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From digital infrastructure pipelines to climate-resilient planning, the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility is redefining how governments and development partners plan, finance, and deliver infrastructure across one of the world's most geographically dispersed regions. The Pacific faces one of the world's most complex infrastructure challenges. Small island economies spread across vast ocean distances must deliver transport, energy, water, telecommunications, and public infrastructure while contending with limited financial resources, high construction costs, vulnerability to climate change, and growing demands for sustainable development. Against this backdrop, the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) has emerged as a key regional platform for coordinating infrastructure investment, improving project planning, and helping governments prioritize projects that deliver long-term economic and social value. According to the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility Annual Report 2025, the organization significantly expanded its work during the year, introducing new digital planning tools, broadening technical assistance, and strengthening collaboration among governments and development partners across the Pacific. A regional approach to infrastructure Established in 2008, PRIF serves as a multi-partner coordination and technical assistance facility that helps Pacific governments improve infrastructure planning, investment coordination, and service delivery. The facility supports 13 Pacific island countries—the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu—while Papua New Guinea participates as an associate member. Development partners include the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United States Department of State, and the World Bank Group. Rather than financing infrastructure directly, PRIF focuses on improving how projects are identified, prioritized, prepared, and coordinated, ensuring governments and funding agencies make better-informed investment decisions. Its current Phase V strategy, covering 2024 to 2027, places greater emphasis on climate resilience, disaster risk management, quality infrastructure, gender equality and social inclusion, and stronger regional cooperation. Transforming infrastructure planning One of the most significant changes underway is PRIF's shift from producing traditional infrastructure planning documents toward building institutional capacity within Pacific governments. National Infrastructure Investment Plans (NIIPs), long regarded as the foundation of infrastructure planning across the region, are being redesigned to become living planning systems rather than static reports. The updated approach embeds infrastructure planning within government budgeting and public investment processes, allowing countries to identify priority projects more efficiently while reducing reliance on external consultants. During 2025, PRIF advanced work on the Solomon Islands National Infrastructure Investment Plan and the Vanuatu Infrastructure Strategic Investment Plan, while preparations were made for additional national planning updates across several Pacific countries in 2026. The revised methodology also places greater emphasis on climate resilience, environmental safeguards, economic analysis, and government ownership of investment decisions. Creating a Pacific infrastructure marketplace Perhaps PRIF's most transformative initiative during the year was the launch of the Pacific Infrastructure Pipeline, a digital platform designed to improve transparency across the region's infrastructure market. The online database brings together more than 1,000 infrastructure projects and procurement packages, ranging from projects approaching tender to longer-term national investment priorities. The platform enables governments, contractors, consultants, suppliers, and investors to search opportunities by country, sector, project value, procurement method, funding agency, implementation status, and expected timelines. For Pacific businesses, early access to future procurement opportunities provides valuable time to develop technical capacity, form partnerships, and prepare competitive bids. The platform also includes a searchable directory of Pacific businesses, making it easier for international contractors to identify local partners and increasing opportunities for domestic participation in major infrastructure projects. PRIF expects the platform to become an increasingly important regional business development tool as additional governments and development partners continue uploading project information throughout 2026. Climate resilience moves to the forefront Climate adaptation has become central to Pacific infrastructure planning. Recognizing that roads, ports, airports, water systems, and energy networks must withstand increasingly severe weather events, PRIF expanded technical assistance focused on integrating climate resilience into project design. During 2025, the organization supported development of guidance on nature-based infrastructure solutions, introduced a Climate Co-Benefit Categorization Framework to improve climate reporting, and strengthened methods for incorporating climate and disaster risk assessments into national infrastructure planning. Working groups also analyzed regional project pipelines to identify opportunities for coordinated investment and co-financing that support the Pacific Strategy 2050 and broader climate adaptation objectives. Technical expertise expands across sectors Demand for technical assistance continued to grow throughout the year. PRIF implemented 18 