In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific must be at centre of global climate decision-making: Fiji Climiate Change Minister Tabuya
2. PACIFIC — Limiting Overshoot Report reinvigorates Pacific negotiators to hold the line on 1.5°C
3. PACIFIC — Kiribati pushes to ‘re-engineer’ climate finance ahead of COP31
4. SAMOA — JAWS demands answers over reported seizure of Samoa journalist’s camera
5. PACIFIC — U.S, Taiwan bring Pacific Disaster experts together in Auckland
6. TUVALU — Tuvalu marks 48th Independence with focus on peace, values and climate resilience
7. JAPAN — Japan, Fiji reaffirm partnership as new ambassador welcomed in Tokyo
8. FIJI — FAME Awards set for return
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands women vendors build Pacific connections at Fiji expo
10. PACNEWS BIZ — ANZ Samoa supports launch of Pinktober 2026
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Beyond Treaties: How investment disputes trap Pacific nations
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP co-leads on Nature for Health in the Pacific to address environmental drivers of disease through One Health
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — From knowledge to action: IUCN joins the Pacific in carrying conservation priorities forward
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — WHO and partners showcase first Pandemic Fund multi-country project in the Western Pacific
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE/PRE COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Pacific must be at centre of global climate decision-making: Fiji Climiate Change Minister Tabuya
By Sanjeshni Kumar
SUVA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Fiji’s Minister for Information, Climate Change and Environment, Lynda Tabuya says the Pacific must be at the centre of global climate decision-making as the region prepares for Pre-COP31 and the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
Speaking during a media briefing convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Tabuya outlined three key messages the Pacific will take into the Pre-COP31 process.
“The Pacific must be at the centre and not at the margins of global climate decision-making,” Tabuya said.
Fiji, Australia and Tuvalu are working together in the lead-up to COP31, with Fiji hosting Pre-COP31 and Tuvalu hosting a leaders’ segment as part of the Pacific-led preparations.
Tabuya said the Pacific had a significant opportunity to put its priorities and lived experiences at the forefront of global climate discussions.
“We are very mindful of the fact that not every Pacific country may be aptly represented at COP31 in Turkey. So this is our moment, this is our moment as the Pacific to shine and to give our powerful messages to the world,” she said.
Tabuya said Pacific climate ambition must be developed alongside the communities most affected by climate change.
“Our pre-COP has been designed in such a way where we do hear from our communities, and they will be represented as well.”
She highlighted the Pacific’s contribution to global climate action, including its role in securing the 1.5-degree Celsius target in the Paris Agreement and establishing the loss and damage fund at COP27.
The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Chair also emphasised the importance of the ocean and the blue economy to the region’s climate response.
“We have a major climate opportunity in terms of the blue economy, looking at scaling investment in clean shipping, renewables, fisheries and conservation.”
Tabuya said Pre-COP31 would seek to ensure the connection between oceans and climate change is reflected in the negotiations leading into COP31.
“In pre-COP we will ensure that the ocean climate nexus is fully integrated into our negotiation tracks as we head to COP31,” she said.
The second key message, she said, was that the Pacific is a “legitimate and unifying voice” on climate protection.
“We know climate is the greatest existential threat to the Pacific, but our oceans are central to this climate solution, and climate action cannot succeed without that being front and centre,” she said.
Tabuya pointed to Tuvalu as an example of the region’s frontline climate realities, saying sea levels there had risen by 21 centimetres over 30 years.
She said Pacific-led science, Indigenous knowledge and stewardship were important in developing climate and nature solutions.
“We have an opportunity here in pre-COP to anchor global climate diplomacy in our Pacific reality,” Tabuya said.
“By hosting these negotiations, we ensure that COP31 is defined by the Pacific lived experiences and local expertise.”
Tabuya said the third major priority for the Pacific was improving access to climate finance that is faster, fairer and more accessible for our communities.
“Our countries need finance that is accessible, predictable and fit for purpose, especially for adaptation, resilience and loss and damage,” she said.
She said the Pacific would use Pre-COP31 to outline the financial needs of communities and push for greater support for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF).
“We will be calling for more pledges at pre-COP next week,” she said.
The PRF has a target of US$500 million, with Tabuya saying contributions were currently close to US$200 million.
“In terms of our target, I think we’re just close to US$200 million. So we will be calling for support from that,” she said.
Tabuya said Pacific countries, including Fiji, would also need to contribute to the facility.
“I believe the point is that we are taking charge of our own destiny, so to speak,” she said.
“We need to be able to show that we can do this ourselves as well, especially as we are trying to help our communities directly for easier access to finance.”
She said the Pacific was calling both for greater access to existing climate finance and an increase in the overall pool of available funding.
“The call is for both,” Tabuya said.
She expressed concern over the continued reliance on concessional loans and said the Pacific was advocating for grant-based financing.
Tabuya said climate investments in Small Island Developing States often focused on public goods that may not produce conventional financial returns, but were essential to communities.
“For us, the investment is really in public goods that may not necessarily have the returns, but it is an investment in our communities and our people,” she said.
She said greater grant-based financing was needed to help Pacific communities respond more quickly to climate impacts, including loss and damage.
Tabuya also acknowledged the support of development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, PIFS and SPREP, in helping Pacific countries develop proposals and “bankable projects” to improve access to climate finance.
With Pre-COP31 approaching, Tabuya said the Pacific’s focus would be on ensuring its climate realities, ocean priorities and financing needs are reflected in the global climate negotiations.
“COP31 is an opportunity to turn commitment into capital so that our finance reaches the front line,” she said…..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Limiting Overshoot Report reinvigorates Pacific negotiators to hold the line on 1.5°C
NADI, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)– As negotiators from Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) strategise and finalise their plans in the lead up to COP31 in Türkiye, there is renewed purpose and a sense of urgency to their work.
“The Pacific must keep pushing to hold the line on 1.5. We must continue to push and hold high emitting countries, this is not over yet,” said Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, the Climate Envoy for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).
Florence Iautu, of Vanuatu, concurs. “This is our lifeline, it’s about our survival. There is no time to waste,” she said.
Takena Redfern, from Kiribati, adds: “Kiribati’s message here in Fiji and going forward to COP31 is that we need urgent actions to avert and move away from the pathway of overshoot. The time for meaningless talk is over.”
