In this bulletin:
1. ACP — OACPS Ministers adopt reform agenda, Back Malabo declaration and resource mobilisation
2. PACIFIC — Pacific Climate Ministers meet ahead of key regional and global talks
3. SOL — Solomon Islands MPs get another pay rise amid cost-of-living crisis
4. PACIFIC — PCC warns against militarising Pacific’s ‘Ocean of Peace’ vision
5. FIJI — Dialogue Fiji says current voting system more proportional
6. VAN — U.S reaffirms commitment to Partnership with Vanuatu
7. NZ — Consent starts at home, Pacific expert says law reform needs family conversations
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Govt approves sugar imports to prevent possible shortages
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Images show gruesome extent of illegal Pacific fishing
10. PACNEWS BIZ — PM Marape welcomes restoration of direct Air Niugini flights to Japan
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Nauru’s remarkable recent economic success
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Fostering essential solar product repair skills to drive down e-waste in Vanuatu
ACP – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
OACPS Ministers adopt reform agenda, Back Malabo declaration and resource mobilisation
BRUSSELS, 21 JULY (PACNEWS)—Ministers from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) have adopted a series of decisions aimed at advancing the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, strengthening the organisation’s finances and governance, addressing trade concerns and expanding diaspora engagement following the 121st Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers in Brussels, Belgium.
The decisions, adopted during the 15-16 July meeting, cover ten key areas including a revised contributions formula, debt waivers for Somalia, Sudan and Cuba, implementation of the Malabo Declaration, accreditation of ambassadors, the United Kingdom’s tariff suspension on selected food products, resource mobilisation, the establishment of a diaspora centre of excellence in Nigeria, and preparations for the 122nd Session of the Council of Ministers.
The Council endorsed the Implementation Matrix and Road Map for the Malabo Declaration and mandated the Secretary-General to ensure its timely and effective implementation in consultation with Member States and the relevant organs of the organisation.
On financial governance, ministers agreed to retain the current contributions system based on a ceiling of seven percent and a floor of 0.2 percent while updating the data used to calculate members’ contributions.
The Council also approved debt waivers for Somalia, Sudan and Cuba, instructing the Committee of Ambassadors to determine how to address the financial implications arising from the decisions.
To strengthen institutional reform, ministers approved a manual governing the accreditation of OACPS ambassadors, saying the framework forms part of the organisation’s broader modernisation agenda and will enhance its credibility and effectiveness.
The Council also expressed concern over the United Kingdom’s temporary suspension of tariffs on selected food and agricultural products, including tuna, warning that the measure could reduce the value of long-standing trade preferences enjoyed by OACPS members.
Ministers requested the Secretariat to undertake technical studies, engage with UK authorities and explore measures to address members’ concerns.
On resource mobilisation, ministers commended King Mswati III for leading the organisation’s resource mobilisation initiative and called for a second international round table on sustainable financing to be held in 2027.
They also welcomed voluntary contributions made by member states during the session.
The Council approved the operational launch of the OACPS Centre of Excellence for the Diaspora in Nigeria and instructed the Secretary-General to conclude a host country agreement with the Nigerian Government and report progress at the next Council meeting.
Looking ahead, ministers agreed that Ethiopia will host the 122nd Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers, with the exact date to be confirmed. …..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PIFS PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Pacific Climate Ministers meet ahead of key regional and global talks
SUVA, 21 JULY 2026 (PIFS)— Pacific climate ministers meet Tuesday for the sixth Pacific Climate Change Ministers’ Meeting, as the region works to strengthen its position ahead of a series of major regional and international climate negotiations.
Ahead of the meeting, a briefing was held for co-chair Wayne Ghemu, Solomon Islands’ Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.
The Pacific Climate Ministers Talanoa, to be held on 21 July, is jointly chaired by Ghemu and Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen.
The meeting is expected to advance regional dialogue and strengthen alignment on Pacific priorities ahead of the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, and COP31 in Türkiye…..PACNEWS
SOL – PAY HIKE: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Solomon Islands MPs get another pay rise amid cost-of-living crisis
HONIARA, 21 JULY 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—Members of Solomon Islands Parliament have received another salary increase – the second in just two years – despite the continuing economic challenges facing Solomon Islanders.
