“Innovation was necessary because the earlier projects, aimed at traditional things like handicraft production, were difficult since there were no sustainable markets.”

While the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries celebrated the pragmatism and resourcefulness of W.I.B.D.I, he also acknowledged that his Ministry could do a lot more in supporting such organisations and projects.

“Organic farming does not only provide what I and my family need. I believe it is also environmentally sustainable” – Nora Afualo

I love to use coconut in my baking, but sometimes I’m too busy or tired (or lazy!) to climb a coconut tree, husk a popo and grate it. So I was excited to see that Women in Business in Samoa has a new product on the market.

" The food is fresh and full of flavour, and there's a new organics movement underway there led by a local women's group 'Women in Business Development'. "

Mrs Areli's work involves transferring farmer information, such as type of production, income status and village name into online reports, to help connect farmers to the market and tourists to the farmers.

In a major milestone for the Simbo for Change project, Simbo has become the first organically certified island in the Solomon Islands. Certification by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia in June 2017 marked the culmination of four years of work by project partners and the Simbo community, including major clean-up campaigns and broad-scale mapping of the island.

“This certificate will open up a lot of economic opportunities for the people of Simbo,” Alberta Vitale

Samoan honey, extra sweet misiluki jam, avocados, maukegi, mangoes, passion fruit, hot fresh-brewed koko Samoa and koko Samoa packed and ready-to-go — were among the organic goods and feast at the final WBDI Night Market of 2017

" Visionary entrepreneur Adimaimalaga (Adi) Tafuna’i is convinced this dynamic can and should change. Globally minded, yet deeply rooted in her community ... "

Gareth Popplestone worked as a Project Management Adviser for Women In Business Development Inc (WIBDI) in Samoa. In his role, he helped build a new food processing factory, the biggest project the organisation has ever taken on.

The training is led by Women In Business Development Incorporated and aims to diminish the statistics of youth unemployment in Samoa. This outreach is spread across villages in Upolu and Savai’i and encourages the youth to look upon Farming as an occupation...

“People have this mentality that being a doctor or lawyer, or any desk job is a suitable profession, but what about farming? The young people shouldn’t wait around for the Government to provide jobs for them. They can have their own jobs by farming their own land. In Samoa, most of us do not have to buy or rent land and we have the opportunity to plant fruits and vegetables for our own use. Imported produce is expensive, but we can all plant our own little gardens no matter how small. ” WIBDI President Peseta Afoa Tiotio.

"We want to raise awareness amongst political and business leaders at the Forum about the opportunities social enterprises provide to meet Sustainable Development Goals by using a business model to create positive social impact" - Lord Ahmad

"The Tracer Youth Employment Survey conducted by Samoa National Youth Council together with the MWCSD in 2016 identified some 800 unemployed youths in Samoa. "

Women in Business and Janet’s bring new Samoan Coconut Oil Body care brand to Market

" This newly built Agri- Processing Facility is aimed to assist with the development of the Farm the Table Project (FTTP), WIBDI’s weekly promoted Organic Basket - a youth unemployment approach, linked together with some of the 500+ organically certified villages and farmers in both Savai'i and Upolu "