technical assistance projects covering transport, energy, digital connectivity, urban development, environmental safeguards, infrastructure planning, and institutional strengthening. Among the initiatives were development of the Pacific One Maritime Framework, regional digital readiness programs, electric vehicle standards, updated building codes, environmental and social safeguard frameworks, and water sector capacity-building initiatives. The projects are intended not only to address immediate infrastructure needs but also to strengthen institutional capacity across Pacific governments and improve long-term project delivery. Strengthening regional collaboration Infrastructure development in the Pacific depends heavily on coordination among governments, multilateral institutions, and bilateral development partners. To improve alignment, PRIF convened 26 sector and thematic working group meetings during 2025, bringing together representatives from development agencies, regional organizations, and Pacific governments. These working groups focused on transport, energy, urban development, climate resilience, environmental safeguards, water and sanitation, digital infrastructure, and social inclusion, helping reduce duplication of assistance while identifying opportunities for joint investment. The report notes that stronger collaboration is also improving the efficiency of infrastructure planning by encouraging governments and development partners to align investments with national priorities rather than pursuing isolated projects. Investing in knowledge and capacity Alongside project planning, PRIF continued investing in knowledge sharing and professional development. During 2025, the facility launched a regional capacity development program, conducted six training sessions across the Pacific, organized five technical webinars, and hosted PRIF Week 2025 under the theme "Build Forward Better." The event attracted 574 participants from 23 countries, bringing together policymakers, infrastructure agencies, financiers, development partners, consultants, academics, and private sector representatives to discuss emerging priorities and best practices for resilient infrastructure development. Looking ahead Development partners have committed USD14.98 million to support PRIF's current four-year phase, with USD5.55 million committed or contracted during 2025 and USD3.24 million disbursed over the year. As infrastructure demand accelerates across the Pacific, PRIF's evolving role reflects a broader shift in regional development strategy. Beyond funding individual projects, the emphasis is increasingly on strengthening institutions, improving project readiness, enhancing regional coordination, and ensuring that infrastructure investments are resilient, inclusive, and economically sustainable. For Pacific governments—including Papua New Guinea—these initiatives offer more than technical support. They provide a shared framework for developing infrastructure that is better planned, better coordinated, and better positioned to attract both development financing and private investment, helping lay the foundations for more resilient and connected economies across the region.

The World Bank's Environment and Social Framework (ESF) Practice Manager, Africa Olojoba, has visited the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (THDP) in Solomon Islands, highlighting construction progress, strong safety practices and environmental stewardship at the country's first large-scale renewable energy project. Olojoba was joined by a World Bank delegation comprising Lead Environmental Specialist Nathalie Staelens, Environmental Specialist Khine Thwe Wynn, Social Development Specialist Joyce Onguglo and Energy Specialist Yulia Zakrevskaia during the March 27 site visit. The delegation began its visit at the Hyundai Engineering Company site office, where project officials provided a safety induction briefing outlining workplace health and safety protocols. The team then toured the dam site and the powerhouse site, including the main tunnel system currently under development. Speaking during a meeting at the Garivera camp site, Olojoba outlined three key observations from the visit. He cited the project's substantial development progress, noting the advancement of major structures, ongoing construction activities and milestones achieved to date. Olojoba also commended project teams for maintaining strong occupational health and safety standards across the construction site. In addition, he highlighted the project's environmental performance, particularly areas of natural revegetation and the replantation programme being implemented as part of biodiversity management efforts. The World Bank is one of the principal financiers of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and has played a key role in supporting the project's objective of delivering clean, affordable and sustainable energy to Solomon Islands. Once completed, the hydropower facility is expected to reduce the country's dependence on diesel-fired electricity generation, lower power costs for consumers and support national climate commitments. The Tina River Hydropower Development Project is being led by the Solomon Islands government with financing and support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Australian government, the Green Climate Fund, Korea EXIM Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the World Bank. The project is the first large-scale renewable energy development undertaken in Solomon Islands and is expected to improve access to cleaner and more reliable electricity for households and businesses while supporting the country's long-term energy transition.

