Strengthening the representation of Pacific nations in both international and domestic arenas is essential for advancing the priorities set by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIFS) and fostering positive community impacts. The Forum is implementing innovative mechanisms to enhance Pacific representation in global organizations, which is crucial for advocating effectively and influencing policy-making.
Baron Waqa, the Secretary-General of the Forum, emphasized the necessity of increasing Pacific representation in international discussions, highlighting that this aligns with wider regional goals for people-driven engagement and representation.
In support of these initiatives, the Forum has unveiled the 2050 Engagement and Advocacy Plan. This comprehensive strategy is designed to unify communication efforts and includes collaboration with regional media to bolster awareness of the Forum’s key priorities and objectives. Waqa detailed that the strategy will also involve developing tools like champions and messaging guides, enabling coordinated advocacy to ensure that the Forum’s mission is understood and endorsed by local communities.
The establishment of regional media partnerships is designed to close the information gap between leaders and citizens. This initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability while projecting a unified Pacific narrative on the global stage.
The Secretariat is dedicated to advancing key projects aligned with the Forum’s goals, with milestones set for 2026. One significant initiative in the pipeline is the Climate-Based Resilience (CBR) project, which aims to implement a rapid payment strategy for vulnerable communities. Waqa noted the strong collaboration with the World Bank, emphasizing the focus on prioritizing funding and staffing to maximize the project’s impact.
An upcoming media briefing is anticipated to provide detailed updates on progress made thus far. This project is designed to streamline the delivery of climate finance to those who need it most, complementing broader frameworks for climate adaptation and disaster resilience.
Moreover, the Pacific Centre Leadership Initiative and other regional projects are advancing into their design and implementation stages, with timelines established for 2026. Esala Nayasi, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Forum, pointed out that these initiatives address direct calls for increased regionalism and political collaboration.
The overarching aim of this strategic focus is to enhance unity and collective action against external pressures, thereby laying a foundation for long-term impacts consistent with the 2050 Strategy. The commitment from regional leadership ensures that these efforts will not only receive the necessary high-level support but also the resource allocation required to succeed. This proactive approach signifies a hopeful future for Pacific nations as they seek to amplify their voices on the global stage.