The newly amended 2026 Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations (PER), obtained by In-depth Solomons, reveal that the salaries of all MPs have increased again following a substantial pay rise approved in 2024.
The latest increase took effect on 01 April 2026, according to Nigel Maezama, Chairman of the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC), the independent body responsible for reviewing and determining MPs’ salaries and entitlements.
Under the new regulations, Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s annual salary has increased to SBD454,659.43(US$57112.58), up from SBD428,560.12(US$53,219) under the 2024 regulations.
Ordinary MPs will now earn SBD288,615.02(US$35,805) a year, up from SBD272,047.34(US$33,047)
The revised annual salaries are:
*Deputy Prime Minister: SBD408,687.10(US$50,705) up from SBD385,226.79 (US$47,841)
*Ministers, Opposition Leader and Independent Group Leader: SBD354,912.78(US$44,081) up from SBD334,539.33(US$41,571)
*Deputy Speaker and Parliamentary Committee Chairpersons: SBD320,279.37(US$39,803) up from SBD301,894.02(US$37,507)
The latest adjustments continue a sharp upward trend in MPs’ remuneration since the major review in 2024.
The increase is likely to reignite public debate over parliamentary salaries, a contentious issue in Solomon Islands as many households continue to grapple with the rising cost of living, economic hardship and ongoing challenges in essential public services.
The pay rise is also politically significant because Prime Minister Wale was among the strongest critics of the previous increase when he served as Opposition Leader in 2024.
At the time, Wale described the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission’s decision to increase MPs’ salaries as “untimely and insensitive.”
He argued the increases could not be justified while the country was struggling with economic hardship, a health system under pressure, deteriorating roads and challenges in the education sector.
Wale said the decision was “a slap in the face to every Solomon Islander struggling to make ends meet.”
He also stated during the last election campaign that he would abolish PEC if he comes to power.
In-depth Solomons has sought comment from the Prime Minister’s Office on the latest increase, which was approved before the GREAT Coalition Government came to power in May 2026.
PEC Chairman Maezama said the Commission approved the increase because MPs had not received the 3 percent Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for 2024 and 2025.
He said the Commission made its decision after consultations with, and receiving advice from, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury…..PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN OF PEACE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
PCC warns against militarising Pacific’s ‘Ocean of Peace’ vision
SUVA, 21 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), Reverend James Bhagwan, has urged Pacific leaders to ensure the region’s “Ocean of Peace” vision is not overtaken by military and security interests, warning that peace must remain rooted in justice, dialogue and the wellbeing of Pacific peoples.
In a seven-page pastoral open letter titled “Let Peace Govern Security”, Reverend Bhagwan reflects on the biblical passage of Micah 4:1-4 and calls on Pacific governments, churches and international partners to preserve the original intent of the Ocean of Peace initiative.
Writing from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, Reverend Bhagwan says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s Ocean of Peace vision was initially welcomed because it offered the Pacific a way to promote peace through relationships, dignity, dialogue and care for creation rather than geopolitical competition.
However, he expresses concern that the concept is increasingly being linked to defence and security arrangements.
Referring to the recently signed Veitacini Treaty between Fiji and Australia, Bhagwan notes that while the agreement affirms dialogue and respect for sovereignty, it also includes provisions on deterrence, collective defence and responses to armed attacks.
He points to growing public debate over whether the Ocean of Peace vision has been “hijacked” and cites concerns raised by regional civil society leaders who fear the concept is being co-opted by external military interests.
Reverend Bhagwan argues that the Pacific’s understanding of peace must remain broader than national security.
He says Pacific churches and communities have long defined peace as the wellbeing of people, land and ocean, grounded in reconciliation, justice, neighbourliness and respect for Indigenous knowledge.
The letter also recalls the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, ongoing climate change, violence against women, deep-sea mining and economic inequality as some of the region’s greatest security challenges.
