FNDP and Cultural Awareness
By understanding the richness of Fijian culture still present today, whether through appreciating the crux of identity in understanding the vanua or the immense community wealth engrained in Fijian society, it is obvious why preserving these intricacies are crucial for the development of the country. There is also an economic incentive as Fiji’s economy is largely dependent on tourism, much of which is fuelled by cultural experience. In addition, with traditional skills and practices still commonplace, they form the basis for income-generation in many communities. With these combined, it is no surprise that Culture and Heritage holds its own plan for preservation and development in Fiji’s National Development Plan.
Watch the Fijian Prime Minister release Fiji’s 5 year and 20 year National Development plan:
Fiji National Development Policy 3.1.10 – Culture and Heritage
- Cultural heritage forms an essential part of Fijian identity, this includes language, food, rituals and arts.
- These need to be safeguarded and promoted for future generations.
- The National Culture Policy and National Culture and Education Strategy helps protect and preserve cultural heritage.
- The cultural mapping programme will be key to gather information on traditional knowledge and heritage.
- The use of local culture in the tourism industry will promote and protect cultural heritage and the “Fijian Crafted” campaign will help to promote cultural performances and traditional crafts.
- The Fiji Museum and the National Library will be upgraded thus contributing to the preservation of Fiji’s heritage.
- Artisan production will be scaled up to provide genuine and culturally appropriate goods to tourists.
- Cultural heritage sites will be protected.
The government aims to “protect and promote unique Fijian cultural heritage for sustainable development”
Here’s a full copy of the written FNDP:
UN SDGs
Although none of the 17 SDGs focuses exclusively on culture, it is integrated into a number of the goals and the ones below are particularly relevant to the outcomes of the FNDP found above:
- Target 4.7 refers to the aim to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for global citizenship and the appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
- Target 8.3 addresses the promotion of development-oriented policies that support productive activities as well as, among others, creativity and innovation.
- Targets 8.9 and 12.b refer to the need to devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism, including through local culture and products, and to the need to develop suitable monitoring tools in this area.
- Target 11.4 highlights the need to strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.