Three innovations from Samoa have been chosen from among several global entries to be featured in the Small Island Developing (S.I.D.S.) Solutions Forum.

This was highlighted in a press conference on Friday at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (F.A.O.) headquarters.

The local innovations include: the Maua App, Vaoala Vanilla and Plastic Recycling Solutions (PRESS). They will have the opportunity to address the global meeting next week to share their successes, challenges and where they need help to take their innovations forward.

Representing Maua App is Fa’aso’otauloa Sam Saili, Vaoala Vanilla – Shelley Burich, and Andrew Pedrana from PRESS. 

The forum is scheduled for 30 – 31 August 2021 which is being convened virtually by F.A.O. in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union (I.T.U). The Government of Fiji is the co-host. 

The forum creates a space for government leaders, development partners, farmers, fishers, community development practitioners and leaders, entrepreneurs, women and youth to discuss, share, promote and encourage home-grown and imported solutions to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and several of those that pre-existing the pandemic.

The ultimate goal is to accelerate the achievement of the agriculture; food and nutrition related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in S.I.D.S.

A representative from F.A.O., Joseph Nyemar said that the forum is significant to farmers because information and networking are powerful instruments that can be used to solve problems.  

Ms. Burich who is currently the sole commercial vanilla farmer in Samoa said that it is an honour to be part of the forum because she hopes to empower more women farmers.

She also said that her business expanded beyond the borders of Samoa through digitization and social media platforms using Shopify global ecommerce platform, Facebook, Instagram.  

Furthermore, she confirmed that despite the COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures, her business is making more profit now than before pandemic.

“I am now mentoring and training new vanilla growers in Samoa and helping them to commence their own vanilla ‘dream.’

“I also provide my services to assist local and international women entrepreneurs in building their own ecommerce online stores using Shopify platform and using my own personal experience and skills in online marketing and social media platforms.”

In addition, she said that during the forum she hopes to share her story and 

“Don’t let challenges stop you; I want to inspire women to get overseas markets.”

Ms. Burich explained that she hopes Government representatives attending the forum can identify the need to empower more women farmers so they too can have a voice during discussions and plans for policy making.

Fa’aso’otauloa said that through its new and popular ‘Maua’ mobile phone application, it is providing an online forum for a variety of farmers to sell their products from farmers to fishermen.

They have over 100 sellers from the Women in Business Development Inc. (W.I.B.D.I.); the Poutasi Development Trust; the Samoa Victim Support Group and a variety of rural and artisan farmers.

He said that the significance of being part of the forum is to highlight solutions from Samoa or the Pacific.

Additionally, he spoke about how they addressed various challenges faced in Samoa such as street addresses and digital payment.