Reverend Bhagwan calls for the proposed Ocean of Peace Centre to focus on conflict prevention, mediation, trauma healing, social cohesion and civilian-led peacebuilding rather than military objectives.
He also urges leaders to ensure women, young people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, churches and civil society share decision-making authority from the outset.
Concluding the letter, Reverend Bhagwan says security should always be guided by peace rather than the reverse.
“May peace give security its direction. May justice shape every agreement,” he writes, calling on Pacific leaders to choose dialogue over confrontation and ensure the Ocean of Peace remains under the shared guardianship of Pacific peoples…..PACNEWS
FIJI – VOTING SYSTEM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Dialogue Fiji says current voting system more proportional
SUVA, 21 JULY 2026 ( FIJI TIMES)—Dialogue Fiji says Fiji’s current electoral system delivers a more accurate reflection of voters’ choices than the proposed Proportional Open List Constituency System being considered during constitutional reform.
In its technical assessment of the Fiji Electoral Law Reform Commission’s recommendations, Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Nilesh Lal argues the existing Open List Proportional Representation (OLPR) system produced an “exceptionally proportional” outcome in the 2022 General Election.
The report shows FijiFirst secured 46.05 percent of qualifying votes and 47.27 percent of parliamentary seats, while the People’s Alliance received 38.77 percent of votes and 38.18 percent of seats.
The National Federation Party obtained 9.62 percent of votes and 9.09 percent of seats, while SODELPA received 5.56 percent of votes and 5.45 percent of seats.
According to the assessment, the largest difference between vote share and seat share was only 1.22 percentage points, demonstrating that the current system translated votes into parliamentary representation with a high degree of accuracy.
By comparison, the report argues the proposed POLCS cannot guarantee proportional representation because around 70 percent of parliamentary seats would already be allocated through constituency contests before national proportionality is calculated.
It also warns that the proposed model could increase wasted votes, make constituency boundaries politically significant again, favour geographically concentrated parties over dispersed support, and potentially require Parliament to expand if overhang seats are created.
The report concludes that while the proposal promises local MPs, greater women’s representation and simpler voting, many of those objectives conflict with one another.
Instead, it argues the existing OLPR system has one key strength—every vote cast anywhere in Fiji carries equal value in determining the composition of Parliament—and says that principle should not be abandoned without a technically sound alternative.
Meanwhile, a technical assessment of the Fiji Electoral Law Reform Commission’s proposed electoral system has concluded that the model is “not a workable proportional electoral system”, warning it contains fundamental mathematical flaws that could undermine election results.
In the 13-page assessment prepared by Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Nilesh Lal, the proposed Proportional Open List Constituency System (POLCS) is described as “mathematically incomplete, internally contradictory and incapable of reliably delivering its central promise of national proportionality.”
The report argues the proposal’s central formula—calculating list seats by subtracting constituency seats from a party’s overall entitlement—fails whenever a party wins more constituency seats than its share of the national vote justifies.
Using a hypothetical example, the assessment states that if a party won all 50 constituency seats with just 51 percent of the national vote, it would be entitled to only about 36 seats under proportional representation.
The formula would therefore require the party to receive minus 14 MPs, something the report says is mathematically impossible.
According to the assessment, only three outcomes would then be possible: remove elected constituency MPs, abandon proportional representation, or significantly increase the size of Parliament through “overhang” and levelling seats.
It says none of those solutions is explained in the proposal.
The report also criticises the proposed ratio of 50 constituency seats and only 21 compensatory list seats, saying it gives far too much weight to first-past-the-post elections before proportionality is considered.
It argues that New Zealand’s MMP system uses a much safer electorate-to-list ratio, whereas Fiji’s proposed 70:30 split creates a much greater risk of disproportional election outcomes.
The assessment concludes that unless a detailed overhang mechanism exists but has not been published, the proposal cannot guarantee proportional representation despite claims that it would…..PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: VBTC PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
U.S reaffirms commitment to Partnership with Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 21 JULY 2026 (VBTC)—The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Vanuatu, highlighting continued cooperation in health, education, disaster preparedness, maritime security and economic development.
