The Fiji Government has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Fiji to construct a Child Wellbeing Centre aimed at supporting children who are street-connected across the country's four divisions.
Street connected children are effectively homeless, relying on public spaces for their survival and livelihood.
The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection and Habitat for Humanity Fiji.
The partnership is framed as part of broader efforts to strengthen Fiji's child protection system and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, said the agreement was intended to strengthen support for children at risk.
"The Ministry will continue to work with key stakeholders, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure that every child in Fiji grows up safe, protected and supported," Ms Kiran said.
The initiative aligns with the ministry's responsibilities under the Child Care and Protection Act 2024 and the Child Justice Act 2024.
The proposed centre will provide a safe, supportive and rehabilitative environment for children who require care and protection. It is intended to operate as a central platform for coordinated interventions involving multiple services and agencies.
Support services at the centre will include access to social services, psychosocial support, referral pathways and reintegration programs. The centre is intended to support children who are currently living or working on the streets, alongside those assessed as needing care and protection services.
The Minister said the centre aligned with national priorities to protect children from neglect, exploitation and abuse and to address factors linked to children living and working on the streets.
The partnership was described as combining policy leadership with community-based delivery to improve how protection services are coordinated.
Habitat for Humanity Fiji Interim National Director, Sangita Kumar, said the partnership brought together complementary roles across government and the organisation.
"The strength of this agreement lies in the complementarity of our roles - the Ministry's leadership in policy, coordination, and protection, alongside Habitat's technical experience in inclusive housing, construction, and strengthening household and community resilience," Ms Kumar said.
The centre is expected to support a more coordinated response to children in need of care and protection across Fiji's four divisions. It is intended to improve how services work together across government, civil society and development partners, including clearer referral pathways and reintegration support.
The facility is being positioned as a practical infrastructure base to support both immediate assistance and longer-term case coordination.
The approach is designed to address immediate protection needs while supporting longer-term wellbeing and stability for children and young people. The project also reflects a focus on sustainable infrastructure linked to child development, safety and dignity.
Habitat for Humanity Fiji said the collaboration reflected a shared vision to strengthen community resilience and promote inclusive social development.
Ms Kumar said the project was also being positioned as a foundation for future approaches to housing and protection responses.
"We see this initiative not only as a critical intervention, but as a platform for learning and scale," she said.
"What we develop together has the potential to inform future models of transitional housing, strengthen national systems, and contribute to evidence-based approaches to addressing homelessness in Fiji."
The partnership is expected to support lessons that can be applied to future programs and facilities aimed at vulnerable children and young people.
Habitat for Humanity Fiji said the agreement brought together government leadership and community-based expertise to deliver infrastructure that supports child wellbeing.
Construction of the Child Wellbeing Centre will begin once technical and implementation arrangements are finalised.
The Government said it would continue working with partners to ensure the centre delivers lasting impact for vulnerable children across Fiji.
