Vatu siloa News

19/12/2023

ADB, Vanuatu Commission Brenwe Hydropower Plant

News Release | 19 December 2023

Source: ADB

MALEKULA, VANUATU (19 December 2023) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today joined the Government of Vanuatu and members of the Malekula community in commissioning the Brenwe hydropower plant and transmission and distribution line extension in Malekula which will deliver sustainable, affordable power to residents and businesses.

The construction of the 400-kilowatt hydropower plant is part of the ADB-supported Vanuatu Energy Access Project (VEAP). Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology and Geohazards and Disaster Management Ralph Regenvanu led the ribbon-cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony. ADB Senior Country Officer Nancy Wells was present in the event.

“This transformational project demonstrates that a full shift from fossil fuel-based power generation is possible,” said Mr. Salwai. “Through this project, Vanuatu is one step closer to providing clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to all.”

“VEAP will light up more people’s lives by providing them better access to safe, reliable power,” said Ms. Wells. “ADB is committed to assisting the Government of Vanuatu reach its renewable energy targets.”

The project constructs transmission and distribution lines that will help further connect more households to the grid and bring renewable energy from the hydropower plant to households in Malekula. About 22 kilometers of transmission lines in Malekula have been commissioned to help bring grid-quality electricity supply to previously underserved areas. VEAP aims to increase the island’s grid access from 8% to 14%.

The project began in 2017 with a $15.1 million funding from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, the Asian Development Fund (ADF), the Strategic Climate Fund, and the Government of Vanuatu. In 2021, ADB provided a $6 million grant through the ADF, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries. The government contributed another $1.2 million to upgrade the power distribution networks from a single wire to a three-phase system.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

25/08/2023

Breaking News

Oposisen i winim kes ova long rao-rao blong Absolut majority

Court i givim ruling blong hem tede aftenun long favour blong Opposition over long "rao'-rao"blong number blong ol memba blong palamen long issue blong äbsolute Majority".

Court i upholdem tingting mo biliv ia se long kes blong las wik long vot blong "Motion blong Nog*t Trust"agensem Gavman blong Praem Minista Ishmael Kalsakau, ábsolut majority hem i blong 51 Memba blong Palamen we oli present mo ino blong 52 we i total namba blong ol elekted memba blong palamen.

Wetem desisen blong kot tede aftenun, i talemaot tu se i g*t taem kasem long Mande sapos narasaed blong haus i wantem mekem or putum wan appil agensem desisen ia.

Blong talem bakeken se Nambatri Legisture we i laef tede, i g*t nomo 51 memba blong palamen. Hem ia afta we Mista Assang Sanik, Memba blong Palamen blong Malekula i lusum jea blong hem.
Long kes blong Memba blong Palamen blong Ambrym Bruno Leingkon, hem i no bin save presen las wik tu long siting from hem i stap tu long medical tritmen ovasi, mo hem i bin raet finis i go long Palamen secretariat blong talemaot absens blong hem ia.

Vatu Siloa i save se i no longtaem bambae Memba blong palamen blong Ambrym i kasem bak kantri.
I bin g*t plande toktok mo konsem i reis, from wanem Oposisen i wantem jenisim gavman blong Kalsakau, taem gavman ia i stap karemaot sam gudfala wok blong provaedem seves i go long pipol.

Led koalisen gavman blong Praem Minista Kalsakau i just kasem nomo 8 manis afta we i ilekted blong tekem ova lidaship blong outgoing Praem Minista Bob Loughman.

25/08/2023

Memorandum of Understanding between the Vanuatu and Australian Governments in support of airport infrastructure development

Sources: Aiports Vanuatu Limited



Airports Vanuatu Ltd (AVL) welcomed on 24 August the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) and the Government of Australia, which will pave the way for investment in airport infrastructure consistent with the outcomes of the endorsed Airports Master Plan.

Background to the MOU
AVL is currently reviewing and updating the Master Plans for Port Vila Airport, Santo Airport and Tanna Airport. The Master Plans will set the development trajectory for the three airports for the next 20 years, based on sound analysis of the aviation environment and rigorous consultation with our stakeholders, including Government, airlines and airport users. The Master Plan process is set to conclude in the next two months. Thereafter AVL and the GoV will work together, to endorse the Master Plans. The Participants for Vanuatu comprise AVL and its two shareholding ministries, being the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM).

