Families across Fiji will benefit from a new parenting
initiative that provides simple, practical guidance to help
parents and caregivers support their children’s
development from pregnancy through to age
six.
Developed with and for Fiji, Bebbo
Pacific* is the first parenting app tailored to Fiji’s
context and one of the first to be made completely free of
charge to families across the country, ensuring that cost is
not a barrier to trusted parenting support.
”The
development of a localized parenting App demonstrates that
we can and must work together, to protect our children,”
said Minister for Women, Children and Social
Protection, Hon. Sashi Kiran. “Violence against
children is preventable. Neglect is preventable. Harm is
preventable. And prevention begins with knowledge,
awareness, and support for parents and
caregivers.”
In Fiji, children aged 0 to 4 make up
around nine per cent of the population, with thousands of
families navigating the challenges of raising young children
each year.
While important progress has been made,
including the adoption of the National Early Childhood
Development Policy in 2024, access to parenting support
remains uneven across communities. Around
28.2 per cent of children in Fiji still experience
multidimensional poverty, highlighting the need for
stronger and more consistent support for families.
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The
new initiative aims to help close this gap by making
reliable, practical information more accessible to parents
and caregivers, including those in rural and remote
areas.
“New Zealand is pleased to support early
childhood development through initiatives like Bebbo
Pacific, which provides parents and caregivers with
information to give children the best start in
life,” said New Zealand’s High Commissioner to
Fiji, H.E. Greg Andrews. “We are proud to partner
with the Government of Fiji and UNICEF to ensure families
can access trusted information that strengthens child
wellbeing, resilience, and opportunities, no matter where
they live.
Bebbo Pacific is designed to
complement the strong parenting traditions already present
in Fiji, where families and communities play a central role
in raising children. Rather than replacing existing
knowledge, it provides additional support by combining
evidence-based guidance with the care and practices already
found in Fijian homes.
Through the platform, parents
and caregivers can access guidance on child development,
health, nutrition, safety, and early learning. It also
includes features such as growth tracking and reminders for
healthcare visits. It can be used offline once downloaded,
ensuring more families can benefit regardless of
connectivity.
“While parents are doing their very
best in the growth and development of their child, they do
not always have access to simple, trusted advice when they
need it most – especially in busy households, remote
communities, or during difficult times including
emergencies,” said UNICEF Pacific’s
Representative, Hamish Young. “Bebbo Pacific is
here to support families in those moments. We acknowledge
the leadership of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social
Protection, and the Government of New Zealand for their
generous support and commitment to children in
Fiji.”
The initiative supports Fiji’s broader
efforts to improve early childhood development outcomes and
aligns with national and regional commitments, including the
country’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy and the
Pasifika
Call to Action.
The Ministry of Women, Children
and Social Protection has led the initiative in close
collaboration with other ministries and the National ECD
Advisory Committee, with UNICEF providing technical support
and the Government of New Zealand contributing
financially.
Bebbo Pacific is designed with
user privacy in mind. The platform does not collect
identifiable personal data about parents or children, and
any information entered is stored on the user’s
device.
The launch marks an important step in
expanding support for families and reinforces a shared
commitment to ensuring that all children in Fiji have the
opportunity to thrive from the earliest years.
About
UNICEF:
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest
places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every
child, everywhere, to build a better world for
everyone.
