Following the International Women’s Day (IWD) theme 2026: “Give to Gain”, BLP spoke to two Private Sector Organisation (PSO) partners led by women.  We wanted to celebrate their leadership styles and acknowledge what they give through their work and how this represents significant gains for their countries.

Today, we highlight BLP’s Fiji Private Sector Organisation partner, Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) led by Nitika Singh, Acting General Manager, about how BAF supports women-led businesses and the 2026 IWD theme ‘Give to Gain’.

“Success does not come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently“.

“This quote by Marie Forleo serves as the guiding principle for Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) as BAF works to transform the landscape for MSMEs in Fiji,” says Nitika.

BAF was established by the Fiji Government in 2021 with a specific focus to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Fiji, realising the significant role and importance of the sector to the Fijian economy and for uplifting the lives of people in the community.

“As the in-country partner for BLP, BAF has become a vital catalyst for economic growth amongst MSMEs and for female empowerment,” confirms Nitika.

Business Link Pacific (BLP) is a private sector development programme funded by the New Zealand government and delivered by DT-Global. BAF facilitates the BLP programme in Fiji, building the sustainable capacity of Business Advisory Service (BAS) and Financial Service (FS) providers to deliver services to MSMEs at the right quality and price.

Leadership: A woman at the helm

At the centre of this transformation is Nitika Singh, who is a graduate of Central Queensland University, Australia, with over 12 years of accounting experience. Joining BAF in 2022, she has expanded her role from overseeing financial planning, strategy, and risk management to providing strategic leadership across the entire organisation.

But Nitika Singh doesn’t limit her impact to the office; she’s a hands-on leader who personally conducts workshops on bookkeeping and financial practices to provide small business owners with important technical skills they need to survive.

Her leadership extends to serving as a committee member for the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s MSME Finance working group and the Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) Committee.

Targeted support for women entrepreneurs

The partnership between BAF and BLP has launched several key initiatives specifically designed to uplift women in business, say Nitika Some of these activities are:

• Regional Financial Training: Through an Asian Development Bank-funded project, BAF delivered training to women in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to understand financial statements and ratios.
• One-on-one mentoring: Women entrepreneurs in Fiji receive personalised mentoring to strengthen their financial management capabilities.
• Research and inclusion: In collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Finance Inclusion (CEFI), BAF conducts research into the specific challenges faced by Fijian women to develop better support resources.
• Rural outreach: A partnership with the Ministry of Women targets 100 women entrepreneurs in each Fiji regional division for capacity building.
• Working closely with the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development. A Learn-N-Apply workshop was created to assist MSMEs to learn how to prepare cashflow statements and apply for grants.

(Nitika teaching at a Suva and Rotuma workshops)

Impact and future outlook

Nitika says the support from Business Link Pacific has been instrumental in reaching remote areas. “A notable example is the February 2026 trip to Rotuma, which was supported by BLP, where women entrepreneurs received vital training in product development, costing, and cash flow preparation.”

She says, “What began as a vision is now a reality: women entrepreneurs are building sustainable businesses and the MSME sector is gaining momentum as a primary driver of Fiji’s economic growth.”

Since 2019 and working closely with Business Assistance Fiji, Fiji has developed the first quality approved network of business advisors offering a wide range of services to the Fiji business community. Over the last six years, the number of business advisors in the local Network has increased substantially and now stands at 78.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have invested more than NZD 1.3 million in business services, which the New Zealand government has matched with a subsidy that covers the cost of business advice by 50% of the regular fee, as shown in the investment figures below.

BLP and Business Assistance Fiji have together provided 1,731 subsidies in Fiji, 942 to businesses with one or more female owners.

Together, Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) and Business Link Pacific (BLP) are not only meeting today’s needs but are unlocking tomorrow’s possibilities and paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for women entrepreneurs in Fiji. Through targeted training, dedicated mentoring, and strategic partnerships, they are not only addressing the current challenges faced by female business owners but also equipping them with the skills and confidence needed for long-term success.

As more women-led businesses thrive and contribute to the country’s economic growth, the positive impact of these initiatives is evident across Fiji. With continued support and innovation, BAF and BLP are set to empower even more women, ensuring that the spirit of ‘Give to Gain’ shapes the future of Fijian enterprise.

To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.