The annual monitoring of the UN-funded Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) projects in Tongatapu was recently carried out by Live & Learn Tonga under the supervision of an in-country mission led by Implementation Expert Mr. Sailosi Kepa from International Fund for Agricultural Development.

During the visit, the team travelled to several rural communities where focus group discussions were held with programme beneficiaries and key stakeholders, including constituency officers. These discussions were followed by key informant interviews with individual recipients to gain a deeper understanding of the programme’s progress and impact.

Beneficiaries shared inspiring stories of how the programme has helped transform their lives and communities. Key impacts highlighted included:

• Improved family and community food security
• Greater ability to contribute to church commitments
• Increased household income through vegetable sales
• Stronger community support for the elderly and vulnerable

These outcomes demonstrate the meaningful difference the JP RWEE programme continues to make in empowering rural women and strengthening community resilience in Tonga.