This programme draws on the networking power of ICTs to increase rural women's access to contacts so that they might market and sell goods - thereby hopefully fostering economic opportunity and a broader sense of empowerment. ICT is, according to organisers, one of the best ways to promote a good or service: it is cheap, easy to use, and fast.

Tho support this process, the ITC telecentre, located at the local Ministry of Women office, provided the Navua Rural Women's Group with free use of a computer and printer, office supplies, and one year of internet access. The women were given basic training in word processing, spreadsheets, and email, so that they could collect and collate orders and send high-impact HTML-format emails. To facilitate the finding of customers, the ITC Department provided its own email list of some 4,000 government civil servants working in Suva. The marketing strategy is linked to the Fiji government's payroll schedule, whereby civil servants are paid every 2 weeks. The women send emails for 3 days in the week before payday, collect orders, and then drive their van the 50 Km to Suva to make deliveries on payday.

Women, Economic Development.

The Navua Rural Women's Group was selected for this project because - unlike other women's groups that relied largely on government support - it already had a commercial track record in producing and selling on a local market. Its members have reinvested some of their profits into the business; 6 months into the project, they were able to buy a van and a laptop computer, and to pay for supplies and internet access. In the first week of the project, the women received and delivered over 400 bottles of chutney; as of September 2005, they were selling an average of 800 to 1,000 bottles every 2 weeks.

Organisers note that the extra income has allowed the women to pay off farm debts and purchase farm supplies. More are sending their children to school because they can pay for school fees, uniforms and books. Other women's groups in Fiji are also reaping the benefits: The Navua women cannot grow enough mangoes to meet current demand, so they are buying from other cooperatives.

Though the impact of the project on the women's self-esteem is difficult to measure, organisers observe that the women are making increasing use of computers and email for other purposes, and training other women in the community to use ICTs. Furthermore, the project has brought them, as small farmers and traders, into contact with a wider world of business and government. "It's really interesting for us to go to these places," said Unesh Wari Chand, as she made her way from one government office to another. "We normally stay home and never knew about these people. Now we deliver their orders - and we talk to them."