Posted on septiembre, 22 2014

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has pledged a sizable financial donation to encourage the women of Gizo to set up more loan schemes within their zones.

The umbrella body, the Gizo Environment Livelihood Conservation Association GELCA and the Nusatuva Environment Conservation Development Association NECDA Microfinance scheme, was launched in June this year, with a two-fold component – savings and loans.

Women of Zone 3, the Varitokae Women’s Savings Club, launched their loan scheme recently and were given SBD $5,000 by Lilo in his capacity as the Member of Parliament for Ghizo/Kolombangara Constituency.

He promised to do the same for the other five zones, provided they launched their loan schemes at their respective zone levels. The communities are geographically spread out, some isolated and branching out the loan scheme in the six different zones, allows women to access financial support in setting up projects like baking and sewing for a source of income.

These alternative sources of income alleviate pressure on fisheries, supporting the establishment of marine protected areas around Ghizo Island.

Lilo’s support was communicated to the women by John Wale, the Western Province Honorable for Gizo Ward, who launched the Zone 3 loan scheme.

He added when he first approached Lilo for assistance and support for the women, the response was instantaneous, with Lilo allocating SBD$5000 for each Zone that planned to launch and begin their loan scheme.

The loan scheme is part of the women’s savings project, which is the micro-finance component of the Inshore Fisheries Aggregation Devices (IFAD) that is being supported by WWF-Pacific and funded by Australian Aid and John West Australia.

Since its establishment inNovember of 2013, the savings scheme has attracted a following of more than 500 women who have managed to save more than SBD$84,000 to date.

WWF-Pacific’s Salome Topo said that the women were encouraged by the support rendered by Lilo.

“I really appreciate what Zone 3, Varitokae women saving club, has done at zone level. They have strong zone executive members, and I am glad the government is recognizing and rewarding the effort these women have put into trying to economically empower themselves,” Topo said.

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