The MOU clearly articulates the commitment of the two national governments and their agencies to work together and for the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) to fund the infrastructure investment required to realise the recommendations of the Master Plans. Design and scoping works are expected to result in an estimated VT 6.2 billion [AUD80 million] of projects. The infrastructure investments will respond to Vanuatu’s aviation priorities, boost connectivity, and benefit Vanuatu’s economy.

Thank you to our partners
AVL wishes to express its thanks to the GoV, its shareholders being the two ministries, and the Government of Australia, represented by the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu and AIFFP.

Jason Rakau, CEO of AVL said, “I sincerely thank everyone who has worked tirelessly over the past year to bring us to the point of signing this MOU. I am immensely proud to witness such a momentous event. The MOU will set in motion the process which will ultimately deliver the long-term future of our airports’ infrastructure. I cannot understate the significance of this investment by the Government of Australia. It will ensure our nation continues to enjoy safe and secure air access into the future, delivered through appropriate infrastructure which is developed in a timely fashion to continue to meet the growing needs of Vanuatu residents and international visitors alike. In an island nation, air access is critical to our economic resilience, market access, and regional connectivity. It enables trade and for our families to connect and for our visitors to experience all that Vanuatu has to offer”.

Pictured are those who signed the MOU on 24 August, being:

Her Excellency, Heidi Bootle, Australian High Commissioner
Hon. Marcellino Barthelemy, Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities
Hon. John Salong, Minister for Finance and Economic Management
Witnessing the signature of the MOU on 24 August are:

His Excellency Ewen McDonald, Australia's Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs
Shannon Ryan, Director, Growth for Governance Program, Australian High Commission
Hannah Gregory, First Secretary, Australian High Commission
George Iapson, First Political Advisor, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management
Johnson Binaru, Director General, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities
Letlet August, Airports Vanuatu Board member and Director General Ministry of Finance and Economic Management
Henry Worek, Director Public Works Department, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities
Johnston Tau, Chairman Airports Vanuatu Board of Directors
Jason Rakau, Chief Executive Officer, Airports Vanuatu

07/08/2023

Hem I go, be bae oli tingbaot hem wan fes fama blong Efate

Foto cr: Sergio Sumptoh

Wan long ol fes farmer stat afta long Indipendens I kam mo fulap pipol speseli long Efate I save gud long hem, late Charles Roger from ol work I mekem long saed blong Agriculture mo Livestock sekta long Vanuatu.

Pipol blong Efate I save gud long nem ia “Charles” from ol big help blong hem long Agriculture mo Livestock sekta long eli taem afta long Indipendens I kam kasem taem we hem I lus long yia ia.

Part blong big kontribusen blong hem long sekta ia (agriculture mo Livestock), olsem Presiden blong Syndicat or Farm Support Association, hem I givimaot trening tru mo wetem help blong Dipatmen blong Agriculture.

Late Mista Charles hem I Manager blong Farm blong College de Montmartre, or secondary skul blong Montmartre long Efate.

Hem I blong England, hem I wan inglish man mo I maret wetem wan woman Emau long North Efate, mo hem I g*t 6 pikinini.

God I singaotem hem long 12 Julae 2023.

Condolences or tok sory I go long waef mo ol pikinini wetem ol family.

27/07/2023

La France annonce une aide financiere de plus de 23 milliards de Vatu destinee au Vanuatu

Photo Cr DP: Le president francais Emmanuel Macron et son homologue vanuatais Nikenike Vurobaravu

Le president francais, Emmanuel Macron annonce aujourd’hui une aide financiere de 23 milliards 600 millions de vatu, destinee a certains gros projets du Vanuatu, dont la securite, l’éducation, le changement climatique et les infrastructures.

Le president Macron a fait cette declaration lors de son entrevu avec le premier ministre vanuatais, Ishmael Kalsakau.

“Pour ce dernier, cette aide financiere entre dans le cadre du renforcement des relations bilaterales et diplomatiques entre les deux pays”explique le president Macron.
Il a tenu a souligner precisement que dans le domaine de l ‘éducation, l’école francaise de Melsisi, au centre de Pentecote va aussi beneficier dé ce fonds francais.

