PINA Pacnews

24/10/2024

Exciting News! 🌏📢

Pasifika Environews, with support from Earth Journalism Network, is still offering US$500 grants for reporting on environmental and climate crises 🌊 in the Pacific.

Got a story idea💡? 📧Submit your pitch today and make an impact!

23/09/2024

The Official Opening of the 7th Pacific Media Summit will be LIVESTREAMED here on PINA's page at 5pm Niue time (GMT-11) 4pm in Fiji.

Be sure to share, drop in and join us!

The Ceremony will open in the beautiful village of Avatele and includes words from:

The Prime Minister of Niue: Hon. Dalton Tagelagi
Chief Guest Speaker: Hon. Hima Douglas
Chairman of the PINA Board: Mr Kora Nou

There is also still time to register for the summit! Register here: https://whova.com/portal/registration/hepms_202212/

We look forward to seeing you. Fakaaue!

2024-09-21, Niue

09/09/2024

On Friday, 6 September 2024, in Suva, journalists from a number of media organisations in Fiji were awarded certificates🎓 for their participation in the inaugural Pacific Media Assistance Scheme Foundations of Journalism Online Training Program. The comprehensive program covered areas such as news writing, ethics, multimedia storytelling, photojournalism, videography, and editing. ✍📷🎥

The training gave participants important skills to improve their reporting. Photojournalism and videography modules focused on capturing compelling visual stories, while editing courses highlighted the importance of improving and presenting content effectively. 📰💻

Participants were grateful for the chance to explore different parts of journalism, which are key to creating great and interesting content. The program also highlighted the role of journalism in fostering accountability and transparency in the Pacific region.

The certificate presentation ceremony was attended by Ms Rebecca Brown, First Secretary, Governance at the Australian High Commission in Fiji, Ms Rita Narayan, the training facilitator, and the participants' News Managers.

The new skills acquired through the program are expected to significantly benefit the participants' work in their newsrooms, enhancing the quality and impact of their storytelling across multiple platforms.✨

08/09/2024

Pasifika Environews with support from Earth Journalism Network, is offering story grants of US$500 each for reporting on environmental and climate crises in the Pacific! Got a story idea? Submit your pitch today📧

30/07/2024

PINA PowerUp GEDSI Networking session at Albert Park in Suva on 16 July 2024. The PowerUp Project is funded by The Asia Foundation.

07/05/2024

✍️📸💻

06/05/2024

𝐓𝐮𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐃𝐅𝟏𝟒

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Tuvalu and other Pacific countries can expect a higher concessional grant from the Asian Development Finance (ADF) – with the new USD$50 billion pledge from 36 donors announced last week.

The grant pledge is the biggest so far in the history of the ADF replenishment cycle and coincides with its 50th anniversary this year.

The Asian Development Fund (ADF) provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries (DMCs). Established in 1974, the ADF initially provided loans on concessional terms.

Speaking to PACNEWS in Tbilisi, Tuvalu’s Minister for Finance and ADB Governor, Panapasi Nelesone is excited that his government will receive more grants from the ADB compared to the last ADF13 funding cycle.

Read more:

Home Breaking News Tuvalu and other Pacific countries can expect higher grant from ADF14 Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews Tuvalu and other Pacific countries can expect higher grant from ADF14 By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 0 27 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Tuvalu and other Pacific countries can exp...

06/05/2024

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

The move by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to promote itself as climate bank for Asia Pacific region has been welcomed by its 14 Pacific Developing Member States (PMDCs).

And the Pacific DMCs have collectively challenged the ADB to ensure that ‘practical fit for purpose policies are in place for small island developing states (SIDS).’

Speaking on behalf of all the PMDCs, Samoa’s Minister for Finance and ADB Governor, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai thanked the bank’s leadership for spearheading collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a specific allocation for Pacific countries – that will complement the Asian Development Fund (ADF) in financing country and regional development.

“Our smaller members are facing much more extreme impacts of climate change while finding it more difficult to access climate financing.

In February 2024 this year, the Pacific witnessed the devastation the spring tides on low-lying atolls.

