Fiji and Australia launch $AUD25 million governance partnership

 

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia High Commissioner Peter Roberts OAM. Photo: AHC
 
FIJI and Australia have launched a $AUD25 million governance partnership aimed at strengthening public institutions, supporting civil service reform, and promoting democratic values.
 
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the Australia–Fiji Governance Partnership (AFGP) marked “a significant milestone in the enduring relationship between Fiji and Australia,” describing it as a new chapter in Fiji’s ongoing journey of reform and collaboration with Australia.
 
“This partnership is not simply a program but a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to strengthening governance, advancing economic reform, and promoting democratic values,” Rabuka said during the official ceremony in Suva.
The AFGP, valued at $AUD25 million over four years, builds on the achievements of the previous Fiji–Australia Institutional Partnerships Program (IPP). It will focus on three key areas — civil service reform, economic governance, and the strengthening of democratic principles and values.
 
Rabuka said the partnership would deepen collaboration between Fijian and Australian institutions in areas such as elections, taxation, statistics, and parliamentary development.
 
He highlighted the establishment of the Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service (FLIPS) as a key step in Fiji’s reform efforts.
“These reforms are transformational in the way our civil service delivers to our people. Our civil service will be more efficient, more responsive, and more aligned with the needs of our citizens,” he said.
Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Peter Roberts OAM, said the new partnership built on almost a decade of close cooperation under the earlier IPP framework.
 
“Our parliaments have grown closer, with the Victorian Parliament and the UNDP working alongside Fiji’s Parliament to enhance legislative processes and citizen engagement,” Roberts said. “What has made this program truly effective is not just the technical support, but the deep trust established between partners.”
He said joint efforts to strengthen public financial management, taxation, and audit systems had led to “greater fiscal transparency and accountability.”
 
Roberts said Australia would continue to support Fiji’s national development priorities under the new partnership.
 
“Australia will invest $AUD25 million over the next four years to support Fiji achieve its goal of more effective, inclusive, and accountable governance,” he said. “This initiative is a testament to the strength of our Vuvale Partnership. Australia will continue to work side by side with Fiji to advance the priorities and ambitions of our Vuvale, Fiji.”
 
Have you found this information useful ?
Please share your feedback below and help us improve our content.