23 June 2017. Samoa – The Women in Business Development Inc. happily showcased their wide arrange of products at the bi-monthly Organic Farmers market on Wednesday this week, behind the Samoa Tourism Fale in Apia.

The forum was part of SVSG’s Nofotane Project, a two-year programme funded by UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality. The project aims to support the economic empowerment of nofotane women.

I am also keen to increase the value the villagers receive, and the best way of doing this is getting them involved in the manufacture of products. To this end, we are looking at having our body wash bars made over there, using their local ingredient

The night attracted more numbers than anticipated and it was absolutely lovely! Thank you, for coming out to support our local farmers.

“I’m conscious about the harm that agricultural chemicals and pesticides can cause to the environment and to our health. That is why I am using natural methods to grow herbs and spices for hotels and restaurants in Apia” - says Iese Palauni Matai’a.

#News -“In Samoa, the most influential and successful farming group is led by Women in Business Development – essentially a group of women seeking to create sustainable incomes out of sustainable resources for rural families,” says Faumuina Tafunai.

Women in Business organised an organic promotion at the Samoa Tourism Authority fale last weekend. Through commitment and hard work, organic farmers from different parts of Samoa all had something to bring to the table. There were different organic products such as taro, niu, bananas, handicrafts and so much more.

The first intake of the Farm to Table youth programme graduated yesterday after 12 weeks of learning about organic farming. The programme not only promotes organic farming, it also looks at promoting youth employment, giving young people another option if they drop out of school. The project is run by Women in Business Development Inc. (W.I.B.D.I) under their Farm to Table project, which is funded by U.N.D.P.

Women in Business Development’s Adimaimalaga Tafunai has been honoured with a second global award – this time a DVF Award that was presented at the United Nations in New York. The DVF Awards were created in 2010 by Diane von Furstenberg and the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to honor and support extraordinary women.

Opinion Editorial by Adimaimalaga Tafuna'i
Women in Business Development Inc

The United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and Women in Business Development ran two trainings to support families who wanted to grow organic produce and sell to beach fales, resorts and restaurants. They also taught the importance of preserving Savai’i’s upland areas.

Women in Business Development, the Samoan Government and the Samoa Observer are leading a campaign to offset the carbon emissions generated from the global small island developing states meeting in September.

More than 150 delegates from the around the world, and in particular the Pacific region, gathered for the OUR Media: Diverse Communities, Diverse Media international conference in Goroka, Papua New Guinea in July.

Prime Minister John Key requested a breakfast meeting with Women in Business Development president Sheree Stehlin, who was the 2013 New Zealand Prime Minister Fellow, on his final day in Samoa.

Women in Business Development board and management toasted Robert Oliver on June 3 for winning the Gourmand award for Best TV Chef Cookbook in the World for Mea’ai Samoa: Recipes from the Heart of Polynesia.

Twelve young Samoans have graduated from a job readiness skills programme in Apia. The programme was run by The Body Shop Australia, The Wise Foundation and local partner Women in Business Development. It targeted young Samoans wanting to enter the hospitality and customer service industry.

Robert Oliver wins the Gourmand Award for Best TV Chef Cookbook In The World 2013 for Mea’ai Samoa: Recipes from the Heart of Polynesia and his cooking show, Real Pasifik, made by acclaimed TV production company Zoomslide, based in New Zealand.

Through the support of The Technical Centre of Rural and Agricultural Co-operation (CTA), a Pacific and Caribbean delegation including Women in Business Development were able to attend an International Food Policy Research Institute conference in Ethiopia themed on “Building Resilience for Food and Nutrition and Security”.

Six water tanks means six families’ lives are changed for the better thanks to a generous donation from the Asia-Pacific Ladies Friendship Society of Japan and Samoa Embassy staff. The request came from Women in Business Development to supply water tanks for six families involved in its fine mat weaving project. The society also provided equipment for the organisation’s fetau income project.

Samoa’s newest cookbook Mea’ai Samoa: Recipes from the heart of Polynesia is a finalist for a prestigious international cookbook award.

The Mea’ai Samoa book will represent Samoa and is one of five finalists in the category of Best TV English Cookbook, due to its connection with author Robert Oliver’s food TV show Real Pasifik made by Zoomslide Productions.