En revanche, en le remerciant pour cette declaration inattendue, le premier ministre Kalsakau a saisi cette occasion pour rendre hommage a la France, car cette visite marque en outre une nouvelle page dans l’histoire du Vanuatu. C’ést la premiere visite officielle effectuee au pays, et ce, apres 57 ans a l’epoque des Nouvelles-Hebrides.

Au long de la principale rue de la capitale, Port Vila, des milliers de vanuatais saluaient le president Macron, avant qu’íl se rende a d’áutres endroits don’t la communaute francaise et le site principal des festivities du 7eme festival des arts melanesiens a Saralana.

Le president Macron s’est rendu tout d”abord en Nouvelle-Caledonie, avant de venir au Vanuatu.

Rappelons que cette visite entre dans le cadre d úne tournee historique dans la region Oceanienne. Son prochain etape est la Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinee le 28 juillet.

Fin

26/07/2023

Le President francais, Emmanuel Macron est enfin arrive mercredi 26 juillet comme prevu au Vanuatu.

Visite historique dans l’histoire du Vanuatu, 43 ans apres líndependance du pays

Arrive dans les environs de 22 heures, le president Macron a ete chaleureusement recu par une deleg*tion vanuataise, dirigee par le vice premier ministre et ministers des affaires etrangeres, Jotham Napat.

Comme prevu dans son programme official, le president francais, doit aujourd’hui rendre visite aupres des monuments aux morts, avant de rendre visite a son homologue vanuatais, le president Nikenike Vurobaravu, et ensuite au premier ministre, Ishmael Kalsakau.
Il doit aussi avoir un entretien avec la communaute francaise chez la Fondation Bastien.
Il doit cloturer cette premiere visite historique, a Saralana, ou se deroulent plusieurs activites coutumieres et traditionnelles, venant de diverses pays de la region qui se joingnent au Vanuatu, pour le 7eme festival des arts melanesiens.
Ce festival des arts va se cloturer ce weekend. Un evenement qui se deroule parallelement avec les activites marquant le 43 eme anniversaire de lÍndependence du Vanuatu, et le fameux festival de musique ‘Fes Napuan’ qui se deroulait aussi a Saralana, depuis son ouverture mardi soir.

Fin

26/07/2023

Fest'Napuan, the South Pacific's biggest music festivals, is back again in 2023.

Naio Band is back and will rock the stage for the first time again after few years back

The annual event kicks start tonight at Saralana Stage in Port Vila, besides the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival. The festival promises to be an exciting weekend of music, dance, and cultural exchange as it brings together artists from across Melanesia and the Pacific to showcase their talents. MSG Music Festival will be held at the Saralana Park during Independence Weekend, making it an even more special occasion. With a mix of traditional and contemporary music, the festival is the perfect platform for musicians to showcase their skills to a diverse audience, many visiting for MACFEST2023. From local musicians to international acts, MSG Music Festival 2023 is set to be an unforgettable celebration of music and culture. Apply now to be a part of this exciting event and share your music with the world.

ENDS

26/07/2023

Visite "historique" au Vanuatu : Emmanuel Macron, un président adepte des premières

Source: TF1 INFO

Ce jeudi 27 juillet, dans le cadre de sa visite en Océanie, Emmanuel Macron se rendra sur l'île du Vanuatu.
Une visite "historique", a fait savoir l'Élysée, comme les affectionne et les multiplie le président de la République depuis son élection en 2017.

"Le général de Gaulle s'était rendu au Vanuatu en 1966, mais à l'époque, c'était un condominium franco-britannique. Donc, il s’agira bien d’une visite historique dans cette région pour plusieurs raisons." Lors d'un échange avec la presse en amont du départ d'Emmanuel Macron en Océanie, son entourage avait insisté sur sa présence au Vanuatu le jeudi 27 juillet. Après la Nouvelle-Calédonie et avant la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, le président de la République fera un stop sur cet archipel.

Quelles sont les raisons de cette visite historique ? "Le Vanuatu héberge la plus grande communauté française du Pacifique avec environ 3.000 personnes en lien étroit qui ont des racines avec l'Hexagone, mais aussi avec la Nouvelle-Calédonie", a expliqué l'Elysée. "Et dans la perspective du Sommet de 2024, d'autant plus important d'afficher ce soutien aux Vanuatais et à la francophonie dans ces territoires et ensuite, un aspect biodiversité qui sera extrêmement fort en Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée", a indiqué l'entourage du chef de l'Etat, qui a dit vouloir ouvrir une "nouvelle page" du statut de la Nouvelle-Calédonie à son arrivée lundi.
Macron, expert des visites sur des terres vierges de séjour présidentiel.

