US provides seed fund to establish Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat in Palau

Micronesian leaders gathered on Guam in June 2024 for the 26th Micronesian Island Forum meeting. Photo courtesy of MIF.

The US Department of the Interior has announced a grant to fund the establishment of the Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) Secretariat office in Palau.

Carmen Cantor, assistant secretary for Insular and International Affairs, presented a US$400,000 grant to Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr recently.

During the 26th MIF meeting on Guam last year, island leaders agreed to hire a secretary general and upgrade the organisation.

“This important regional organisation brings island leaders together on many important issues and now with a new secretariat, they can be even more effective in advocating for their needs,” Cantor said.

The funding will establish the MIF Secretariat in Palau to coordinate and manage executive functions of the regional body and strengthen regional collaboration among Micronesian island nations on economic development, environmental protection, clean energy and cultural preservation.

MIF includes the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam, Nauru, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Since its establishment in 1994, MIF has met regularly, most recently in February 2023 in Pohnpei, FSM.