The renewed push from Pacific negotiators is spurred by the Limiting Overshoot Report, by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), warning that global temperature rise is set to cross 1.5°C, likely within the next few years, pushing climate risks and impacts to increasingly dangerous heights.
According to the report, above 1.5°C, risks and impacts will intensify with every extra fraction of a degree and every year.
Anticipated impacts include intensified extreme weather, ecosystem loss, and submersion of Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal cities. Severe damage to human health, food security, water supplies, nature, cities, infrastructure, and economies is expected.
The report also warns that the likelihood of crossing irreversible tipping points increases with the magnitude and duration of higher temperatures. These include the destabilisation of major ice sheets, degradation of the Amazon rainforest and disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (the system of currents that moves warm surface water north and cold deep water south, playing a key role in regulating the climate). Some impacts may emerge abruptly, while others will accumulate over time, the report notes.
It is sobering reading but the report, released at the beginning of the month, comes at a time when all eyes are on Fiji as Leaders, Government officials, negotiators and delegates descend upon Nadi for a series of meetings to ensure the survival of Pacific communities against the harmful impacts of climate change.
The first of the meetings is the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) pre-COP31 meeting from 30 September – 02 October at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.
Facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with support from Climate Analytics and OneCROP, the meeting is an opportunity to reflect on the Pacific’s thematic priorities, share knowledge, lessons and track how issues have advanced since COP30 in Belem, Brazil, last year.
“For RMI, 1.5 has a really special place in our hearts, our former Minister Tony De Brum helped usher in 1.5 into the Paris Agreement, he was also known as the father of the Paris Agreement. A lot of the work and campaigns we do on climate change is about this number. So seeing the overshoot report was devastating and what has been lost.”
But there is optimism, Jetnil-Kijiner pointed out, referring to the report noting that it is still possible to bring temperatures down and achieve global goals in the Paris Agreement.
“The report also clearly states that there is still time to turn things around, make the changes and course correct,” she said.
“But we do have to hold the line, we do have to keep pushing and that’s what the Pacific needs to do. We must continue to push and hold high emitting countries; this is not over yet and this is not an excuse to contribute more emissions. This is why the transitioning from fossil fuels is so important.”
Jetnil-Kijiner is amongst Pacific negotiators pushing for more urgent ambitious actions to turn things around.
“I’d love to see roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels, I want to see more concrete positions on that as well as ensuring there is finance provided that’s accessible to allow our region to contribute to renewable energy. And updating and submitting NDCs that are 1.5 aligned.”
RMI has just hosted a global gathering on Loss and Damage.
“For many international participants, they said it was really life changing for them to see and atoll nation for the first time, and how incredibly vulnerable we are to sea level rise,” said Jetnil-Kijiner.
“We are doing comprehensive work to collect data on the kinds of loss and damage impacts we are witnessing across the different islands and some of the really clear indicators so far are islets that are disappearing, football fields now underwater, graveyards now underwater, airports that are constantly getting flooded and schools that are having to be moved further inland because of the changing coastline.
“The reality is that this is going to get worse if we don’t lower our emissions, and if we don’t close that gap on 1.5. This is we must hold the line.”
Florence Iautu, of Vanuatu, is another Pacific negotiator. But more importantly, she said, is her role as a mother.
“I’ve read the Overshoot Report, as a mother, it is extremely worrying for my children and our future generations,” she said. “I feel sad thinking about the environment they’re going to inherit, it’s scary.”
But she is not giving up, and the work in the lead up to COP31 in Türkiye, she said, is a key part of the response.
“For us, keeping the momentum on 1.5 is non-negotiable, we have to hold the line, even if it appears very difficult right now.,” she said. “We have to remain hopeful. We have to keep working and do the best we can, and as far as I can see, that is holding the line and making sure we do not give up.”
Takena Redfern, a negotiator from Kiribati, said the time of meaningless talk is over.
“It’s interesting and sad to see the Overshoot Report but it’s not surprising for me,” she said. “Back home in Kiribati, our lived reality is sea level rise, more extreme weather patterns and everything that this report talks about.”
Redfern is determined to change the trajectory and give her children a better environment to inherit.
“I’m hear to ensure the voice of our communities, our people is heard. Climate change is not about figures and numbers, this impacts people in a very real way. This drives the work that I do and as long as I am able to contribute, I will continue to advocate for the survival of our communities.
“Kiribati’s message here in Fiji and going forward to COP31 is that we need urgent actions to avert and move away from the pathway of overshoot. The time for meaningless talk is over, our people need action, tangible outcomes. Now.”
The 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 09-20 November 2026.
The Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS) COP31 Preparatory Meeting from 30 September -0 2 October at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi is facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and funded by the Government of Australia…..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Kiribati pushes to ‘re-engineer’ climate finance ahead of COP31
TARAWA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Kiribati’s cabinet has approved work on an ambitious proposal to fundamentally rethink how climate finance reaches small island developing states, with the country preparing to take the position to Pre-COP31 in the Pacific.
The initiative, described by Kiribati’s Minister for Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs Ruth Cross Kwansing as a move to “re-engineer climate finance.”
Kiribati sees the initiative as an opportunity for the Pacific to move beyond calls for greater climate finance and instead push for changes to the system itself.
The proposal addresses what the Pacific has struggled with over the years and maybe one of the biggest obstacle facing small island development states, the ability to access funding for urgent climate action on time.
“For me personally, this represents a transformative breakthrough,” Cross Kwansing said.
“For years, we have been railing about the same painful reality that global climate finance does not reach the frontline communities who are actively losing their land and homes.”
At the heart of Kiribati’s proposal is a mechanism that addresses this, it would allow governments facing urgent climate threats to undertake approved adaptation works first, have those works independently verified, and then receive reimbursement from international climate funds within 90 days.
The approach could apply to measures such as seawalls, saltwater barriers, safe evacuation centres and solar-powered water treatment systems.
For Kiribati, the urgency is particularly acute.
Much of the country lies less than two meters above sea level, leaving communities exposed to coastal flooding, rising seas and saltwater intrusion.
A strong El Niño developing across the Pacific could further increase risks from heavy rainfall and higher sea levels.
