
After the training, then we identify the youth group that is actually coming up with the proposal that need assistance then we provide seed funding for that.

The 19 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Ministry provides funds to assist established projects for these young women.

For example, if they want to go into sewing then we will purchase sewing machines.
For example, in one of the trainings as such that we had in Rotuma, after the training we assisted them with sewing machines and now they are actually running a good project whereby they are selling their products.

Likewise in other areas that we have conducted, those who want to do baking and selling their products, we purchase stoves and other utensils that is needed to carry out the project.
Empowerment training At the end of the every empowerment training, we identify youth groups with viable projects and proposals that we think could be assisted and then provide them with that kind of assistance.

We are also liaising with the Ministry of Agriculture in terms of agricultural projects whereby we encourage our young people to apply for the assistances that is provided by the Ministry of Agriculture on the ROI programmes and DDA Programmes that they provide.
Some of our young people applied and actually have received assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture and likewise the $1,000 assistance from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Also, with the Integrated Human Resources Development Programme (IHRDP) that is based at the Commissioner’s Office, we also work with them in order to assist some of our youth groups.

I remember in 2015 we, together with IHRDP assisted a group in Oneata.
After they had gone through the Ministry requesting for assistance then we diverted that request to the IHRDP.

One thing that we have to admit is that we do not have that much budget to cater for all the requests that come but we are trying our best to actually distribute it evenly to those in real need and to actually meet the needs of those young people who request for such assistance.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- So, are you thinking of asking for more budget in that particular area or sector?
MR. G. FRANCIS.- Yes, we are actually seeking for additional budget.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- We are hopeful for that in the upcoming budget.

HON.

S.V.

RADRODRO.- Deputy Chair, on the financial assistance, even though you may ask for additional budget where it is granted or not, that is another story.

But what I request the Ministry to do is to co-ordinate with ministries like Ministry of Trade, I mean like if I ask you now, how many youths applied for the $1,000?

Do you have that kind of data?

MR .G.


FRANCIS.- Yes we do.

HON.

S.V.

RADRODRO.- Alright, if training could be conducted so that to ensure that these youths are assisted through that Ministry.

It is not your budget, it is with the other Ministry.

Also, I found out during constituency visits that youths need assistance to fill the agriculture ministry form to be able to access that assistance.
I came across this training and I asked why they could not access the benefits and they said because they need help to be able to access that kind of assistance.
20 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report So, if your Ministry could do that as your training to train the youths on how to access assistance in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade because it is not in your budget line, they just need some kind of co-ordinating role which could be played by your Ministry for them to be able to access those assistance.
The other question is on the playing field because that is one of the needs from the grassroot youths and you had mentioned that it is beyond your control because of the weather even though you had the budget.

My question is, when that is the case, could not that shift to another area, to another province or another division where it is not adversely affected by the weather rather than just like, for a Ministry to only do one playground in one year and to say that because also the budget year has changed.
The budget year may change but your budgetary allocation will still be there.

If that could also be well co-ordinated and the other question is on your training institutions.

Does Tutu in Taveuni, come under your Ministry?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Yes, Madam.

HON.

S.V.

RADRODRO.- Are your training institutions successful like Tutu?
Because I have visited Tutu and I know their success rate is very good, so if you can just enlighten us whether those training institutions or schools under your Ministry, are they successful like Tutu, and if not how can you learn from Tutu in Taveuni?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairperson.

First of all yes our training centres are not actually up to the Tutu standard.
I think the way Tutu is running is due to the huge land that they have, that they are able to get in young people and actually part of their programme is to produce within the Centre.

However, for us the training centre that we have is just for basic agriculture training.

For example if we look at the one at the Youth Training Centre in Sigatoka, it is just 19 acres of land whereby we have infrastructure and then part of that land is used for agriculture.
So, it is just a basic sort of a demonstration kind of training that we provide to these young people.

But we are really looking forward to get an area whereby we can actually duplicate or follow the Tutu Centre.

I think Tutu is one of the best models that exists, I have been to Tutu, I was attached there for two months and I know what is happening in that area whereby before trainees come in, they have to plant a certain number of yaqona plants.
Trainers would come and physically count the number of yaqona plants they have planted.

It is like a criteria for them.

So, we are really looking forward to getting a piece of land that will enable us to provide us that opportunity and duplicate what Tutu is producing.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Constructive way of doing things MR. G. FRANCIS.- An advantage for Tutu is that they have got around 200 plus acres of land with only about half being utilised.
We all know how fertile the soil is in Taveuni, so we are really looking forward to that.

