Service to bridge gap

By Ivamere Nataro 21 January 2019, 12:00AM

Samoa is in the process of adopting the rights, empowerment and cohesion (R.E.A.C.H.) mobile service delivery programme that has been successful in Fiji since 2015.

A pilot launch of the programme was held yesterday at the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration conference room, supported by the Government of Samoa and UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme. 

The success of the programme will allow communities in remote and maritime areas in Samoa to access efficient justice and government services.  

Minister for Justice and Courts Administration, Faaolesa Katopau Ainu’u told the Samoa Observer that the programme allows all sectors, women, and families living in marginalised communities to have relevant services delivered to their doorsteps, and it also increases transparency. 

“We are committed to ensuring people in remote and maritime communities have access to justice and services. It is important that victims and people who face difficulty in accessing government services are prioritised in our service provision,” Faaolesa said. 

“Through the R.E.A.C.H. mobile service delivery model, we aim to address the challenges including remoteness and geographic isolation, increase knowledge and awareness among citizens on their rights, and make the government services more accessible to them.” 

Speaking on the success of the programme in Fiji, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Josefa Koroivueta, said R.E.A.C.H. has proven to be highly effective in Fiji. 

“Its (programme) demonstrates an innovative, integrated awareness raising and service delivery platform that is proving extremely effective to bring services to the most remote and marginalised communities,” he said. 

“We are most willing to share our experience in operating the model with our Samoan counterpart to redesign the delivery model highly relevant to Samoan context.”

Dr. Simona Marinescu, the U.N. Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau said U.N. Women will help enhance access to information and services that meet the unique needs of women and families across the country. 

Following the launch is a three-day training workshop that ends on January 25, and is run by U.N. Women, U.N.D.P. and the Fiji R.E.A.C.H. team. 

The workshop ensures integration of gender equality in all aspects of design, delivery and transfer of the R.E.A.C.H. methodology including quantitative and qualitative data collection. 

By Ivamere Nataro 21 January 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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