Kwansing shares that “the proposed changes are designed to remove the administrative bottlenecks that can prevent climate finance from reaching communities quickly.”
“For our team, this proposal directly tackles the administrative bottlenecks that are holding us back,” she said.
“It unlocks rapid disaster response and enables Kiribati and other small island developing states to scale up real protection on the ground.”
The proposal would operate through existing climate finance institutions, including the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, rather than establishing a new institution.
It also proposes that access to the fast-track mechanism consider a country’s vulnerability, using tools such as the UN Multidimensional Vulnerability Index rather than relying solely on conventional measures of income.
Women’s organisations and organisations representing people with disabilities would also have a role in identifying priority investments and checking completed works.
The proposal comes as Pacific countries prepare for pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu from October 5 to 8, ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.
Kwansing said, “the proposal could also give Australia, as the Pacific’s lead negotiator for COP31, a concrete reform agenda to champion.”
“Going into Pre-COP, this gives Australia as the Pacific’s lead negotiator a genuinely innovative, paradigm-shifting deliverable to champion,” she said.
“It proves that hosting a Pacific-focused COP isn’t just symbolic, it makes every ounce of hard work to get here truly worth it.”
For Kiribati, accessing climate finance must move at the speed of the crisis facing island communities, particularly when homes, freshwater supplies and livelihoods are under threat now…..PACNEWS
SAMOA – MEDIA FREEDOM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
JAWS demands answers over reported seizure of Samoa journalist’s camera
APIA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) is demanding answers over the reported removal of a Samoa Observer journalist’s camera and deletion of photographs taken while she was covering a public event.
JAWS said it was “deeply disturbed” by the reported treatment of the journalist and called for the circumstances surrounding the incident to be properly established.
“If the reports are accurate, JAWS considers these matters extremely serious,” the association said in a statement.
JAWS said journalists attending public events had a professional right and responsibility to observe, record and report what took place, including when senior public officials or people connected to them were present.
“The media is not required to seek permission to document public events simply because those being photographed may be senior public officials or persons connected to them,” it said in a statement.
The association said a journalist’s camera was a professional tool and photographs taken during legitimate journalistic work could form part of the public record.
It said any unauthorised removal of equipment or deletion of journalistic material raised serious concerns about press freedom and the public’s right to information.
JAWS expressed particular concern over the reported involvement of members of the Prime Minister’s security detail.
“Security personnel have an important responsibility to protect public officials, but that responsibility does not place them above the law or give them unrestricted authority over journalists and their professional equipment,” JAWS said.
The association said any legitimate security concern should have been dealt with through lawful and proportionate procedures.
“Security cannot become a pretext for obstructing legitimate journalism,” it said.
JAWS also said disagreements with journalists or media organisations should not be handled through physical interference with equipment or the deletion of material.
“If there are concerns about the conduct or reporting of a journalist, there are established avenues for complaint, correction and legal redress,” it said.
JAWS called for an investigation to establish who removed the camera, under whose authority it was taken, whether photographs were deleted, who authorised the deletion and the legal or procedural basis for the actions.
The association said it was not prejudging the responsibility of anyone named in reports about the incident.
“Being part of a security detail does not remove the obligation to account for one’s actions,” it said.
JAWS said the incident raised a wider issue about the role of the media at public events.
“The media’s role at a public event is to document what happens, not merely what those in authority would prefer to be documented,” it said.
JAWS said it would defend the legitimate professional work of journalists and the public’s right to receive independent accounts of matters of public interest.
The association also called on the Prime Minister to continue holding weekly press conferences, describing them as an important avenue for government scrutiny and for journalists and the public to ask questions directly.
It said regular press conferences provided a forum for transparency, accountability and public discussion on matters of national interest.
“Journalism must not be obstructed. Journalistic material must not be interfered with and public authority must never be treated as a licence to silence the record,” JAWS said….PACNEWS
PAC – DISASTER EXPERT MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
U.S, Taiwan bring Pacific Disaster experts together in Auckland
AUCKLAND, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States and Taiwan have brought Pacific disaster management experts together in Auckland to strengthen regional preparedness, coordination and response to natural disasters.
The two governments, in collaboration with the East-West Centre, hosted the Disaster Management in the Pacific workshop on 29-30 September under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF).
The workshop brought together government officials, policy experts and private sector representatives from Pacific Islands Forum members, associate members and observers to share disaster management strategies and identify opportunities for regional cooperation.
U.S Chargé d’affaires Gabrielle Cowan said disaster resilience in the Pacific had been built through generations of communities recovering from disasters and developing strategies to reduce future risks.
“The Pacific is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. Disaster resilience is hard earned and built from generations rebuilding after crises and intentional efforts to develop mitigation strategies that save lives,” Cowan said.
University of Auckland Professor Liam Wotherspoon delivered the keynote address, outlining New Zealand’s hazard landscape, while Pacific participants shared national disaster management frameworks, local approaches and challenges.
Cowan said Taiwan’s experience in early warning systems and whole-of-society preparedness offered practical lessons for Pacific countries.
“Participants heard from Taiwan, whose renowned early warning systems and whole-of-society disaster preparedness make it one of the most resilient places in the world,” she said.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand Representative Joanne Ou said Taiwan’s own exposure to earthquakes, typhoons and floods had driven its focus on disaster preparedness.
“Natural disasters are not abstract challenges. Taiwan has learned through hard lessons how preparedness can reduce the impact and define the speed of recovery,” Ou said.
She said Taiwan was committed to sharing its experience and resources with partners across the Indo-Pacific, particularly Pacific Island countries.
“This is the value of the GCTF – bringing partners around the globe to learn from each other and explore feasible ways of collaboration,” Ou said.
She said challenges including disaster mitigation and reconstruction, sea-level rise and volcanic eruptions required inclusive platforms where governments and other stakeholders could share experience and develop practical solutions.
Cowan also highlighted the United States’ own exposure to disasters across its Pacific states and territories.
“The United States is also a Pacific country. U.S citizens live in the Pacific, and our Pacific states confront disasters every year,” she said.
She cited California’s exposure to wildfires and Hawaii’s vulnerability to flooding, hurricanes and volcanic activity as examples of the disaster risks faced by U.S communities.
