Praneeta Prakash 
Applications for assistance under Fiji’s Multi-Ethnic Affairs grant programme have more than tripled in a year, increasing from 325 to 1,074, as demand for funding grows.
Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh says the increase shows the importance of supporting grassroots communities and responding to their needs.
The program was reintroduced in the 2024/2025 financial year with an allocation of $1.2 million. Funding increased to $2 million in 2025/2026 and remains at the same level in the 2026/2027 Budget.
“This continued investment enables the Ministry to reach more communities and respond to the genuine needs of the grassroots level. The demand for assistance demonstrates the importance of this
program. In the first year, the Ministry received 325 applications, of which 202 projects were approved. In the following financial year, applications were increased to 1,074 applications, with 542
projects approved for the support across Fiji.”
Singh says 202 projects were approved in the program’s first year, compared with 542 in the following financial year.
He highlighted the figures while commissioning the Fiji Muslim League Tawa Branch fencing project, which received $14,860 in grant funding.
The amount is close to the program’s maximum grant of $15,000.
