Today in Suva, Fiji, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, as head of an interagency U.S. delegation to the Pacific, announced that USAID intends to provide more than $4 million in additional support to strengthen inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Pacific and increase efforts to help Pacific Island countries withstand the effects of climate change.
Mobilizing Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries
USAID is investing $3 million under its EDGE Fund to unleash private sector-led solutions to global development challenges. This funding will accelerate the pace and scale of investments, including public-private sector partnerships, in the fisheries sector so that Pacific Island countries can more directly benefit from the global tuna value chain. Inspired by Pacific Island Tuna (PIT), a cooperative of Pacific Island Nations and The Nature Conservancy that supplies sustainably sourced tuna, this funding will support efforts to sustainably catch and manage tuna to protect the long-term health of this critical resource. Additionally, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in partnership with USAID and the Australia Infrastructure Finance Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), intends to announce a new private sector investment in the fishery sector in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the coming months.
To complement this effort, USAID is launching a series of comprehensive roundtable discussions to convene public, private, and civil society stakeholders to advance the Pacific Island countries’ goals of increased monitoring and dockside offloading in order to more actively and equitably participate in the tuna value chain.
Supporting disaster preparedness and climate adaptation in Fiji
To build locally-led disaster risk reduction, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance is providing nearly $1.2 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to work closely with its implementing partner, Fiji Red Cross, on an innovative disaster resilience program in Fiji. This initiative will empower 15 remote, high-risk communities through smart climate adaptation activities. The IFRC and Fiji Red Cross will develop community action plans, implement early warning systems, conduct disaster simulations, provide first aid training, and address protection issues with a focus on gender equality. This program aims to create a lasting impact, empowering Fijians to lead their own disaster risk reduction efforts for years to come.
Continuing Support for Climate Resilience and Women’s Economic Empowerment
Since launching the up to $50 million Microfinance Facility for micro, small-, and medium-enterprises across the Pacific Islands during the US-Pacific Island Forum Summit in 2023, DFC and USAID have now identified four target institutions to receive support to advance climate resilience and women’s economic empowerment across the region.
Unlocking Sustainable Economic Growth
In 2025, USAID will launch a program to support public financial management and domestic resource mobilization; facilitate greater trade and private investment; support local small- and medium-enterprises; and improve business resiliency in the Pacific Islands region. This effort will follow through on USAID commitments made at the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum-U.S. Summit.
Signing the Bilateral Framework Agreement Between USAID and the Government of Fiji
Deputy Administrator Coleman also witnessed the signing of the bilateral framework agreement between USAID and the Government of Fiji. This Agreement demonstrates the United States’ commitment to the Pacific and further solidifies our Pacific Islands regional mission’s presence in Suva, Fiji. USAID Pacific Islands oversees programs in nine Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.
These announcements reflect USAID’s enduring commitment to listen, partner, and deliver - together with Pacific Island countries.