The workshop concluded with participants taking home practical resources, strengthened regional partnerships and tools to support disaster preparedness and resilience across the Pacific.
The GCTF provides a platform for Taiwan, the United States and other partners to share expertise and develop cooperation on issues of common concern…..PACNEWS
TUVALU – INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Tuvalu marks 48th Independence with focus on peace, values and climate resilience
FUNAFUTI, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Tuvalu has marked its 48th Independence Anniversary with a call to strengthen national values, peace and the country’s place in the world as it confronts climate change and rising sea levels.
This year’s celebrations were held under the theme “Our Values, Our Peace, Our Place in the World” — “Tou Iloga, Tou Filemu, Tou Tulaga i te Lalolagi.”
In his Independence Anniversary address, Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo reflected on Tuvalu’s journey as an independent nation and outlined progress towards the Government’s 21 priorities and implementation of Te Kete, Tuvalu’s National Strategy.
Teo said the Government’s development agenda was focused on building a more resilient and connected Tuvalu while strengthening education and health services, supporting economic development and improving infrastructure and public services.
He said protecting Tuvalu’s future remained central to the Government’s work as the country faced the growing impacts of climate change and sea-level rise.
“Our efforts to build the resilience of Tuvalu against the impacts of climate change and other transformations must be rooted in the Tuvalu Way as we take our appropriate place in the world,” Teo said.
The Prime Minister said Tuvalu’s national development must remain grounded in the country’s values and identity while engaging with the wider international community.
The anniversary programme also included a Medal presentation ceremony recognising eight Tuvaluans for their service and contributions to the nation.
The recipients were Aunese Makoi Simati, Kakee Pese Kaitu, Mila Siaumau, Itaia Lausaveve, Apiseka Mate Fousaga, the late Eline Soloseni Moeava, Paisi Teuki and Ligo Vaega.
The celebrations also featured fatele performances by the Nukulaelae, Niutao, Vaitupu and Funafuti island communities.
A special performance was presented by Sei Tuvalu, Siatunu Limau.
Food for the celebrations was prepared by the Nanumea and Nanumaga communities, bringing together Tuvaluans from across the islands for the national occasion.
The 48th Independence Anniversary brought together national development priorities, cultural traditions and recognition of citizens who have contributed to Tuvalu’s progress…..PACNEWS
JAPAN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Japan, Fiji reaffirm partnership as new ambassador welcomed in Tokyo
TOKYO, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Fiji, with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuhiro Fujii describing Fiji as an important Pacific partner sharing fundamental values and principles.
Fujii made the remarks at a welcome reception in Tokyo on 30 September for Fiji’s newly appointed Ambassador to Japan, Kemueli Naiqama.
Representing the Japanese Government, Fujii congratulated Naiqama on his appointment and highlighted the longstanding friendship between Japan and Fiji.
“Fiji is a friend connected by the Pacific and an important partner sharing fundamental values and principles,” Fujii said.
He said bilateral relations had continued to advance, including through the establishment of the Lomavata Kizuna Partnership between Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in November 2025.
Fujii also highlighted preparations for the 11th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM11), which Japan will host in Yokohama in the summer of 2027.
He said Japan would use PALM11 to further deepen its relationship with Fiji across a broad range of areas, including economic cooperation, culture, sports and people-to-people exchanges.
The welcome reception brought together Japanese and Fijian officials and other participants as Fiji begins its ambassadorial representation in Japan under Naiqama.
Japan and Fiji have maintained diplomatic relations for more than five decades, with cooperation covering development assistance, climate change, disaster resilience, maritime issues and people-to-people links.
Fujii said Japan looked forward to working with Fiji to further strengthen bilateral relations in the lead-up to PALM11….PACNEWS
FIJI – MEDIA AWARS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Fri 02 Oct 2026
FAME Awards set for return
SUVA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—-Fiji’s media fraternity will gather at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on November 28 for the 2026 Fiji Achievement in Media Excellence (FAME) Awards.
The event follows the successful revival of the awards last year after a 17-year absence, attracting more than 400 media professionals and industry stakeholders.
This year, 30 awards will be presented across 26 competitive categories, recognising excellence in print, radio, television, digital journalism, photography, commentary, presenting, marketing and advertising.
Several categories have been refined, with sports reporting now recognised separately from print news.
New categories include Best Media Website, Best Thematic Journalism, Best Digital Storytelling and Most Innovative Digital Team.
Fijian Media Association General Secretary Stanley Simpson said the awards were an important celebration of the profession.
“FAME reminds us that we share the common cause of journalism.
“It gives us the opportunity to recognise excellence, celebrate our people and enjoy a night together.”
FAME chairman Shane Hussein said the awards had quickly become a major event for Fiji’s media industry.
The Hall of FAME will remain an annual feature recognising people whose careers have made a lasting contribution to Fiji’s media industry…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – EXPO: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 02 Oct 2026
Solomon Islands women vendors build Pacific connections at Fiji expo
SUVA/HONIARA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —A group of Solomon Islands market vendors have travelled to Fiji to build regional connections, learn new skills and explore opportunities for greater cooperation among Pacific women vendors.
Honiara Market Vendors Association chairlady Moreno Vavozo led a 10-member, self-funded delegation to the Fiji expo, bringing crafts representing communities from across Solomon Islands.
Vavozo said the group was motivated by an opportunity to meet vendors from other countries and learn how they produce, market and sell their products.
“We really wanted to come here to learn from this expo because we are all vendors from Honiara,” she said.
“We want to mingle with other vendors to know how we can do our exchange market, or how we can trade together.”
Most members of the delegation were travelling to the expo for the first time. Despite financial constraints and the difficulty of leaving their families behind, Vavozo said the women were determined to participate.
The delegation brought a range of handicrafts from different Solomon Islands provinces, reflecting the diversity of vendors represented at the Honiara market.
Vavozo said an important goal was to take knowledge and ideas back to vendors who were unable to attend.
She encouraged her team to explore the expo, identify useful skills and consider products they could develop when they returned home.
“We learn a lot, and we meet new friends here. And then we see how our other sisters here do their craft and how they do their selling,” she said.
