Bula! Earlier this week, Sustineo’s Katja Mikhailovich and Ellis Mackenzie got fieldwork underway in Fiji. This trip is the third visit as part of a larger socio-economic impact study on the livelihoods of pearl farmers and handicraft workers involved in projects funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The project extends across Fiji and Tonga, and includes a diverse mix of pearl farmers, pearl handicraft artisans, and community groups.
Our team is employing a mixed methods approach to identify socio-economic impacts in the project, with a particular focus on qualitative techniques to understand the livelihood benefits for women and youth involved in pearl farming. A highlight of the trip has been hearing Nazmin’s personal story. For Nazmin, being involved in a women’s group which makes pearl handicrafts has been an important milestone in her own self-empowerment and her personal passion to get an education.
Watch this space for updates in the coming weeks as the Sustineo team heads to Tonga to continue engaging with farmers and handicraft makers and hear their experiences of ACIAR projects!
Further information
If you would like to discuss our experience or work in this space further, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Tom at tom.sloan@sustineo.com.au. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for more posts like this!