Overview

The World Bank is scaling up its assistance in the Pacific Islands region with a significant increase in funds available through the International Development Association (IDA). A Regional Partnership Framework for nine Pacific Island countries (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) provides a roadmap for both regional opportunities and country-specific action plans for the next five years. 

Fiji and Solomon Islands had individual strategies (a Country Engagement Strategy and Country Partnership Framework respectively) up to 2017 – with new Country Partnership Frameworks for both countries are currently underway.

The World Bank Group’s engagement with these Pacific Island countries reflects the influence of the region’s economic geography on their development trajectories, with unique challenges arising from remoteness.

After significant regional consultations and nearly two years of research, a comprehensive study called Pacific Possible is looking 25 years ahead to quantify the impacts of potentially transformative opportunities and significant challenges for the Pacific Islands region, with seven focus areas:

• labor mobility
• tourism
• tuna fisheries
• information communications and technology
• health and non-communicable diseases
• climate and disaster resilience
• deep-sea mining.

The findings presented in Pacific Possible aim to provide governments and policy-makers with specific insights into the potential impact of each focus area on the economy, employment, government income and spending.

The World Bank is supporting rural development through a number of projects across the Pacific Islands, including the Rural Development Program in Solomon Islands. The project has helped hundreds of communities develop critical infrastructure, including footbridges, classrooms, health clinics and access to water and electricity.

In the health sector, the World Bank is supporting some Pacific Island countries to strengthen government-led analysis, planning, budgeting, management and monitoring for more efficient and equitable health services.

At the regional level there is a focus on sharing experiences and resource management lessons across countries for better front-line results, including for non-communicable diseases.  This includes practical examples for improving the efficiency and quality of expenditure, and addressing financing needs for health security.

Transport, whether via road, air or water, is essential to the Pacific Islands region, to connect people to markets, schools, hospitals and family, often over vast distances of ocean. The World Bank is working with governments in Tonga and Kiribati through the Tonga Transport Sector Consolidation Project and Kiribati Road Rehabilitation Project respectively, to improve the reliability and safety of transport networks. Through the Pacific Aviation Investment Program, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) are being supported to make air travel safer and more efficient.

Information Communication Technologies (ICT) such as internet and phones, are also vital for connecting people and businesses in the Pacific Islands. Through the Pacific Regional Connectivity Program, people in the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa and Fiji will soon have access to more affordable and reliable internet.

High population growth and high unemployment are now critical issues in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. The World Bank is helping the Solomon Islands government to support the most vulnerable of Honiara's population; particularly youth and women, by providing short-term employment and training through the Rapid Employment Project.

In the energy sector, the World Bank is working with the governments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia to increase electricity access and affordability for essentials like lighting, phone charging, refrigeration and other applications. In Kiribati, Fiji and Tuvalu, the World Bank is supporting efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and foster investment in renewable energy.

The Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) is a three-phased, multi-year regional initiative designed to help Pacific Island countries strengthen their collective ability to improve sustainable management of commercially important tuna fisheries and ensure that associated benefits equitably shared. PROP also helps Pacific Island countries sustainably manage their coastal fisheries and the critical habitats upon which they depend.  Currently, PROP is active in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. In FY19, Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati will join PROP.

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2018

In natural disaster resilience, the recently approved PCRAFI Facility builds on eight years of regional collaboration through the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Insurance (PCRAFI) initiative. Through the pilot program, Vanuatu received benefits in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Pam in March 2015, helping the country rebuild and repair. Alongside disaster insurance, Vanuatu’s National Warning Centre, with the early warnings it provided helping to save many lives when Cyclone Pam  struck.

Following Cyclone Winston in February 2016, the World Bank committed US$50 million for long term recovery efforts in Fiji through the Post-cyclone Winston Emergency Development Policy Operation Project.

Most recently, in the wake of Cyclone Gita in February 2018, the World Bank undertook a rapid damage assessment in Tonga to assist with recovery and reconstruction planning. The World Bank was also called upon to lead the immediate damage assessment process following cyclones Winston and Pam.

Much of the Pacific region is increasingly impacted by climate change, and through the Pacific Resilience Program, projects are under way across the region to help strengthen Pacific Island countries’ resilience to natural disasters and climate change. In Kiribati, an adaptation program is working with communities to better prepare them for the impacts of climate change, including recently completed rainwater tanks for remote communities in North Tarawa, where sea level rise and drought have left many drinking wells contaminated.

Clean energy projects are also having an impact in the Pacific with Vanuatu’s Rural Electrification Program subsiding solar kits for families and assisting families access the electricity grid, making electricity access a reality for 4,000 of Vanuatu’s lowest income families.

The Solomon Islands Rapid Employment Project is providing short-term employment and training for urban youth and women in the capital of Honiara. By June 2017 the project had generated more than 748,650 days of work, paid US$3.1 million in wages and trained more than 12,600 people. The project has now grown and been extended until December 2018, to allow increased benefits for vulnerable groups both in Honiara and other urban areas.

In 2016, the Kiribati Road Rehabilitation Project officially opened an improved road network on South Tarawa, including works on the only main road through South Tarawa, which is used by the entire population of 50,000 people. The project is the largest infrastructure investment in the country since World War II. In Samoa, the country’s first four-lane, dual carriageway was also completed in 2016 on what is considered to be the country’s most critical stretch of road.

Agricultural production is an important issue for many Pacific Islands, as most of the population live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food security and livelihoods. The Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project is supporting crop and livestock farmers to improve their productivity and take greater advantage of market opportunities. Important achievements include the importation of new sheep and cattle breeds to improve livestock production; the introduction of new fruit and vegetable varieties to boost yields and diversify local diets; and the provision of matching grants for on-farm investment.

In Tonga, the Pacific Early Age Readiness and Learning project has supported communities to organize play-based activities so children are better prepared for school. The project has also trained teachers to help improve learning results of students in the first grades of primary education, and seen the launch of the ‘Laukonga Mo e Fanau’ (‘Read with your child’) campaign, which encourages Tongan families to commit at least 10 minutes each day to reading with their child

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2018