Vavozo also encouraged Solomon Islands women vendors to join associations and participate in programmes that provide opportunities for learning and economic empowerment.
“There’s no time for jealousy, there’s no time for copycat, but it’s time that we learn, because that’s part of our hustle every day,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid of what you’re doing, because that’s what we do to put food on the table,” she said….PACNEWS
SAMOA – BANK: ANZ PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 02 Oct 2026
ANZ Samoa supports launch of Pinktober 2026
APIA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (ANZ)—ANZ Samoa has reaffirmed its longstanding support for the Samoa Cancer Society and its annual Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, helping to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection across Samoa.
The Samoa Cancer Society’s 2026 Pinktober campaign was officially launched at ANZ’s Main Branch in Matafele, bringing together government representatives, members of the diplomatic community, health professionals, breast cancer survivors, ANZ staff and community members.
As part of its support for the campaign, ANZ Samoa donated WST 5,000 to the Samoa Cancer Society to assist its ongoing work with people and families affected by cancer.
ANZ Samoa Country Head Sucharu Tandon said Pinktober was an important opportunity to bring communities together around a cause that touches the lives of many Samoan families.
“Pinktober brings us together as a community to raise awareness, offer support and honour everyone affected by breast cancer,” Tandon said.
“ANZ has supported the Samoa Cancer Society for close to 15 years through corporate contributions, staff giving and community fundraising. This support has helped the Society deliver patient visits, awareness campaigns and other vital services.”
“Most of us know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, whether it is a family member, friend, neighbour, colleague or someone from our church or village.”
“By raising awareness, we hope to support more people on their path to early detection, treatment and recovery.”
Tandon said conversations about breast cancer, early detection and preventative care must continue throughout the year.
ANZ Samoa employees will wear pink every Thursday throughout the campaign to help keep the conversation going and encourage people to seek medical advice when something does not feel right.
Tandon said supporting this year’s launch was especially meaningful as he prepares to complete his tenure as ANZ Samoa Country Head.
“It has been a privilege to serve Samoa and support organisations doing important work in our community” he said.
“ANZ deeply values its partnership with the Samoa Cancer Society. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference for individuals and families affected by cancer,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Beyond Treaties: How investment disputes trap Pacific nations
By Tahia Uale
SUVA, 02 OCTOBER 2206 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Across the vast expanse of the Blue Pacific, island states are managing approximately 30 percent of the world’s oceans and seas within their exclusive economic zones (EEZs), making the region a continent of “Big Ocean States.”
What lies in the depths of these waters are substantial deposits of rare earth elements and precious minerals. These deep-sea minerals have become the centre of regional to international debate, driven by the increasing demand for energy, military expansion, and digital and commercial technologies. Corporations have now entered a race to secure access to Pacific earth minerals.
The Pacific region is not new to public discourse on the depletion of ecological resources, destruction of marine livelihoods and cultural loss; however, foreign mining corporations are establishing legal rights that will allow them to bypass domestic courts and settle disputes before offshore arbitral tribunals through Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
Dr Jane Kelsey, former professor of Law at the University of Auckland, who recently authored the report Undermining Sovereignty: De-Risking the Pacific from Investor-State Dispute in Deep-Sea Mining, argues that global geopolitical drivers are to blame for this rush to the bottom of the ocean.
The report demonstrates that the lack of formal Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) withforeign investors exposes Pacific nations to substantial risk of multi-million or multi-billion-dollar international arbitration claims through alternative legal pathways.
Understanding Arbitration: Public Courts vs. Offshore Tribunals
To understand the threat of ISDS, we must examine contrasting domestic court systems with the international investor-state arbitration tribunals. Domestic Judicial Systems are typically settled in public courts by tenured judges who must balance commercial interests against public health, environmental regulations, human rights, and community welfare while adhering to national constitutions and Kastom law.
Contrarily, ISDS cases are privately settled behind closed doors by ad hoc commercial tribunals, such as the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) or under United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) rules.
ISDS panels consist of private commercial arbitrators, such as investment lawyers who alternate roles in representing corporate entities and arbitrators. The flaws within ISDS are structural and deeply rooted to the system. Foreign mining companies are protected by enforced, broadly termed investor protections such as “Fair and Equitable treatment” (FET), “legitimate expectations,” and protection against “indirect expropriation”.
Adam Wolfenden, Deputy Coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), stated in the report’s official launch that the system is fundamentally structural in its bias.
“The mechanism itself is very much tilted towards the company and against the state, and this idea that the state and the communities have the right to determine for themselves what the economic trajectory and regulations are and how to uphold their environmental protections and human rights.”
Sieni Tiraa Ivaiti, Environmentalist Campaign Manager at Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) in the Cook Islands, highlights how this would affect state regulatory authority.
“As we have seen recently here in the Cook Islands, company structures and ownership can change. Ultimate ownership and control are not always clear. Important contracts, agreements, and legal documents aren’t accessible either,” she said.
“This makes it extremely difficult for the Cook Islands public and civil society to understand who holds the rights, who carries the liabilities, and what legal and financial risks our governments may have accepted.”
The cautionary tale of Solwara 1 and Papua New Guinea’s $K3000 Million loss Papua New Guinea (PNG) faced the devastating real-world consequences of ISDS with Nautilus Minerals over the Solwara 1 project in the Bismark Sea.
In 2011, Canadian-listed Nautilus Minerals Niugini LTD was granted the world’s first commercial deep-sea mining license. Local coastal communities strongly opposed this project, fearing the destruction of hydrothermal vents, impact on fisheries due to mineral leaching and severe cultural disruption. When the PNG Government hesitated to complete equity financing, Nautilus initiated international arbitration in Sydney, Australia, in 2013 under UNCITRAL rules.
PNG was forced into a compromised settlement after being ruled against by the arbitrator. In order to fund a forced 15 percent equity stake, PNG took out a K375 million (approximately USD$120 million) bank loan through a state enterprise without prior approval from parliament.
Nautilus saw its collapse into bankruptcy in 2019, leaving the project abandoned, PNG as an unsecured creditor and the loss of more than 300 million (US$67 million) Kina in public funds PNG had invested.
Samantha Kuman, Interim National Coordinator for The Healthy Oceans Network (THON) in PNG, expressed the costly impact of the failed project during the launch.
