Regional commitments to building climate resilience are most meaningful when they translate into tangible benefits for our people. This was recently demonstrated in a coastal Fijian village, where the handing over of a boat highlighted how regional cooperation can deliver practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen livelihoods and resilience at the grassroots level. Tavuya village in the Rewa Delta in Fiji’s Central Division, an hour’s drive from Suva, was gifted a boat last week through a Japan-funded Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat project, Enhancing Resilience in Pacific Islands Communities: A Focus on Marine Environment Issues. The Tavuya community, the Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, H.E. Hiroshi Tajima, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Director of Operations, Mr Apaitia Veiogo, and senior officials from the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Fiji Government witnessed the occasion. In his remarks before the presentation, Mr Veiogo said it may seem like a small gesture, but the boat will have a positive long-term impact on the community. It means Tavuya children can have a safe means of getting to school, and women can conveniently access markets for their garden produce, helping enhance livelihoods. “At the Pacific Islands Forum, we often speak about our collective vision under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a vision of a resilient, prosperous and secure Pacific,” he said. “But that vision must ultimately mean something to the people living in our villages and communities. Today is a good example of how we can translate those regional ambitions into something practical and meaningful at the local level.” Nestled on the banks of a mangrove estuary, Tavuya has a population of just over 200 people and is about 10 kilometres from Nausori town. Its residents mainly earn income from seafood and garden produce sold in the Nausori and Suva markets. #OneBluePacific #PIF #ClimateResilience #2050strategy

INVITATION TO TENDER! The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) invites suitably experienced and qualified individuals to apply for the following position under the Pacific Correspondent Banking Relationships Project: Payments System Advisor to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF). For more information: projects.worldbank.org/en/pr…

35 Days to Go | Pacific E-commerce Symposium 2026 The Pacific E- commerce Symposium will be held from 30 November - 4 December and will feature several key committee meetings, including the Private Sector Sub-committee, Development Partners Sub-committee, and Pacific E-commerce Committee meetings. The three committees serve as the governance, partnership, and private sector engagement mechanisms that support the implementation of Pacific e-commerce priorities under the Resources and Economic Development agenda of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #PacificTrade

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa, in his address at the inaugural U.S. Government-hosted Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers in Los Angeles, California, U.S., last Thursday (Friday 23 October 2026 FJT), said cybercrime, online scam operations, and the illicit use of digital infrastructure are no longer emerging challenges but established regional security threats. These threats are compounded by the Pacific’s geographical challenges, including its vast ocean, dispersed populations, resource constraints, and increasing digital connectivity. Forum Members continue to strengthen collective responses, according to the Secretary General. These include developing the Waqa Moana Concept, which aims to strengthen coordination among relevant law enforcement bodies. Mr Waqa said U.S. Government initiatives, such as the inaugural conference, are particularly valuable because they unite policymakers, operational leaders and regional institutions to strengthen cooperation on shared challenges and deepen collaboration on cyber resilience, electronic evidence, financial investigations, intelligence sharing and the disruption of criminal networks across borders and jurisdictions.

The 7th Meeting of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) Taskforce on Nuclear Legacy Issues in the Pacific convened today at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva. Chaired by H.E. Junior Aini, Ambassador of the Marshall Islands to Fiji and the Pacific Islands, Members discussed nuclear developments and preparations for the 2nd Meeting of States Parties to the Rarotonga Treaty and commemoration of the 40th anniversary of its entry into force in December 2026. They also considered the Final Report of the Preliminary Independent Review on Nuclear Contamination in the Pacific and next steps. Updates included the Marshall Islands' Treaty signing through Foreign Minister Hon. Kalani R. Kaneko in the margins of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in August 2026, and the commencement of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF) Pacific Edition. #OneBluePacific #PIF #NuclearLegacy

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles (PQIP) initiative, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP), held a workshop on Local Content Policy with key infrastructure-related government ministries and private sector representatives from Solomon Islands this month. The initiative aimed to create greater opportunities for Solomon Islands people and businesses to participate in and benefit from infrastructure development. As part of the initiative, participants undertook a study tour to Sydney, Australia, where they exchanged insights with the New South Wales Government, educational institutions, and private sector representatives on approaches to promoting local employment, developing workforce skills and strengthening the capacity of local businesses to participate in infrastructure projects. The study tour provided practical examples and valuable lessons to inform the development of a Local Content Policy tailored to the Solomon Islands context, supporting inclusive economic growth and strengthening local participation in infrastructure delivery. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #PQIP Photo Credit: Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP)