Read more:

Home Breaking News Pacific countries welcome ADB shift to become a climate bank for the... Photo: Samoa Govt Breaking NewsNews Pacific countries welcome ADB shift to become a climate bank for the Asia Pacific region By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 0 21 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp The move by th...

06/05/2024

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Pacific countries have sought the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to secure correspondent banking partners to increase investment and raise opportunities for local businesses.

The 14 Pacific Developing Member States (PMDCs) raised their concerns over the loss of three correspondent banking relations (CBRs) and de-risking of remittance service providers as a serious threat to the region’s financial viability and stability.

Samoa’s Minister for Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai made the intervention at the ADB Governor’s Annual Meeting in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi Sunday,

“We acknowledge strong interests from the United States and Australia on this development issue and we look forward to practical solutions at the Pacific Banking Forum scheduled in July this year.

The issue will be on the agenda of the Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane, Australia.

“We also welcome the World Bank’s recent CBR initiative to address this developmental challenge for the Pacific.”

Read more:

Home Breaking News Call on ADB to secure correspondent banking partners for Pacific countries Photo: Fiji Govt Breaking NewsNews Call on ADB to secure correspondent banking partners for Pacific countries By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 16 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Pacific countries have sou...

06/05/2024

𝐔.𝐒 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

The United States, one of the donors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised the issue of procurement as a critical issue for the bank to address.

U.S Governor representative to the ADB, Alexia Latortue said her government has played a pivotal role in driving ADB’s procurement reforms since 2017.

This was the first step in shifting from a rigid, exclusive focus on lowest cost to recognising quality and value-for-money as core principles.

Latortue urged the ADB to redouble its efforts to strengthen implementation of the procurement reforms – including providing additional support for capacity building in recipient countries.

Read more:

Home Breaking News U.S regards procurement reforms a critical issue for ADB to address Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews U.S regards procurement reforms a critical issue for ADB to address By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 11 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp The United States, one of the donors of the As...

06/05/2024

𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐃𝐅𝟏𝟒

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Japan, the largest donor to the Asian Development Bank (ADF) has asked that particular emphasis is placed on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the disbursement of Asian Development Fund (ADF14) funds.

The call was made by Shunichi Suzuki, the ADB Governor for Japan, in his statement to the Annual Governors meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia Sunday.

“A particular emphasis should be placed on SIDS, which are confronting the negative impact of climate change such as natural disasters, aggravated by their idiosyncratic characteristics such as small domestic markets and geographical remoteness from major economies.”

Read more:

Home Breaking News Japan calls on ADB to put particular emphasis on SIDS in disbursement... Photo: M*F Japan/X Breaking NewsNews Japan calls on ADB to put particular emphasis on SIDS in disbursement of ADF14 By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 18 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Japan, the largest don...

06/05/2024

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Australia has welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s responsiveness to concerns of its developing member countries in the Pacific on the complex issues surrounding quality procurement and infrastructure.

However, more sustained effort will be needed to effectively address these concerns.

This was one of the key messages from Australia’s Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers to ADB Governors meeting in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi Sunday.

He emphasised that Australia and ADB enjoy a strong partnership in the Pacific.

“At this Annual Meeting, Australia is proud to once again be pledging its support for an ambitious Asian Development Fund (ADF) replenishment which underpins the bank’s operations in the Pacific.”

Read more:

Home Breaking News Australia welcomes reforms at ADB and responsiveness to Pacific members Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews Australia welcomes reforms at ADB and responsiveness to Pacific members By Makereta Komai - May 6, 2024 20 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Australia has welcomed the Asian Devel...

06/05/2024

𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬-𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐏𝐏 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Private and public companies that bid for contracts funded through the Asian Development Bank’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) can expect gender equality component requirements in the bid document.

This follows the launch of ADB’s gender equality toolkit for PPPs in November last year.

This initiative by the regional multilateral development bank reflects a growing appreciation of the pivotal role gender equality plays in developing major infrastructure projects that will impact women and their livelihoods.

“ADB saw a gap and the need to standardise the way to look at gender equality. It’s not just a check-list but a stepping stone to adopt gender lenses in PPP projects, explained Azim Hashimi of the ADB’s Market Development and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) office.