“Almost every single person in the country existing at that time paid 41 Kina each (US$9.18). For some people, that might be a chump change. For some, that is way above their daily living allowance,” added Kuman.
“Prevention is cheaper than arbitration, and sovereignty is more valuable than a long-term investment promise,”
Despite the project’s collapse, Deep Sea Mining Finance Ltd, a private company registered in the British Virgin Islands acquired the licenses and resumed sampling in 2024. Any future cancellation by PNG could potentially lead to another ISDS lawsuit under the UK-PNG Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
The Five Legal Pathways to Corporate Litigation
While Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) that contain ISDS provisions is a common avenue for countries to get sued by foreign companies, this is not the only mechanism for countries to be exposed to such liability.
Dr Kelsey identified five legal pathways through which foreign mining investors can initiate ISDS proceedings in the report.
First, legacy BITs often grant direct enforceable rights through international arbitration. Not just this, even if these treaties are terminated, PNG’s legal BITs with Australia, Germany, China and other countries can continue to protect foreign investors’ rights for up to 20 years after a state terminates the treaty.
Second, State-Investor Contracts often contain “stabilisation clauses.” These clauses restrict a government’s ability to change taxes, royalties, and environmental regulations and allow disputes to be taken to international arbitration.
Third, International Seabed Authority (ISA) Sponsorship Agreements create a legal pathway; through this, private firms must acquire state sponsorship in order to explore international waters known as “the Area”. Signed agreements between Pacific nations such as Tonga, the Cook Islands and Naoero and the subsidiaries of The Metals Company (TMC), including Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML) and Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), provide investors with ISDS legal protections and litigation pathways if they believe the state’s action breaches the agreement, including changes to Tonga’s deep-sea mining legislation.
Fourth, domestic Seabed Mining Acts in the case of Naoero and the Cook Islands allow disputes to be taken to international arbitration instead of being settled through domestic courts.
These statutory pre-commitments allow this to happen and raise questions about sovereignty and who gets to decide on the implementation of domestic law.
Finally, the report further discusses the U.S Deep-Seabed Extraction Permits, which unilaterally allow mining companies to apply for permits to extract minerals from the seabed in international waters. Companies such as The Metals Company (TMC) USA and American Ocean Minerals Corporation (AOMC) are seeking these U.S permits that may overlap with zones approved by the ISA. This could create legal disputes with Pacific nations under international law.
The “Chilling Effect” and Community Opposition
The case of Odyssey Marine Exploration v United Mexican States (2024) demonstrates how deep-sea mining companies use international arbitration to challenge government decisions as well as sideline community perspectives.
When the Mexican Government rejected the company’s environmental assessment, Odyssey took legal action and filed a claim under the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that the state government had harmed its investment. The tribunal granted the mining company a handsome USD$37 million in compensation, in the process of which it refused to allow the voices of a local fishing cooperative, affected by the proposed mining, to be considered in its decision. This case shows how ISDS undermines the ability of governments to respond to community concerns as a legitimate reason for decision-making. Cook Islands are at potential risk of international arbitration as Odyssey has a majority stake in Cook Islands Cobalt Limited and equity in Moana Minerals Limited, both of which have exploration licenses in the EEZ.
Dr Kelsey explained that the “chilling effect” is generated by asymmetrical legal exposure: “by having ISDS threatening to use it, or even having officials aware of it, they can scare the state from going through with a proposal that the investors oppose.”
Olive Mafi, Program Coordinator for the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT), explained how these legal structures can limit communities’ ability to take part in democratic decision-making.
“Dialogue after dialogue, the overwhelming majority of those people who had taken part in this discussion said no to deep-sea mining,” Mafi stated.
“Agreements of this kind can put a price on a government changing its mind, and our people have never been shown what that price might be. A sovereignty we cannot afford to use is not really sovereignty.”
This opacity is particularly evident in the Cook Islands, where the U.S-based Odyssey Marine
Exploration is tied to joint ventures alongside the state-owned Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) through entities holding seabed exploration licenses in the nation’s EEZ.
However, the agreements between the state and investors, including sponsorship contracts, remain confidential; the public and local communities are not fully aware of the government’s potential financial obligations and exposure to investor-state arbitration.
De-Risking Pacific Sovereignty
There is a growing global opposition to ISDS as it undermines the sovereignty of countries and is increasingly being used by extractive industries, including to challenge climate action.
Undermining Sovereignty: De-Risking the Pacific from Investor-State Dispute in Deep-Sea
Mining’s policy roadmap highlights five key recommendations to protect national budgets, public resources and ocean governance. Countries such as PNG, Tonga and Timor-Leste should terminate active BITs and remove “survivor clauses” that allow investor protections to remain in force after a treaty is terminated.
The Pacific region must also ensure that ISA sponsorship agreements preserve the right to handle disputes through domestic courts and prioritise national laws. Lastly, to uphold legal and environmental compliance standards, Pacific states must re-examine seabed sponsorship contracts and eliminate investor-state arbitration clauses…PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPREP co-leads on Nature for Health in the Pacific to address environmental drivers of disease through One Health
NADI, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)— A key milestone in the region’s efforts to prevent zoonotic disease at source was celebrated at the Nature for Health Pacific Scoping Workshop.
Held from 28–29 September 2026, Pacific Officials from Environment, Health and animal health; regional organisations and partners gathered to strengthen efforts to protect human, animal and environmental health through the Nature for Health (N4H) Pacific Scoping Workshop.
Organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Community (SPC), the workshop brought together regional stakeholders to address the environmental drivers of zoonotic disease emergence and strengthen preventative action through a coordinated One Health approach.
Environmental pressures, including habitat destruction, unsustainable land use, urban expansion, invasive species and climate change, can disrupt ecological systems and increase interactions between people, animals and disease vectors, contributing to the risk of disease transmission.
The workshop aligns with SPREPs strategic mandate and its vision of a resilient Pacific environment, sustaining livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with Pacific cultures.
“Our region’s health and our region’s environment are not separate agendas — they are the same agenda,” said Jope Davetanivalu, SPREP Director Environmental Governance.
“Preventing disease at its source, where nature, animals and people meet, is far less costly than responding to outbreaks after they occur, and the Pacific has both the knowledge and the regional institutions to lead that work.”