Pacific finance leaders brought regional priorities to the Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue on Climate Fiscal Resilience in Bangkok, co-hosted by the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and the Asian Development Bank earlier this month. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) joined finance leaders from across the region to shape shared messages ahead of COP31. The message was clear: climate finance must be accessible and fit for purpose. From strengthening national capacity and mobilising investment to simplifying access and scaling up concessional finance, the Pacific is advancing solutions that respond to its unique vulnerabilities and resilience needs. Through regional initiatives such as the Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy and the Pacific Resilience Facility, the Pacific is working to translate climate commitments into tangible, community-level resilience. As the region looks towards COP31, Pacific leaders reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and Pacific-led solutions. On the frontline of climate change, the Pacific is also at the forefront of solutions. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #COP31 #ClimateAction

The 12th Meeting of the Pacific Economic Sub-Committee was convened today, in person and virtually, at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji. Ms Ayako Yamaguchi-Eliou, Secretary of Finance of the Government of the Marshall Islands, chaired the meeting, with support from the Deputy Secretary General (Governance), Desna Solofa, and PIFS staff. Forum Member government officials and Heads of Mission attended the meeting. The discussions focused on the impact of the Middle East Crisis, a regional risk-mitigation facility for renewable energy, the fisheries development fund, and climate and disaster risk finance, including the Pacific Resilience Facility, among other agenda items. #OneBluePacific #PIF #SUBCOMMITTEE

The 14th Pacific Islands Standards Committee (#PISC) meeting was held virtually on 20 October 2026 under the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative (#PQII), bringing together regional members to strengthen cooperation and advance standards development across the Pacific. The meeting reflected on PISC’s progress in 2026, reviewed actions from the previous meeting, and discussed options for the dissemination and pricing of PISC Regional Standards. Members also received updates from work carried out under the Pacific Islands Testing Committee (#PITC), Pacific Islands Metrology Committee (#PIMC), PISC Technical Committees on Building and Construction, Food and Food Products, and Kava, and the Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the Southwest Pacific (#CCNASWP). Guided by international best practices, the PQI Initiative is a key intervention area under the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2026–2030 (#PAfTS) and supports implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. #PISC #PQII #Standards #QualityInfrastructure #PacificRegion #RegionalCollaboration #AFT

PIF Members have held their first briefing and Talanoa with Israel on MASHAV Development Cooperation at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, bringing together Heads of Mission and senior officials, participating in person and virtually. PIF Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, welcomed Israel’s Ambassador to Fiji and Pacific Island Countries, H.E. Maya Yaron, and Head of MASHAV, H.E. Ambassador Eynat Shlein, who travelled from Israel to the Pacific for engagements across the region. The Talanoa provided an opportunity for Forum Members to share national and regional priorities, development challenges and capacity-building needs, and to explore practical opportunities for knowledge-sharing and partnerships through MASHAV that respond to Pacific priorities and deliver tangible benefits for communities across the Blue Pacific Continent. Responding to priorities raised by Members, Ambassador Yaron emphasised that partnership begins with listening to Pacific needs, highlighting water security as one area raised during the Talanoa and the importance of matching identified needs with appropriate technical expertise, training and capacity-building opportunities. Ambassador Shlein shared examples of MASHAV’s development cooperation globally and in the Pacific. Her visit to Fiji follows engagements in Papua New Guinea and will continue to Samoa, providing an opportunity to deepen understanding of Pacific priorities and explore practical areas for future cooperation. #OneBluePacific #PIF #MASHAV #DevelopmentCooperation

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat's Economic Policy Team, led by Salaseini Raiwalui, met with Aholotu Palu, Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC), and his team recently. With many Forum Island Countries now facing drought risk from El Niño, the discussion focused on how PCRIC is supporting members through pre-arranged disaster risk finance. The teams also explored ways PIFS and PCRIC can work more closely to help countries prepare for climate shocks before they hit. We look forward to continued collaboration with PCRIC in strengthening the Blue Pacific's financial resilience. #PCRIC #ElNino #disasterriskfinance #ClimateResilience #OneBluePacific @PacificInsuran2