Fiji has launched the Nasaulevu Integrated Tourism Development Masterplan, a landmark tourism project aimed at creating a new tourism and investment hub while placing indigenous landowners at the centre of development. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka unveiled the masterplan on 19 June at Navoci Village in Nadi, describing it as the beginning of a new phase that will require strong governance, community unity and effective implementation. The masterplan covers Nasaulevu Island, a 747-acre site located opposite Denarau Port Marina, one of Fiji's premier tourism gateways. Prepared by global consultancy ARUP in partnership with the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) and the Nakovacake Development Trust, the masterplan was funded through a USD 400,000 grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The initiative is being promoted as Fiji's first tourism development blueprint of its scale to integrate indigenous landowners, institutional investors and international technical expertise from the outset. A central feature of the project is its landowner-led development model, under which the Vanua of Nakovacake will play a direct role in planning, governance and economic participation. Officials say the approach is designed to ensure local communities benefit from future tourism growth while maintaining a stake in the long-term development of their customary land. Speaking at the launch, Gavoka said the completion of the masterplan marked the transition from planning to implementation. "This launch is not an ending. It is the start of a more demanding phase requiring unity, sound governance and a clear path from concept to construction," he told community members. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation said it would continue supporting the project as it moves toward delivery and investment attraction. The development is expected to strengthen Fiji's tourism sector by creating new opportunities for accommodation, recreation, marine tourism and supporting infrastructure near the country's busiest tourism corridor. Tourism remains a key pillar of Fiji's economy, contributing significantly to employment, foreign exchange earnings and economic growth. The government has identified sustainable tourism development and greater participation by indigenous landowners as priorities for the sector's future expansion. The Nasaulevu masterplan is expected to serve as a model for future tourism developments in Fiji by combining community ownership, institutional investment and international planning expertise within a single development framework.

Customs leaders from 24 Pacific administrations will gather in Fiji this week for the 28th Annual Conference of the Oceania Customs Organisation, focusing on strengthening border security, facilitating trade and supporting economic growth across the region. The conference, to be held from June 2 to 4 under Fiji's chairmanship of the Oceania Customs Organisation, will bring together heads of customs agencies, senior government officials, development partners and international organizations under the theme, "Scaling Up the Commitment of Customs to Protect and Grow our Pasifika Communities." The meeting comes as Pacific nations face increasing pressure from transnational organized crime, shifting trade patterns and growing demands on border management agencies. According to organizers, discussions will focus on enhancing regional cooperation and building customs capabilities to address emerging security and trade challenges. Recent large-scale narcotics seizures across the Pacific have highlighted attempts by organized criminal networks to exploit maritime and aviation routes across the region. Customs administrations also continue to confront risks linked to human trafficking, illicit financial flows, customs fraud, environmental crimes and the smuggling of prohibited goods. OCO Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Udit Singh, said customs agencies play a critical role in protecting communities while supporting economic development. "Customs today is far more than a border agency. We are guardians of our communities, facilitators of trade, protectors of government revenue, and partners in economic growth," Singh said. "The work of Customs directly impacts the prosperity, safety, and resilience of our Pacific nations." Singh said Pacific countries, despite being geographically dispersed, face common challenges that require collective action and stronger regional partnerships. "The scale and complexity of modern border threats mean that no country can address these issues alone. Regional cooperation is essential. When one Pacific border is strengthened, the entire region becomes safer and more secure," he said. He noted that the Pacific occupies an increasingly strategic position within global trade and transport networks linking Asia, Australasia and the Americas, making effective customs administration critical to regional and international security. The conference will feature contributions from international partners including the World Customs Organization, the United Nations and the World Bank. Key agenda items include border security, maritime enforcement, trade facilitation, passenger processing, digital transformation, leadership development and intelligence-sharing across Pacific jurisdictions. During Fiji's tenure as OCO chair, the organization has prioritized regional capacity building, leadership development, customs modernization and stronger partnerships with international agencies. Organizers said these initiatives have helped strengthen customs administrations across the Pacific and improve their ability to respond to emerging threats and opportunities. This year's gathering marks the first time in more than a decade that Fiji has hosted the OCO Annual Conference, reflecting the country's continued role in regional customs cooperation. Members of the Oceania Customs Organisation include Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, Timor-Leste and other Pacific jurisdictions.