The workshop reinforced the importance of regional cooperation in addressing complex environmental and health challenges, while supporting Pacific countries in building resilience against emerging disease risks.
Protecting nature is an investment in the health and wellbeing of Pacific peoples. Through the Nature for Health initiative, regional partners are working towards a future where healthier ecosystems, healthier animals and healthier communities are recognised as essential elements of a resilient Pacific.
SPREP also highlighted the Pacific State of Environment and Conservation Report 2025 provides the region’s first assessment of environmental change since the 2020 report. It examines how environmental pressures—including climate extremes, invasive species, habitat loss, waste, wastewater, livestock production, and coastal pollution—shape upstream risks to human and ecosystem health.
The outcomes from the workshop will inform the development of the Nature for Health Pacific Implementation Project Document, helping establish a foundation for coordinated regional action and longer-term collaboration….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
From knowledge to action: IUCN joins the Pacific in carrying conservation priorities forward
A month after conservation leaders, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, practitioners, governments and partners gathered in Nouméa, New Caledonia, the messages from the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas (PCNC11) continue to resonate across the region.
NOUMEA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (IUCN)—Held from 07–11 September 2026 at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, New Caledonia, PCNC11 brought together the Pacific conservation community at an important time for the region.
The Conference was co-hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Government of New Caledonia and the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT), bringing together governments, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, regional organisations, conservation practitioners, researchers, civil society, donors and development partners from across the Pacific.
For IUCN, a member of PIRT and longstanding partner within the Pacific conservation community, the Conference provided an important opportunity to contribute to this collective regional effort while strengthening collaboration with SPREP, Pacific governments, IUCN Members and other partners. IUCN’s participation reflected the breadth of the Union, bringing together representatives from the IUCN Oceania Regional Office, IUCN Headquarters, the IUCN European Regional Office, the French National Committee of IUCN, IUCN Members and programmes working across the Pacific.
The gathering also reinforced the importance of regional institutions and partnerships in carrying Pacific conservation priorities forward. Through SPREP’s regional mandate, the collective work of PIRT and the contributions of its members and partners, PCNC11 provided a platform for Pacific voices to shape a shared direction for nature conservation—one grounded in Pacific knowledge, leadership and priorities.
Pacific knowledge and leadership at the centre
Across the Conference, one message remained clear: conservation in the Pacific cannot be separated from its people, cultures and deep relationships with land and ocean.
For generations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have managed islands, forests, reefs and ocean spaces through knowledge systems, customary governance and practices shaped by their relationship with nature.
IUCN-supported discussions throughout PCNC11 reinforced the importance of ensuring these knowledge systems are not treated simply as an addition to contemporary conservation. They are fundamental to understanding how conservation can be designed, governed and sustained in the Pacific.
During discussions on Indigenous voices for nature conservation, participants explored customary leadership, spirituality, cultural relationships with land and ocean, and the responsibilities that communities carry as custodians of their natural environment.
The conversation challenged participants to remember the knowledge and practices that have sustained Pacific communities, recognise the authority and contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, reset approaches where conservation has become disconnected from people, and reimagine conservation systems where culture, traditional knowledge, science and community leadership work alongside one another.
It was a reminder that the question is not simply how Indigenous knowledge can fit within modern conservation, but also what modern conservation can learn from generations of Pacific stewardship.
From knowledge to stewardship
These ideas were brought together through IUCN’s “From Knowledge to Stewardship” side event, which created a space for traditional leaders, communities, conservation practitioners and partners to explore how Pacific knowledge, leadership and innovation can be translated into practical action.
Conversations ranged from Indigenous and traditional knowledge to science and emerging tools such as environmental DNA, resilient food and energy systems, Nature-based Solutions, sustainable livelihoods, youth leadership, conservation finance and partnerships.
While diverse, these discussions demonstrated how interconnected conservation is in the Pacific.
Healthy ecosystems support food security and livelihoods. Traditional knowledge strengthens stewardship. Science and innovation can provide new tools for understanding environmental change. Nature-based Solutions can strengthen community resilience. And sustainable financing and partnerships can help locally developed solutions grow without losing the community ownership that made them effective in the first place.
The side event also demonstrated the value of collaboration across IUCN. Colleagues from different parts of the Union worked alongside regional teams, Members, partners and Pacific practitioners to connect local experiences with regional and global conservation discussions.
The event was financially supported through the COLOURS, Energy Ecosystems and Sustainable Livelihoods Initiative (EESLI), SOMACORE and BESTLIFE2030 projects, reflecting the contribution of different programmes and partners to advancing conservation priorities across Oceania.
Taking locally led conservation further
PCNC11 also provided an important platform for organisations working directly with communities to share their experiences.
Ahead of the main Conference, practitioners supported through BESTLIFE2030 and the Kiwa Initiative came together for an exchange focused on the realities of implementing locally led conservation.
Their experiences highlighted an important lesson: relatively small investments can have impacts extending far beyond an individual project.
When resources reach organisations and communities already working on the ground, they can help restore ecosystems, protect threatened species and strengthen climate resilience. But they can also build organisational capacity, create livelihood opportunities, empower women and young people, strengthen community knowledge and establish partnerships that continue beyond individual funding cycles.
These experiences were carried into PCNC11 through wider conversations on scaling locally led conservation in the Pacific, bringing together community organisations, practitioners, donors and partners to consider how funding mechanisms can become more accessible and responsive to local realities.
For IUCN, these discussions reinforced the importance of connecting global and regional conservation financing with the people already delivering solutions on the ground.
Conservation for nature and people
Another strong message emerging from Nouméa was that conservation cannot be viewed separately from the wellbeing of Pacific communities.
Discussions on nature-positive livelihoods explored how protecting and restoring ecosystems can simultaneously support incomes, food security, cultural identity and climate resilience.
Examples shared from across the region demonstrated the possibilities—from sustainable fisheries and ecosystem restoration to community enterprises, resilient food systems and Nature-based Solutions.
For Pacific Island countries and territories, where communities remain deeply connected to and dependent upon terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems, this relationship is particularly important.
Protecting nature is therefore not simply about conserving biodiversity. It is also about supporting the foundations upon which Pacific cultures, economies, livelihoods and future generations depend.
