Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaged in discussions with current donors of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) and has appointed the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs as the Interim Secretary-General.
Rabuka expressed satisfaction with the current interim arrangement, which allows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage the entity while preserving operational independence and implementing a robust two-tier accountability and oversight system.
He mentioned that some Pacific Island countries have voiced their support for maintaining the PIDF, emphasizing that the organization continues to serve their interests, regardless of its name. Rabuka acknowledged that the PIDF has faced management challenges, which the Ministry has addressed through effective internal controls and enhanced governance structures.
As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rabuka stated that the PIDF is under review and is in the process of evolving into a unified entity focused on delivering projects across various sectors and geographical areas.
Established in 2013, the PIDF aligned with the previous government’s foreign policy direction. Rabuka noted that the inception of the PIDF was part of a strategy to address the gap that arose when Fiji’s partners held the government accountable for violations of democratic principles and the rules-based order that are fundamental to society.
The PIDF gained international recognition in 2015 and became an official Observer at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2016.