About Us
Dialogue Fiji is an independent, non-partisan civil society organisation dedicated to strengthening democracy, human rights, social cohesion, and citizen participation in Fiji and the Pacific. The organisation works to promote inclusive dialogue, democratic governance, civic education, and evidence-based public policy through research, advocacy, training, public forums, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
Over the past decade, Dialogue Fiji has implemented a wide range of national and regional initiatives on democratic governance, electoral systems, constitutionalism, youth participation, gender equality, social cohesion, media literacy, and public policy. The organisation regularly convenes government representatives, political parties, civil society organisations, academics, development partners, the private sector, and citizens to engage in constructive dialogue on issues of national and regional importance.
Through its programmes and partnerships, Dialogue Fiji seeks to initiate informed public discourse, strengthen democratic institutions, and empower citizens, particularly young people and underrepresented groups, to participate meaningfully in democratic decision-making processes.
History
In May 2008, a group of civil society leaders, academics and senior civil servants from Fiji attended a Pan-Pacific United Nations organised workshop on conflict resolution in Port Villa, Vanuatu. At the end of the workshop, this group of Fijians, determined to take an active role in resolving Fiji’s problems, continued to meet periodically.
And it was during this period following the Villa meeting that the idea of Dialogue Fiji was conceived.
The initiative was initially conceived with two key objectives:
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Develop an inclusive dialogue process to provide support and momentum for inclusive dialogue, toward finding solutions to Fiji’s problems.
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Provide mechanisms for longer-term conflict resolution and national peace-building.
Dialogue Fiji was initiated as a movement of non-governmental organisations, and individuals committed to peace building and welcomes others to join the process through the Citizens' Assembly which took place annually, since 2009, to review progress and the committee membership.
The initiative was at the time directed by a Committee which received its mandate from the Citizens Assembly of wider civil society, and managed by a Secretariat.
Dialogue Fiji's common understanding of a ‘dialogue process’ is a sustained, participatory and inclusive process of listening and conversing in order to achieve understanding and reconciliation, aimed at finding solutions to diverse problems. Such dialogue processes are a necessary part of conflict resolution and peace building.
In 2015, Dialogue Fiji became a registered civil society organisation, and has been operating autonomously under the direction of Board of Directors.
Dialogue Fiji Board
Mr Nemani Buresova
Board Chair
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Dr Avinash Kumar
Board Member
Akuila Yabaki
Board Member