Fiji is encountering significant challenges in rebuilding its essential institutions, which have been weakened by years of military governance, alongside losses in institutional knowledge due to retirements and emigration. This has led to a diminished skill set and reduced capacity for these institutions to offer transparent and informed advice to the government.
This issue is examined in Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper 2024, unveiled at the Grand West Pacific Hotel in Suva on Monday. The document emphasizes that robust institutions are crucial for effective governance, particularly in foreign policy.
The report stresses that a successful foreign policy hinges on a competent Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and a network of diplomatic missions equipped with clear objectives, meticulous performance evaluations, and the requisite analytical skills.
To address these challenges, there will be focused recruitment and skills training aimed at establishing a skilled workforce of professional Fijian diplomats. This initiative includes the creation of a Diplomatic Training Centre within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report advocates for the recognition of diplomacy as a professional field, with the potential for the centre to serve as a training hub for diplomats from various countries in the region, especially smaller island nations with limited diplomatic resources.
The skills necessary for effective diplomacy include identifying national interests, fostering relationships, evaluating issues through the lens of Fiji’s national priorities, leveraging social networks to promote these interests, and keeping the government informed of external developments affecting Fiji.
These diplomatic skills are essential for negotiating trade agreements, attracting foreign investment, understanding market access challenges, and recognizing the needs of foreign investors. All of these competencies stem from a comprehensive understanding of Fiji’s economic structure, growth dynamics, potential risks, and the intersections between domestic policies and international frameworks.
Furthermore, the report emphasizes that the activities of Fiji’s diplomatic missions are vital for the success of its foreign policy.