Read more:

Home Breaking News ADB rolls-out gender equality toolkit for PPP projects Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews ADB rolls-out gender equality toolkit for PPP projects By Makereta Komai - May 5, 2024 45 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Private and public companies that bid for contracts funded through the A...

06/05/2024

𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Innovative and well thought out green monetary policies like green and blue bonds are great to address climate action – but negligible when compared to the speed of damage caused to infrastructure by climate crisis in the Pacific.

In some Pacific nations, the damage and loss to GDP is between 30-100 percent.

This point was pushed through strongly by Fiji’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Biman Prasad when he addressed a side event on mobilising climate finance at the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

Citing Fiji’s example, Minister Prasad said the green bond issued by the previous government to raise additional finance to fill the resourcing gap, was negligible.

The Fiji Sovereign Green Bond was issued in 2017 to raise FJD$100 million (US$50 million) to build resilience to climate change and support a shift to 100 percent renewable energy. The idea then was to tap into capital markets and the private sector as potential bond investments to source climate finance.

While the Minister did not provide figures – the Fiji Green Bond reports of 2019 and 2020 revealed that Fiji paid out FJD$10.4 million (approx. USD$5.2 million) interest to investors, two years after the green bond was issued. It listed seven projects that were recipients of proceeds of the green bond, totaling close to FJD$100 million.

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Home Breaking News Fiji raises concerns of climate finance for Pacific at ADB Annual Meeting Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews Fiji raises concerns of climate finance for Pacific at ADB Annual Meeting By Makereta Komai - May 5, 2024 44 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Innovative and well thought out gr...

06/05/2024

𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reformed and positioned itself as the climate bank for the Asia Pacific region.

And the bank has matched it with an ambitious pledge to raise USD$100 billion from its own resources by 2030 for climate action – going beyond an earlier USD$80 billion commitment.

In November last year, the ADB launched its Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2030 – which sets out a new operating model for the Manila-based multilateral development bank.

In the seven years, until 2030, ADB will enhance its role as the climate bank, increase support for private sector development, deliver innovative, knowledge-driven, and integrated solutions, and modernise its ways of working.

The bank’s climate envoy, Warren Evans says this new shift will continue the focus on adaptation and mitigation. He’s confident the bank will raise its USD$100 billion target to deliver climate action.

“In 2023 alone, we were able to deliver US$9.8 billion in climate finance – USD$5.5 billion for mitigation and USD$4.3 billion in adaptation projects. It’s achievable, he told journalists at the ADB Annual Meeting in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

Read more:

Home Breaking News ADB positions itself as climate bank for the Asia Pacific region Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews ADB positions itself as climate bank for the Asia Pacific region By Makereta Komai - May 5, 2024 0 61 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reformed and po...

06/05/2024

𝐀𝐃𝐁 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝐾𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖, 𝑃𝐴𝐶𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖, 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎

Limited capacity in human resources – both in numbers and capabilities is one of the three challenges slowing Samoa’s progress towards meeting its sustainable development goals.

The other two, according to finance chief executive officer, Maeva Betham Vaai, are the impact of climate change and the two health crises in 2019 that forced a set-back on the island nation’s development plans.

In 2019 Samoa was hit with a double health emergency – the measles epidemic and COVID19 in one year.

Vaai, is looking to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the Pacific’s multilateral development bank partner to assist Samoa with tailored solutions to address these national set-backs.

“In Samoa, we have to redirect our resources to meet our emergency response. This slowed down our SDG implementation, Vaai told delegates at a side event on the margins of the ADB Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia.

“The impacts of climate change are manifested in the frequency of disasters in the Pacific – that significantly threaten livelihoods of our people, the infrastructure and our ecosystems. The frequency of these natural disasters impact the implementation of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Read more:

Home Breaking News Samoa outlines challenges to meeting sustainable development goals Photo: ADB Breaking NewsNews Samoa outlines challenges to meeting sustainable development goals By Makereta Komai - May 5, 2024 47 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Limited capacity in human resources – both in ...