With the current training centres that we have, they are just small training centres where we are just providing trainings that will assist and after the training we do monitoring to ensure that whatever they have actually gained from the training centres, they apply them in their respective communities.
Unfortunately, most of them, as we all know young people, after training, some of them will go back and go to other forms of employment.

For carpentry, we are providing a carpentry training 21 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report that is accredited by Fiji National University (FNU) Class 3, which is actually a demand in the building industry.
One of our Training Centres in Valelevu which is actually a Music Training Centre, we are actually liaising closely with the disciplined forces.

So in the last three years, the military had been recruiting young people from the Valelevu Training Centre to join their band.
The Fiji Police Force had been recruiting young people from Valelevu to join their band and lately as of last year the Corrections Service they recruited about 12 from our Training Centre to start off their brazz band at their Corrections Service.

So those are some of the achievements that the Ministry is getting in terms of the programmes provided in these small Training Centres that we have.
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you so much and hopefully that brings us to the end of our question and answers session.

Honourable Nadalo, you got any questions?

HON.

R.N.

NADALO.- Thank you Chair through you, in regards to all this youth programmes that you have mentioned, how do you actually monitor their progress?

MR. G. FRANCIS.- Thank you, Honourable Member.


Actually we have a Unit with the Ministry which is the Research and Development Unit that actually does the monitoring and evaluation and getting the impact of the programmes that we conduct.
So they are actually mobilised to the divisions, getting information and then analysing and then submit reports to the management, indicating whether the training that we are providing is impacting the lives of the young people or is it not doing what we are actually expecting from these programmes.
So we have a monitoring team with the Ministry that usually goes out and they are assisted by some of these expatriate volunteers from the Peace Corps and also Australian Aid volunteers assisting them in terms of this impact assessment on the programmes that we provide, Honourable Member.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON.- Thank you.

I believe that brings us to the end of the question and answer session.
I must thank you Director, Mr. George Francis and Senior Co-ordinator Finance, Mr. Abdul Rasheed for reaching out to our future.

Our youths are our future and you are reaching out to them and I would like to commend the Ministry also for taking or giving it a holistic approach towards youth development in Fiji.

You have spoken about the challenges, you have spoken about your future plans and that is pretty commendable.
We are looking forward to more women groups, more women clubs also for you to engage them as well.

I feel that there should be more awareness on the ground for more femaly youths to be joining all these clubs and working together.

Normally when you see the clubs, they comprise of male members, we want them to work together.

Once again thank you giving us holistic approach towards our youth development.
So vinaka vakalevu for your presentation, for your answers and for the work you are doing and your Ministry.

I thank the media as well and thank all the Honourable Members – Honourable Alvick Maharaj, Honourable Rupeni Nadalo and Honourable Salote Radrodro plus our Secretariat, Sue is here, vinaka vakalevu, Thank you so much and please you can join us for tea before you leave.
The Committee adjourned at 3.55 p.m. 22 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report APPENDIX 3: WRITTEN RESPONSES TO COMMITTEE’S QUESTIONS Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report: Social Affairs Committee’s Questions How does the Ministry evaluate its service delivery (in terms of providing efficient and 1. effective services) to its customers?
There is a number of ways in which the Ministry evaluates its service delivery to ensure effective and efficient services are provided to our customers  Monitoring and evaluation – our officers visit communities and gather information from customers on how the Ministry is delivering and the impact of the programs.

 Talanoa sessions – young people and the sporting public openly give their views on the Ministry’s service delivery particularly with the Honorable Minister and Assistant Minister present.
At the same time they highlight issues of concern that can be addressed through our programs which we note for future action.

 Training Evaluation Forms – participants provide written comments on how they view or rated the delivery of the Ministry and also suggestions for improvement.

 Customer feedback through MYS social media platforms eg: Facebook, twitter, website.
The Ministry also started to move from monitoring on the basis of outputs to outcomes and impact and began to implement accredited training.

Can you further elaborate on Outcome 6 – Public Sector Reform?

2.

 A cross cutting outcome across all Ministries.

 Focuses on institutional strengthening through policy development, legislation, research, M&E and frameworks.
 Increasingly, outcome 6 is linked to the Civil Service Reform process and the Ministry, in this period, moved to implement the Open Merit Recruitment and Selection process as well as moving to measuring impact on the Ministry’s programmes.

 In addition, the Ministry developed a number of policies to support its operations.

In some of the training conducted, the achievement was lower than the target.

Can you 3. provide reasons for this mismatch?


