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Ministry of Commerce, Business Development and Investments (MCBDI)

The MCBDI oversees the Co-operatives Department Sub-Programme of the IHRDPEP, the National Center for Small & Micro Enterprises Development (NCSMED), the National Micro-finance Unit (NMU) and the Small Business Advisory Unit (SBAU)

  • Cooperatives Development Sub-Programme of IHRDPEP
  • National Centre for Small & Micro-Enterprises Development
  • National Micro-finance Unit
  • Small Business Advisory Unit (SBAU)
  • Cooperatives Department

The National Micro-finance Unit (NMU) was established in April 1999 under the Ministry of Finance to oversee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Micro-finance Scheme. Since January 2000, the NMU has become part of the Ministry of Commerce, Business Development & Investment.

The objectives of the Microfinance programme include:

  • providing financial assistance to address poverty;
  • finance self-employment ventures;
  • promote household savings;
  • assist household business operation; and
  • offer basic business training
Characteristics of Data Description
Socioeconomic data of prospective clients of microfinance Socioeconomic data of prospective clients of microfinance
Geographic coverage: Suva/Nausori/Nasinu/Lami/Western Division currently implemented two (2) rural projects in Bucalevu/Burenitu Ra and one in North
Selection criteria:
  • Total Household income must be below $100 per week.
  • Must not be employed in the formal sector
  • 1 client per household
  • Must be willing to participate in and physically capable of income generating activity
  • Undergo a compulsory business training
Sample frame/ list: None
Sample frame last updated: N/A
Sample size: Not definite - ongoing
Sample as proportion of total population: N/A
Selection method for inclusion: Self selection
Rate of non-response: N/A
Data collection method: Field verification surveys, in depth interviews, observations
Summary of content of data collection: Socio-economic characteristics, loan history and attitude to cooperative effort.
Purpose of undertaking data collection: To help the MFU/MFI determine potential clients for microfinance.
Date of first such collection: Ongoing for new clients to the program
Current frequency of collection: Weekly
Most recent collection: N/A
Usual delay between collection availability of data: N/A
Data is made available via: Access to a micro loans and savings system (MLS) software, weekly reports submitted by MFIs through facsimiles
Access restrictions: The Director, National Micro Finance Unit, Gunu House, 25 Gladstone Rd, Suva.

National Micro-Finance Unit

Variable Name Variable Definition Variable Intervals Collected
Date of Interview Date interviewed d/mm/yyy format
Name Full name Surname, First Name
Age Age in years Years
Gender Sex Male or Female
Marital Status Marital Status Single, married, separated, divorced, widow/widower
Area Place of residence Address, district, region, province
Household income: F$ per week Dollars
Education Level of Education Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
House type; Construction materials of house Concrete, wooden, corrugated, thatched
Dwelling ownership Rent or own dwelling Rent, own
Members in house Number of permanent residents Units
Number employed Number of persons in household in employment Units
Assets List of assets N/A
Basic amenities Access to water, electricity Water, electricity, both
Occupation Type of income generating activity Type of income generating activity
Personal income Weekly income Dollars
Number in household working together Number working together Units
Ever borrowed money Previous or current loan Yes,No
Why Purpose of loan
Interest paid Was interest paid on the loan Yes, no
Given chance would borrow? Would borrow if loan was available Intervals collected Yes, No
How much? Amount which would be borrowed F$
Usage of loan Prospective usage of loan  
Repayment Could repay loan with interest during term of loan Yes, No
Interested in group loan Expressed interest in obtaining a group loan Yes, No
Willing to pay overdue loan of group member Willing to pay overdue loan of group member Yes, No

Statistical Abstracts

This contains explanatory notes and tables on Labour Supply (population, education, scholarships); Labour Demand (employment, number of jobs created in the IHRDPEP sub-programme); and Labour Market Operation (labour market outcome of graduates).

    Reports Collections

    A list of books, reports, publications, and essays on Labour Supply, Labour Demand and Labour Market Operation in alphabetical order of the author’s surnames and indicating where the material could be accessed.

      Database Collections

      This contains selected data from the producers' databases on Labour Supply (graduates of tertiary institutions); Labour Demand (numbers employed in the Civil Service, Total formal sector employments); and Labour Market Operation (Number of jobs applied for a particular job by job application for minimum applications and qualifications required).

        Contact Producer

        Cooperatives Development Sub-Programme of IHRDPEP

        For more information, please contact:

        The Sub-Programme Manager,
        Cooperatives Development Sub-Programme ,
        5th Flr., Vanua House, Victoria Parade,
        P.O.Box 2356, Government Buildings,
        Suva

        National Centre for Small & Micro-Enterprises Development

        For more information, please contact:

        The CEO,
        NCSMED,
        82 Robertson Rd,
        Unity House
        P.O Box 2532,
        Govt. Buildings
        Suva

        Ph: (679) 3312 991/ (679)3312 992
        Fax: (679) 3302 356

        Email: info@ncsmed.org.fj

        National Micro-finance Unit

        For more information please contact:

        The Director,
        National Microfinance Unit,
        Ministry of Commerce, Business Development & Investment,
        Heath House, 25 Gladstone Road,
        Suva.

        Ph: (679) 3307 122
        Fax: (679) 3302 711

        Small Business Advisory Unit (SBAU)

        For more information please contact:

        The Head of SBAU,
        1st Floor Asset Management Bank Building,
        Victoria Parade,
        Suva.
        P.O Box 2118, Govt. Building, Suva
        Ph: (679) 3302 124
        Fax: (679) 3302 417

        Cooperatives Department

        For more information, please contact:

        The Director and Registry of Co-operatives
        5th Floor Vanua House,
        Victoria Parade,
        Suva

        P.O Box 2356, Govt. Buildings, Suva
        Ph: (679) 3314 675 Fax: (679) 3303 431