Fiji has experienced a prolonged history of inter-ethnic conflicts & violence. Racial tensions seem to be part of everyday interactions in modern day Fiji with ethnicity remaining a defining feature of social and institutional relations. Furthermore, there is a clear distinctive lack of social understanding & acceptance of different cultures which exacerbate the ongoing inter-ethnic tensions. Fiji has also experienced a high level of political instability, with four coups in just over 20 years.

The initiative will contribute to collecting recent & trustworthy information on inter-ethnic relations in Fiji which could serve as a basis to design strategies that really meet the need on the ground. It will provide a detailed analysis of the current military regime’s strategies. By encouraging dialogue between relevant stakeholders (civil society, international organizations and bodies & the government essentially), it will strengthen the impact of CSOs in the area of inter-ethnic relations.