The main reason is the shortened financial year to seven months and also the impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston where our colleagues particularly in the North and West were on DISMAC duty for 2 months.

This also led to the Ministry’s focus moving to rehabilitation in addition to achieving our targets.

However, even in 7 months, there were some targets we exceeded.
As stated in the Annual Report, the budget for National Sports Day was $30,000 and funds 4. utilized were $67,000.

Can you provide reasons for these overspending?

Its objective is to engage half of Fiji’s population on the day to focus on sports inclusiveness and mass participation.

The issue of Non-Communicable Diseases also became a major focal point in early 2016 with the NCD Policy being produced by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and adopted by Cabinet.
Thus it became a priority for the Ministry with a minimal budget.

23 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Overall a total of 20 venues were identified with a budget of $30,000 allocated but with the Ministry’s aim to get even more people involved, this budget proved insufficient.
In addition, the Ministry started to move away from this being a day for civil servants to be active to the full community being active, this led to the budget being exceeded.

However, this also included sports equipment which was left with the community to encourage its continued active participation.
The overspending covered the following costs: travel and subsistence, fuel, hire of venues, payment of referees from the national sports organisations as well as purchase of sports equipment as sports awards and to leave with the community.

5.

According to the Annual Report, the key activities for which the Ministry embarked upon included a review of the Ministry through support from World Bank as part of the Civil Service Reforms.

Can you further elaborate on what this involved?


The Ministry took up the offer from the Civil Service Reform Management Unit to appoint a consultant from the World Bank independently to review the work of the Ministry and to provide a focus for the work that the Ministry should be doing going forward.
The consultant assessed the current and future work of the Ministry, work the Ministry does to complement other Ministries and a high level view of the ideal organization structure which would ensure that the Ministry has the right people with the right skills doing the right job.

There was wide consultation with staff, stakeholders, other Ministries and our agencies.

This is to ensure service delivery improvement and to entrench further the move from outputs to outcomes.

6.
6.

How does the Ministry manage customer complaints?

Luckily the Ministry has not received a significant number of complaints.

However, they are logged and addressed at the Divisional level in the first instance.

If the complaint persists, it is escalated to the Director and then the PS.

Some issues are raised through the talanoa sessions with the Hon Minister and Assistant and colleagues note these and we have a monitoring process to ensure that we address them.
Obviously, in some instances, we have to check the facts and if necessary, to correct them.

The Ministry also receives a number of requests which cannot be termed as complaints but these assist us to identify the next areas for service delivery.

Does the Ministry align itself to any of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

If so, 7. can you further enlighten the Committee on this?
The pathway for young people has now been developed so that the Ministry addresses youth at risk in particular and when a project is starting, we work with relevant Ministries to provide technical training combined with financial literacy, project management.

Then as the project grows, we work with NCSMED and again other Ministries to take the project to the next level.

Goal 1 No Poverty Outcome: Children and Youth Capacity building and project establishment to improve livelihood.
24 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Training is conducted and projects identified and funded to help young people generate income and improve livelihood.

Goal 2 Zero Hunger Outcome: family gardens particularly in peri and urban areas Family gardens developed to assist young people to become self-sufficient in agriculture and ultimately to move to supply to markets and become semi-commercial.
Training is offered on a residential basis at the Ministry’s YTC in Sigatoka and Naleba to train young people in sustainable agriculture including organic farming in Sigatoka.
Goal 3 Good Health and Wellbeing Outcome: Sports development (supports the sports for all program) Through promotion of health and wellness through sports Strengthening the normal weekly wellness day for the civil service Mass participation during the National Sports and Wellness Day across the country Programmes funded by the Ministry and implemented by the Fiji National Sports Commission.
Goal 4 Quality Education Outcome: accredited training The move the offer training which is accredited provides young people with the option of furthering their studies and going back into formal education or to get a job based on a certificate of accreditation or competence or to open up their own business.

Goal 5 Gender Equality Outcome: Gender Equality and Women in Development Encourage women’s participation in skills training and successfully establish income generation projects through seed funding.
This is done through our multi-skills programme as well as increasingly encouraging women to participate in traditionally male activities to break down gender stereotypes and create new role models.

Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth Outcome: accredited training to empower young people Through the Ministry’s training needs analysis, we are better able to meet the needs of young people and the needs of industry.
The hotels, for example, are looking for tradespeople and the Ministry provided general carpentry training at 3 of our 5 YTCs in addition to doing short courses with the Technical College of Fiji.