Il semblerait que le chef de l'Etat aime particulièrement les "visites historiques" et se rendre dans des territoires vierges de toutes venues présidentielles. Au mois de mai, il était le premier président de la République française à fouler le sol de la Mongolie, où il avait évoqué des projets énergétiques.

Auparavant, déjà au cours d'une visite en Polynésie française en juillet 2021, Emmanuel Macron s'était rendu aux Marquises, une première pour un président de la République. Il était venu marquer son soutien à la candidature des îles au patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco. "Notre trésor, c’est cette nature et cette culture", "alors je me battrai à vos côtés pour que nous puissions classer à l'Unesco les Marquises", avait-il annoncé, après un début de discours entamé par quelques mots en marquisien.

En 2018, toujours dans cette région du monde, Emmanuel Macron avait été le premier chef de l'État à se rendre dans la province des îles Loyauté, à Ouvéa, pour se souvenir du 5 mai 1988. Ce jour-là, l'assaut militaire contre la grotte d'Ouvéa où des gendarmes étaient retenus en otages par des militants indépendantistes avait fait 21 morts, deux militaires et 19 kanak, dont certains sommairement exécutés. À l'époque, la visite du chef de l'État avait divisé au sein de la population de l'île, il avait finalement renoncé à se présenter sur la tombe des 19 kanak tués pour y déposer une g***e.

• Sécurité, impôts, éducation... voici les principales annonces d'Emmanuel Macron
Dans l'océan indien aussi, Emmanuel Macron a été le premier chef de l'État à visiter des territoires, surtout des îles. En 2019, sa venue à Glorieuse, une des îles Éparses administrées par la France mais revendiquées par Madagascar depuis 1973. "On va dire que je suis déconnecté parce que je suis à la plage, alors qu'il y a des grèves en métropole, mais non, ici c'est la France, ce n'est pas une idée creuse", avait plaidé le chef de l'État, annonçant la création d'une réserve nationale naturelle sur l'archipel des Glorieuses, haut lieu de la diversité marine. "On n'est pas là pour s'amuser mais pour bâtir l'avenir de la planète. Ce que nous préservons ici aura des conséquences sur les littoraux, y compris de l'Hexagone", avait ajouté Emmanuel Macron.

30/06/2023

One year of open borders

Source: Media Release 30 June 2023 from AVL

Airports Vanuatu Ltd (AVL) wishes to take the opportunity to mark a full year having passed since Vanuatu opened its borders again and said Welkam Back to direct international air services.
Marking a year of open borders
AVL is pleased to report a full year of open borders for the nation of Vanuatu.



• Borders closed on 23 March 2020, to protect the health of Ni-Vanuatu from the risk of Covid-19.
• Borders remained closed for 830 days, until finally reopening on 1 July 2022.
• Tomorrow marks a year of borders being open.
• From border opening in July until the end of April 2023, Port Vila Airport saw the arrival and departure of 172,100 international passengers, made up of visitors to our shores and ni-Vanuatu alike.

Jason Rakau, CEO of AVL said, “I sincerely thank everyone who has made the past year of international operations at Port Vila Airport possible, including my own staff, those of the border agencies, retailers and our airline partners including Air Vanuatu. From a standing start, with very limited international operations for over two years, we have maintained safe and secure operations, and welcomed back scheduled air services from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. I’m thrilled our international journey is growing, as together with Air Vanuatu, we celebrated the relaunch of international operations at Santo Airport earlier this month”.
April 2023’s passenger results
During April 2023, 38,600 passengers passed through AVL’s airports, down from the peak of passenger processed since the pandemic began, in December 2022 (55,000).

• Domestic passenger movements for April comprised 21,600 departures and arrivals across AVL’s three airports. The graph below illustrates cumulative domestic passenger movements at the three airports, which bottomed out in March 2022 following the arrival of Omicron in Vanuatu.

• International visitor air travel recommenced from the border opening on 1 July 2022. In April 2023, 17,000 international passengers were processed


Rowland Kalsong, Group Head of Operations commented, “It is interesting to observe the progress over the year. Seat capacity grew steadily with the first three months, starting cautiously as travel restrictions were still in place. Carriers gained in confidence and increased seat capacity. In the past couple of weeks, we hear many flights have operated at 100% load, indicating the market could absorb more seats, if only aircraft capacity were available. It is pleasing to be able to report this confidence in the market, as we look to the future”.