46 Days to Go | Pacific E-commerce Symposium 2026 The Pacific E-commerce Symposium 2026 will bring together regional stakeholders to advance digital trade, strengthen partnerships, and explore practical solutions that can help Pacific businesses reach new markets, and contribute to economic growth and resilience across the region. #pacificecommercesymposium2026 #OneBluePacific #PacificEcommerceInitiative #partnership #AidforTrade #pacifictrade #ecommerce

WORK WITH US! The SAFE Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE) aims to enhance the regional economic integration. The proposed consultancies will support this objective by increasing intra-regional and international trade, while strengthening private sector participation in regional economic integration. All applicants will need to register at tenders.net/forumsec to make a submission.

#RegionalTrade Under the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative (PQII), the third Technical Committee Meeting (TC3) on Regional Kava Standard Development is held in Nadi, Fiji from 12-14 Octoer 2026. The meeting is focusing on advancing practical, robust, and regionally harmonized kava standards to strengthen product quality, safety, authenticity, and consistency, while enhancing market access for Pacific kava. Team Leader Trade at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Natalia Patternot provided remarks on the opening day and emphasized that the work of TC3 is an important initiative directly aligned to the region’s Kava Declaration and the Regional Kava Development Strategy. Ms Patternot highlighted the importance of ensuring that national contexts inform regional work to develop practical, harmonized standards that strengthen quality infrastructure, build confidence in Pacific kava, and support access to regional and international markets. Strengthening regional standards and quality infrastructure, while advancing the Regional Kava Development Strategy, supports the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2026–2030 and the vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent by enhancing regional cooperation, expanding export opportunities, supporting sustainable livelihoods and preserving the cultural heritage of Pacific kava. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #RegionalTrade #RegionalKavaDevelopmentStrategy

#COP31 A recap of the Champions’ briefing following the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji, which included a dialogue with the Pacific COP31 Climate Envoys on advancing the region’s key climate priorities. As the Pacific prepares for #COP31, the Pacific Political Climate Champions will play a vital role in elevating regional priorities, strengthening global advocacy, and ensuring Pacific voices shape the global climate agenda. Initiated in 2021, the Pacific Political Climate Champions is a One CROP-supported mechanism that strengthens political-level advocacy for Pacific priorities at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties (COPs). Through collective leadership and a united Pacific voice, the Champions help drive momentum for meaningful global climate action. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #ClimateAction

INVITATION TO TENDER! The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) invites suitably experienced and qualified individuals to apply for the following position under the Pacific Correspondent Banking Relationships Project: Payments System Advisor to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) For more information: projects.worldbank.org/.../p… #OneBluePacific #Regionalism

#COP31 As the Pacific concluded the Pre-COP31 meetings in Nadi, which included a special Leaders’ segment in Tuvalu, regional momentum is building towards COP31, with a shared focus on advancing the Pacific’s climate priorities and securing meaningful global commitments. Today’s briefing for Political Climate Champions and Pacific COP31 Climate Envoys reinforced the importance of a united regional approach, ensuring Pacific voices, priorities and solutions remain at the forefront of global climate negotiations. “The most vulnerable in the Pacific depend on you when you go to COP31. It is imperative that we work together as one Pacific, with one voice,” said Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa. As the region looks towards COP31, Pacific solidarity and collective leadership will be critical to translating decades of climate advocacy into concrete action, stronger commitments and outcomes that protect Pacific communities and keep the 1.5°C limit within reach. More: lnkd.in/gr9wiqQ2

#PRECOP31 Media Release: Fiji Pledges US$10 Million As Pacific Climate Finance Drive Gains Momentum Ahead of COP31 Pacific Leaders and global partners are advancing a shared regional commitment to strengthen access to climate and disaster resilience financing, with new contributions towards the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) announced during the Pacific Pre-COP31 meetings in Nadi, Fiji. At the high-level event, Turning Climate Finance into Community Resilience, the Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, announced a US$10 million contribution to the capitalisation of the PRF. Read full media release here: forumsec.org/publications/re… #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #COP31 #ClimateFinance