Once a young person has done training and has taken up the challenge of operating their own business, the Ministry supports the process through grant funding and bringing in other Ministries to support through their expertise.
Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities Outcome: addressing gender and disability inequality Through multi-skills training and including more women in traditional male oriented skills training, the Ministry is working to empower women to get jobs and open their own business.

While more needs to be done, the Ministry also runs training programmes for persons with disabilities similarly to empower them.

8.

What are some of the challenges faced by the Ministry and how have these been overcome?
25 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Challenges:  Adverse weather condition hinders progress of programs and projects – risk management and OHS  Maritime Island irregular boat schedules – flexibility  Unavailability of building materials – better planning  Traditional and communities obligations  Gender stereotypes – working with young men and women to change these through full inclusion and education  Staff not trained as trainers – training programmes offered through FNU and job descriptions adjusted to appoint people who are qualified  Services not offered to those who have not received – reaching the unreached, development of a database to track what training has been offered where  Relevance of training – training needs analysis and changing the training offer to include introduction to computers  Becoming more inclusive - focus on urban areas, women, persons with disabilities, school and university drop outs, marginalised youth  Some of our training is dominated by the older youth – encourage more younger youth to come to training Highlight some of the Ministry’s future plans 9.
 Re-structuring the Ministry to meet its focus in terms of its new strategic plan; appointing the best person for the job on the basis of open merit and improving service delivery  Accredited courses offered from our youth training centres  Mainstreaming sport into the Ministry’s youth activities  The Ministry leading on issues of youth development in partnership with other Ministries and stakeholders  More “soft skills training” with support from the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, FEO, FWCC (address GBV)  Truly becoming the “Ministry for all youth” and supporting in particular those youth who are marginalised including working with the Fiji Corrections Services and Fiji Police Force  Offering a wider number of training opportunities with accredited providers  Expanding the Duke of Edinburgh International Award to provide creative thinking and problem solving skills to young people between the ages of 14 and 24  Working with business, industry to address their skills shortages  Addressing physical and mental health better through physical activity and sport  Upgrading of training centres to provide a more conducive learning environment  Sports facilities need not to be rugby fields only –but also promoting other sports activities.
10.

With the Ministry’s strategies and programs, has the Ministry achieved unemployed youth to a negligible level?

The Ministry is contributing in reducing unemployment in Fiji.

Young people coming out of our programs are either absorbed to paid employment or they are out there in their communities generating income through the various projects they have established; some go back into formal education.
26 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report The Ministry, through its program, is setting up avenues to enable the young people to gain either paid or self-employment.

We mostly deal with young people who are dropouts and are out there in the communities with the intention of giving them another chance or a second chance.
There are a number of agencies and Ministries which are addressing unemployment and we are one of them targeting the young people in Fiji.

This issue has to be addressed in a multi-faceted way by a number of Ministries and stakeholders.

With our new strategy, we will address a particular focus area of youth and sports complementing the work of other Ministries and stakeholders.

11.

What has the Ministry undertaken in regards to child labour and prostitution which is evident to be increasing now?
The Ministry itself has done little on child labour but we are ready to support the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations which are mandated to address child labour.

However, by providing training opportunities to youth from the age of 15, we are working to provide skills so that young people are not subjected to child labour and discrimination.
The Ministry hopes to work with the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts to focus on school drop outs and university drop outs.

The Ministry has embarked on an initiative to address prostitution.

Our program is in place to cater for activities basically to provide them with other alternatives.

We have to address the root causes of prostitution by providing realistic alternatives.

12.
12.

What is the total number of youths trained and what sort of financial assistance being given to assist them to setup small business?

These figures are for 2016 only.

Training Young Women multi skills training Empowerment Training (SOS) 641 79 Leadership Training No.

of Youths trained 138 Mobile skills training Duke of Edinburgh training Youth training centre program 290 668 15 Remarks Conducted Affairs Board by iTaukei Mostly high school students.
Most training completed in Nov/Dec so this reflects organic farming graduates Young farmers established Youth established family gardens 10 80 Grants are given on a 1/3 from the youth club and 2/3 from the Ministry basis.

52 grants were given and monitored.


27 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Youth groups and individual youths are assisted after a thorough assessment of the project by our officers to ensure viability and sustainability of the project.

Once confirmed then a project proposal is submitted for approval.

Once approved then the materials are purchased and delivered to the project site.
Our officers will monitor to ensure the project is established.

The 1/3 & 2/3 basis still applies, whereby the youth group and individual contributes in cash or kind.

Playground is one of the major requests from youths in informal communities.

How many 13. and where have playgrounds being established in 2016?