Ends

Welcome to Port Vila Airport. Check the flight schedule, book an hotel, explore Vanuatu, shop, dine and find passenger information here.

12/06/2023

Welkam back international services at Santo

Airports Vanuatu Ltd (AVL) wishes to welcome back direct international services to Santo Airport from Brisbane, provided by Air Vanuatu. Today marks the reinstatement of direct international services.

Photo credit - Niva Studios

The key to the sustainability of Santo’s international service is growth.
AVL is pleased to say “Welkam Back” to Brisbane services at Santo Airport.

Jason Rakau, CEO of AVL said, "Today is a significant step forward in our journey to sustainable direct international services to and from Santo. I congratulate everyone here who has played a part in this launch, from Hon. Minister Matia Seremaiah, who has been the driving force, to the mamas working group who are here today, contributing to the success of this event. Long has it been said "Tourism hemi bisnis blo yumi evriwan" [translation: Tourism is everyone’s business]. We need to carry that passion in our hearts, to ensure today is the start of a long-term, sustainable direct international service for Santo. Having this flight in place enables the upcoming Santo Airport Master Plan to take a progressive view on the future of international service facilities at our airports".

In making the future of direct international flights at Santo sustainable, Mr. Rakau reflected that economies of scale hold the key to success. He commented, "Once a week is wonderful, it’s a fantastic start, but it’s simply not enough. To make this service work, we need frequency. We need to target two and then three services a week. We need to work collaboratively, under the leadership of the Air Transportation and Tourism Taskforce (AT3). I call on everyone here today to get involved and do their part to make sure direct international air services to and from Santo are here to stay.
On behalf of the Santo Airport Community, I say Welkam Back to our direct international service. We look forward to it growing and succeeding in to future".

Ends

08/05/2023

Pacific Civil Society Calls for High Ambition ahead of the 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting.

Source: PICAN

As Ministers, high level officials and technical specialists on energy and transport convene in Port Vila for the 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (PRETMM), Pacific civil society groups are calling for high ambition outcomes.

The meeting takes place from the 8th to the 12th of May and will see regional Ministers discuss progress and commitments towards providing sustainable, modern, and efficient energy services, and sustainable, reliable, and safe transportation and mobility in the Pacific region.

The meeting also takes place a little over a month after Ministers from Pacific Island nations convened in Port Vila for a Ministerial Dialogue on Pathways for the Global Just Transition away from Fossil Fuels, which delivered an ambitious call for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific - committed to by six Pacific governments; namely Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Solomon Islands.

The Pacific islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) is calling on Pacific governments to secure an outcome that will see the energy and transport sectors rapidly decarbonize through just, and equitable transition. Ensuring energy independence and resource resilience, and enabling sustainable maritime transport is a matter of survival for Pacific peoples and nations. 36 % of Pacific population lacks access to electricity, posing challenges to their everyday needs.

Lavetanalagi Seru, the Regional Coordinator for PICAN says, “This meeting is an opportunity for the energy and transport ministers in the region to accelerate the efforts for a just, fair, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. A new Pacific tailored development pathway based on renewable energy is in the interest of Pacific Island people and communities, who are not only at the forefront of the climate crisis – resulting from the continued production of fossil fuels, but there are also large parts of communities in the Pacific that are facing energy poverty.

These efforts must be underpinned by the principles of equity, justice, free and prior informed consent, and human rights, where people and communities are included and empowered in the just-transition process”.

ENDS

21/04/2023

UNODC & University of South Pacific partner to enhance sport integrity


21 April 2023 – Sport has the potential to inspire and bring people together, but unfortunately, corruption and economic crime can jeopardize its positive impact.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and The University of the South Pacific (USP)'s Pacific Centre for Sport and Sustainable Development (PCSSD) have formed a new partnership to conduct research on integrity issues affecting sport in the region. This initiative, Review of Pacific Sport Integrity, supported by the New Zealand Government through UNODC’s Teieniwa Vision Anti-Corruption Project, will provide evidence-based assessments to aid policy-making in the Pacific.

The partnership was announced at the Oceania Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Strategic Partners Forum – Creating a Home Games SDG Legacy Across Oceania, which is being held this week in Brisbane, Australia, as part of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) General Assembly.