Strengthening the Pacific conservation community
Beyond individual sessions and presentations, PCNC11 demonstrated the importance of bringing the Pacific conservation community together.
For IUCN, the Conference provided opportunities to strengthen relationships with Members, governments, regional organisations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, conservation organisations, donors and development partners.
It also demonstrated the value of IUCN’s role as a Union.
The challenges facing nature in the Pacific cannot be addressed by one organisation, government or community alone. IUCN brings together governments and civil society organisations with its network of experts and Commissions, while its regional and global programmes can help connect knowledge, policy, science, standards, financing and action.
PCNC11 provided a valuable space for those different parts of the Union to engage with Pacific experiences and priorities while learning directly from those working at community, national and regional levels.
From Nouméa to regional and global action
The Conference was also about looking ahead.
Among its important outcomes were the Pacific Islands Framework for Nature Conservation 2026–2030 and the Môo Mâ Awé Declaration, providing renewed regional direction for conservation and protected areas across Oceania.
These outcomes come at an important moment.
Pacific countries are continuing to advance implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including efforts towards Target 3 and the conservation of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas. At the same time, the region continues to advocate internationally for stronger responses to climate change and greater recognition of the particular circumstances facing Pacific Island countries.
The experiences shared in Nouméa therefore have relevance far beyond the Conference itself.
Community-led conservation, Indigenous knowledge, protected and conserved areas, Nature-based Solutions, sustainable livelihoods and accessible conservation finance are all part of a much wider conversation about how global biodiversity and climate commitments become meaningful action on the ground.
The Pacific has important lessons to contribute to that conversation.
Carrying the momentum forward
PCNC11 has concluded, but the work represented in Nouméa continues every day across the Pacific.
For IUCN, carrying the momentum forward means continuing to work as a Union alongside governments, Members, Commissions, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, regional organisations, civil society, donors and development partners.
It means supporting conservation approaches that recognise traditional knowledge alongside science; strengthening locally led initiatives; improving connections between communities and conservation finance; supporting effective and equitable protected and conserved areas; and ensuring Pacific experiences continue to inform regional and global environmental processes.
Most importantly, the Conference demonstrated that the Pacific should not be defined solely by the environmental challenges it faces.
Across the region are generations of knowledge, strong customary systems, committed communities, innovative conservation practitioners, growing networks of young leaders and partnerships already demonstrating what solutions can look like.
The opportunity now is to build upon these strengths.
As the Pacific carries the outcomes of Nouméa forward, IUCN remains committed to working across the Union and alongside its Pacific Members and partners to connect knowledge with action, local leadership with opportunity, and regional priorities with global commitments.
Because the lasting legacy of PCNC11 will not be measured only by what was discussed in Nouméa, but by what happens next—in communities, across islands and seascapes, through regional partnerships and in the decisions that shape the future of nature and people across the Pacific….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
WHO and partners showcase first Pandemic Fund multi-country project in the Western Pacific
MANILA, 02 OCTOBER 2026 (WHO PACIFIC) —A landmark pandemic preparedness project spanning 12 Western Pacific countries was introduced by the World Health Organisation, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Pandemic Fund Secretariat.
The project — Data to Action: Stronger Pandemic Preparedness and Response Systems in the Western Pacific Region — is the Pandemic Fund’s first multi-country project in the Western Pacific Region. Launched in 2022, the Fund is a global financing mechanism to assist low- and middle-income countries to strengthen capacities to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics.
Government leaders, technical experts and development partners assembled virtually for the inaugural presentation as an advance side event to the upcoming session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, to be held from 19 to 22 October at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines.
A country-led response
The project brings together Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Naoero, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Tonga, Tuvalu and Viet Nam. They will pool experiences and best practices to close persistent gaps in surveillance, laboratory capacity and emergency workforce readiness through building and strengthening capacity.
Reflecting regional solidarity, governments used a multisectoral process that engaged governments, technical institutions, civil society organisations and development partners. The project design also emphasises the importance of the One Health approach connecting human, animal and environmental health to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response efforts.
In his opening remarks, WHO Regional Director Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala praised the process: “What makes Data to Action different is that it was built and shaped by the countries it serves. Through dialogue and consultations, countries identified common priorities and opportunities to work together. Data did not just describe the problem: data built the case, and the solidarity, to solve it.”
Collaboration and sustained investment
The project will strengthen multisource surveillance systems, expand laboratory networks and diagnostic capacity while also improving the capacity of a One Health workforce to be able to respond to outbreaks before they become crises.
Dr Gina Samaan, WHO Regional Emergency Director for the Western Pacific, highlighted the on-the-ground impact the project is expected to deliver. “Data to Action is a milestone for our Region. It is proof that regional collaboration, paired with sustained investment, is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect the health and security of our communities.
“By strengthening multisource surveillance systems, expanding laboratory networks and diagnostic capacity, and building a skilled One Health workforce, our Region will be better able to respond to outbreaks before they escalate into wider crises, safeguarding health and saving lives.”
Dr Samaan noted that the project’s regional architecture — linking national laboratory networks, specimen referral systems and communities of practice across diverse countries — will help ensure that a disease outbreak detected in one country can trigger a coordinated regional response before it spreads.
Shared commitments from partners
Backed by a US$35.99 million grant from the Pandemic Fund, the project has already catalysed more than US$ 151 million in additional co-financing from multilateral organisations, the private sector, philanthropic institutions and other international partners, alongside more than US$37 million in co-investment from the participating governments.
“Data to Action is exactly the kind of bold, country-led collaboration the Pandemic Fund was created to catalyze,” said Dr Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund Secretariat.
“Bringing together 12 governments and a diverse group of partners, this project demonstrates how the Pandemic Fund’s catalytic model can help translate shared ambition into coordinated investments—connecting countries and partners around a common goal of strengthening health security within and across borders. We are proud to support our first multi-country project in the Western Pacific and look forward to what this partnership can achieve for communities across the region,” she added.
The scale of co-financing shows partners’ confidence in the model of country ownership and exemplifies what catalytic financing can accomplish, that is, the ability of modest seed funding to unlock much larger, sustained commitments to preparedness…PACNEWS