A budgetary provision of $400,000 was provided under this allocation for rural sports facilities.

However, physical activity is not only for youth but for all citizens.
Only one (1) sports ground was completed due to adverse weather conditions and damage caused by Cyclone Winston to schools identified.

A total of 5 sports facilities were carried forward to the 2016 – 2017 financial year.

The Ministry has a waiting list for rural sports facilities of over 105 and communities need to maintain the facility after handover.

The Ministry is also working on a facility audit to see where facilities are greatly in need.
The Ministry is also working to adapt the perception that Fiji only needs rugby fields as this often excludes women and other sports from being practised across the country.

Please explain the 50% achievement on the capital projects for Youth Training Centers in 14.

Naleba, Naqere and Valelevu (refer to page 25).

The aftermath of TC Winston brought with it a lot of challenges.

Construction works were delayed due to non-availability of materials.
As a result, more efforts were focused on rehabilitation of communities causing a delay in the preliminary work at YTCs.

15.

On page 23, can the Ministry provide details on the donation of sports equipment?

A total of 100 youth groups and schools were assisted from a budget of $50,000 in form sports equipment and other training materials.

List will be circulated before the presentation.
28 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report APPENDIX 4: RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY 29 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report 30 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report 31 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report 32 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report APPENDIX 5: RESPONSES TO COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS From: Savenaca Koro Sent: Friday, 11 May 2018 3:38 PM To: George Francis Cc: Atelaite Catimaibulu; Menani A. Numileva; Susana J. Korovou Subject: RE: 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Good Afternoon Mr. George Francis, Sir, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs wish to acknowledge the presentation made by your Ministry to the Committee on the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Reports.
Given the outcome of the Committee’s scrutiny exercise towards the mentioned Annual Report, listed below are some recommendations put forward by the Committee to be incorporated in their report that will be tabled in Parliament in next week’s Parliament Sitting.
COMMITTEE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS: The Standing Committee on Social Affairs has conducted a review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report and has few recommendations to be brought to the attention of the House: Recommendation 1:  The Ministry to strengthen partnership and collaboration with relevant authorities and key stakeholders to access the available assistance and resources.
Response: The Ministry continues to strengthen its consultations and collaboration ensuring that our clients are guided towards opportunities that exist with other Ministries.

The Ministry has a close collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture for our clients (youths) to access assistance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the small, medium and micro grants of $1,000.00 where a number of youths were assisted.
We work with the Ministry of Forests on training courses, the Ministry of Fisheries on cooperation with young people in the fishing industry, with the Ministry of Education to ensure our courses are accredited and also for the Technical College to provide accredited training in communities.

The Ministry has also reached out to the Fiji Corrections Services, the Fiji Police and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to cooperate on joint deliverables.
Recommendation 2: 33 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report  The provision of financial assistance to those that have undergone training to be able to start up their own business and improve their livelihood.
Response: The Ministry provides assistance, mostly in kind, to youths who have gone through training to establish their projects either as a group or individually primarily through support from other Ministries as the Ministry of Youth and Sports is primarily responsible for non-formal education.

Where the Ministry does provide support, we require the youth to make a contribution of their land, labour equivalent of one-third of the value of the overall assistance.
Recommendation 3:  Benchmark the training institutions with the Tutu Rural Training Center in Taveuni and improve on its standard of training.

Response: Tutu Training Centre is blessed with large tracts of fertile land that it owns and this is the main reason that Tutu is very successful.

Trainees are allowed to plant Dalo and Yaqona at home while they undergo training – this is a pre-requisite.

Dalo is harvested in the short term and after the 4 years of training, the yagona is harvested.
The training centres under the Ministry of Youth and Sports are very small in size and used only for training and practical purposes.

Tutu also receives an operational grant from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry offers courses at the training centers which are accredited.

We are proud to note that the FHEC has approved the accreditation of three of the courses offered through our training centres.
Similar to the Tutu system, we provide residential training but it is focused on a one year programme whereas Tutu allows a 4 year programme with long periods for the youth to return home to tend their crops.

Sir, given the recommendations above, the Committee appreciates your response asap on whether you have address these issues or not, and what are some of the measures put in place by the Ministry to address these issues.
We will await on your kind response on these recommendations, as currently we are undertaking the printing of all Committee Reports that will be table in next week’s Parliament Sitting and we need to incorporate also your comments in the report before printing.

Sir, this is respectfully submitted for your kind response as soon as possible, please.
34 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report Vinaka Saka Save for Chairman of the Social Affairs Standing Committee 35 Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report - Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report