United States President Joe Biden’s promise to establish a regional US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in the Pacific has been affirmed with the visit of key stakeholders to Fiji this week.
A statement from the US Embassy announced USAID Philippines, Pacific Islands and Mongolia mission director Ryan Washburn and deputy mission director Betty Chung arrived in Suva this week to meet Fijian government officials and development partners.
Mr Washburn reiterated that USAID was a committed partner with Pacific island countries.
“By re-establishing a regional mission for the Pacific as part of the broader US Embassy in Suva, USAID aims to bolster the Pacific Islanders’ own economic and social development priorities, including in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” he said.
As part of the official visit, Mr Washburn and Ms Chung met with Prime Minister’s Office permanent secretary Yogesh Karan.
Their discussions revolved around USAID’s expanding partnership with Fiji and the Pacific.
The duo also met representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and high commissioners and counselors from Tuvalu, Nauru and Samoa.
They discussed ways through which USAID could support Pacific island countries’ development goals, which were outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
In addition, the USAID representatives also discussed future coordination to support Pacific Island nations’ development priorities with representatives from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Another key focus of discussions during the meet was the role of both governments and civil society organisations in combatting human trafficking.
Representatives spoke on the efforts, challenges, and opportunities to combat human trafficking and collaboration required for the Pacific Regional Initiative and Support for More Effective Counter Trafficking in Persons (Pacific RISE-CTIP) project.
USAID, in partnership with the Asia Foundation, aims to strengthen prevention, protection, and prosecution of human trafficking in Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.
USAID is also working alongside UNICEF and the Ministry of Health to support measles and COVID vaccination clinics in the country.