“The Pacific is not immune to corruption in sport, but the paucity of available data makes it difficult to tailor appropriate actions to reduce the impact of this type of criminality”, said Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Regional Campuses and Global Engagement). “This new partnership will strengthen the ties between academia and UNODC in this still unchartered and under-researched subject in the Pacific.”

While the Pacific region has strong governance frameworks for sport at the regional level, there is a lack of dedicated research at national and local levels in many Pacific countries. UNODC´s research project will focus on identifying key integrity priority areas for sport in the Pacific and connect with law and justice agencies to address country-level gaps in legal frameworks.

The project will leverage sport to promote integrity, in line with the 2030 Agenda, and aligned with the USP Strategic Plan 2022-2024 and the Pacific Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education (SPAPE) Action Plan 2019 - 2030.

Through its Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Crime, UNODC has delivered over 200 activities including awareness-raising, capacity-building and technical assistance to over 9,000 direct beneficiaries from more than 140 countries, since 2017.

UNODC, as the custodian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), undertakes its 2023 programmes to combat corruption under the theme “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption” building up to International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2023 and the 10th biennial Conference of States Parties to the UNCAC. In the Pacific, UNODC partners with the Pacific Islands Forum to implement the regional anti-corruption roadmap, the Teieniwa Vision, adopted by the 18 Pacific Leaders in 2021 and devised at the Pacific Unity Against Corruption Leaders Conference in 2020 hosted by the Government of Kiribati and facilitated by UNODC.


(piclines: USP representatives from left, Jackie Lauff ( Co-ordinator of Pacific Centre for Sport and Sustainable Development (PCSSD) ), Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and PCSSD team members at the partnership announcement.

John Hyde Anti Corruption Consultant, UN Office on Drugs and Crime
UNODC & University of South Pacific partner to enhance sport integrity


21 April 2023 – Sport has the potential to inspire and bring people together, but unfortunately, corruption and economic crime can jeopardize its positive impact.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and The University of the South Pacific (USP)'s Pacific Centre for Sport and Sustainable Development (PCSSD) have formed a new partnership to conduct research on integrity issues affecting sport in the region. This initiative, Review of Pacific Sport Integrity, supported by the New Zealand Government through UNODC’s Teieniwa Vision Anti-Corruption Project, will provide evidence-based assessments to aid policy-making in the Pacific.

The partnership was announced at the Oceania Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Strategic Partners Forum – Creating a Home Games SDG Legacy Across Oceania, which is being held this week in Brisbane, Australia, as part of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) General Assembly.

“The Pacific is not immune to corruption in sport, but the paucity of available data makes it difficult to tailor appropriate actions to reduce the impact of this type of criminality”, said Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Regional Campuses and Global Engagement). “This new partnership will strengthen the ties between academia and UNODC in this still unchartered and under-researched subject in the Pacific.”

While the Pacific region has strong governance frameworks for sport at the regional level, there is a lack of dedicated research at national and local levels in many Pacific countries. UNODC´s research project will focus on identifying key integrity priority areas for sport in the Pacific and connect with law and justice agencies to address country-level gaps in legal frameworks.

The project will leverage sport to promote integrity, in line with the 2030 Agenda, and aligned with the USP Strategic Plan 2022-2024 and the Pacific Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education (SPAPE) Action Plan 2019 - 2030.

Through its Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Crime, UNODC has delivered over 200 activities including awareness-raising, capacity-building and technical assistance to over 9,000 direct beneficiaries from more than 140 countries, since 2017.

UNODC, as the custodian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), undertakes its 2023 programmes to combat corruption under the theme “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption” building up to International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2023 and the 10th biennial Conference of States Parties to the UNCAC. In the Pacific, UNODC partners with the Pacific Islands Forum to implement the regional anti-corruption roadmap, the Teieniwa Vision, adopted by the 18 Pacific Leaders in 2021 and devised at the Pacific Unity Against Corruption Leaders Conference in 2020 hosted by the Government of Kiribati and facilitated by UNODC.


(piclines: USP representatives from left, Jackie Lauff ( Co-ordinator of Pacific Centre for Sport and Sustainable Development (PCSSD) ), Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and PCSSD team members at the partnership announcement.

John Hyde Anti Corruption Consultant, UN Office on Drugs and Crime