Services

The Ministry is charged with developing, implementing and monitoring programmes for the good governance and welfare of the Fijian people.

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs consists of the following departments:

Corporate Services Division
The Corporate Service Division of the Ministry is tasked with ensuring that the resources required to carry out the programmes of the Ministry and its units are available. The Division comprises the Human Resource Management Unit, Accounts, Registry, Secretariat of the Native Lands Appeal Tribunal and Management Information System.

Fijian Affairs Scholarship Unit
The Fijian Affairs Scholarship Unit (FASU) of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs provides secretariat support for both the Group and the Committee, including the Mentoring and Monitoring Subcommittee (a subcommittee of the Fijian Education Committee set up to provide a mentoring and monitoring role for students initially at the Laucala Campus, USP). Other support services include student’s counseling/provision of advice and hands-on management of the Fijian Affairs Scholarship Scheme.

Development Division
The Division is directly responsible for providing sound policy advice on Government Affirmative Action and Blueprint Programmes for the Development of all communities. Further, the Division is also tasked to coordinate and oversee the implementation of related action programmes using the existing monitoring, evaluating and regular reporting Government machineries. The Division consists of three Units, namely the Policy Analyst & Research Unit (PARU); the Business Support Investment Unit (BSIU); and the Vanua Development Unit (VDU).

Additional responsibilities of the Division include; the management of the Village Improvement Scheme; addressing resource owners’ issues/concerns with the application of an effective and efficient dispute resolution mechanism; raising public awareness on Government systems and processes that directly affect the welfare of the indigenous community; researching policies and updating: maintaining the Ministry’s data bank on Government development assistance; and secretarial support to various mandated Working Committee.

Institute of Fijian Language and Culture
The Institute of Fijian Language and Culture (IFLC) was primarily set up to produce the first ever Fijian monolingual dictionary. This is currently being printed and should be launched early this year. The IFLC also is required to undertake, encourage, and facilitate the study and development of Fijian Language and Culture.

Native Lands and Fisheries Commission
The Native Land and Fisheries Commission is a statutory body appointed by the Minister for Fijian Affairs under the provisions of the Native Lands Act Cap 133 and the Fisheries Act Cap 158

The Commission is charged with ascertaining what Lands and Fishing grounds in each province of Fiji are the rightful and hereditary properties of Native owners. The Commission also adjudicates on disputes of lands, Customary Fishing Rights and traditional headship Titles. It is also the Custodian of various registers kept at the Commission which are maintained and updated from time to time.

Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development at Nadave
CATD By-Laws Registered under the Charitable Trust Act Cap 67. Its function is to improve the living standards in the rural sectors of Fiji through development of technical skills and services to facilitate community development.