Bemana DRR Workshop:

Navosa is an inland highland region located on the western side of Viti Levu, Fiji, known for its rugged terrain, deep valleys, mountain ranges, and scattered rural villages. As part of the Nadroga-Navosa Province, the area is home to strong traditional communities that uphold rich cultural heritage, close family ties, and a deep sense of communal unity.

Most households in Navosa rely on subsistence farming, small-scale livestock, and traditional livelihoods. Due to its geographical isolation and limited infrastructure, communities face unique daily challenges that differ significantly from coastal areas. This isolation also increases their vulnerability to natural hazards such as flooding, landslides, drought, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and waterborne diseases. One of the most severe and persistent issues remains water scarcity and access to clean, safe drinking water, with many communities filtering muddy water for daily use.

Bemana, a rural community within the Navosa highlands, is where the local Catholic Parish plays a crucial role in bringing together surrounding villages and fostering unity, cooperation, and collective action.

To address these ongoing risks, a Community-Led Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Workshop was successfully conducted in Bemana Village from 28–29 October, aiming to strengthen the capacity of local communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

The workshop brought together 105 participants from the following areas:
Nalebaleba, Bemana, Navitilevu, Tuvu, Navatusila, Volinagerua, Tonuve, Nabuabua, Nasavete, and Korolevu.

An important component of the workshop was the integration of Safeguarding principles, ensuring that disaster risk management processes uphold the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of all community members — especially children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Safeguarding was emphasised as a shared responsibility, embedded within community leadership structures and the VDMC framework, reinforcing a culture of protection and accountability

The Bemana CBDRM Workshop demonstrated the power of community ownership in building resilience. By strengthening knowledge, local leadership, and coordination, communities in the Navosa highlands are better equipped to face future disasters while ensuring protection, dignity, and inclusion for all.

Caritas Fiji remains committed to supporting vulnerable rural communities through capacity building, disaster preparedness, and safeguarding initiatives that place people at the centre of resilience-building efforts.