It states that the commitment was reiterated during a reception hosted by the United States Embassy in Port Vila last Friday to mark the 250th anniversary of United States independence.
Speaking at the event, Chargé d’Affaires Eric Sheffield said the United States and Vanuatu share common values, including respect for sovereignty, self-determination and strong family and community ties.
He said the relationship between the two countries has continued to grow since the opening of the U.S Embassy in Port Vila in July 2024.
Since then, cooperation has included support for the return of ancestral relics to Vanuatu, VT185 million(US$1.54 million) to modernise weather forecasting and early warning systems, and continued maritime security cooperation through joint ship rider operations protecting Vanuatu’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The United States also highlighted its support in the health sector through the Pacific Partnership programme, where more than 50 American medical personnel provided free healthcare services to over 4,000 Ni-Vanuatu patients, while .US Navy Seabees renovated a health clinic on north Efate.
In education, the Embassy has supplied science equipment, computers and tablets to schools and funded exchange programmes for more than 20 Ni-Vanuatu students, teachers, journalists and professionals over the past two years.
The Embassy also highlighted the recently signed Investment Incentive Agreement, which creates opportunities for greater United States private sector investment in Vanuatu, particularly in energy, infrastructure, ICT, healthcare and access to finance.
Looking ahead, the United States said it will continue supporting projects including a proposed geothermal development on Tanna and the modernisation of Vanuatu’s weather forecasting systems.
Officials said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting economic opportunity, resilience and a stable, secure and prosperous Pacific region….PACNEWS
NZ – SEXUAL HEALTH: PMN PACNEWS 2: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Consent starts at home, Pacific expert says law reform needs family conversations
AUCKLAND, 21 JULY 2026 (PMN)—A Pacific sexual health researcher says teaching children they have the right to say “no” is just as important as changing the law.
As National promises to introduce affirmative consent laws if re-elected.
Dr Analosa Veukiso-Ulugia, a University of Auckland senior lecturer, says legal reform is only one part of protecting young people from sexual harm.
“A legal definition on its own is not enough because consent is about relationships, communication, respect and understanding boundaries,” she tells PMN News.
“If we want to support our communities, we need comprehensive sexuality education, resources that families and communities can understand, and more opportunities for our young people to learn and practise these skills in real life.”
National announced on Sunday it would introduce affirmative consent laws, requiring consent to be communicated through words or actions rather than assumed because someone did not say “no”.
The party says the change would provide a clearer legal definition of consent while leaving the burden of proof in sexual offence cases unchanged.
But Veukiso-Ulugia says the conversation needs to start long before adulthood.
She believes children should grow up knowing they can speak up when something does not feel right: saying ‘no’ or ‘stop, I don’t like it’.
She says parents and caregivers can also help children practise those skills in everyday situations with siblings and trusted family members.
“When they’re saying it with people that they trust, they start building confidence for situations that might be unfamiliar; they already have that muscle memory”
Veukiso-Ulugia encourages Pacific families to rethink some traditions around physical affection.
“There are other ways to show respect, but it might not necessarily mean going up and kissing someone on the cheek when you’ve never met them before,” she says.
Her comments come as a Youth19 survey of 7374 teenagers highlights the experiences of Pacific young people.
The University of Auckland study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, found 15.3 percent of Pacific secondary school students reported an unwanted sexual experience, while 9.6 percent were unsure whether an experience had been unwanted.
Veukiso-Ulugia says those findings reinforce what Pacific young people have been saying for years: that they want more support to understand consent and healthy relationships.
She says some young people may freeze during a sexual encounter without saying “no”, while the other person wrongly assumes silence means consent.
She says Pacific organisations are already leading work in this space through initiatives including the Village Collective’s Navig8 programme, Le Va’s Lali initiative and the Nesian Narratives toolkit, which help families, churches and early childhood educators have conversations about consent, safety, and healthy relationships.
The proposal has sparked political debate.
Labour and the Green Party argue Parliament could pass similar reforms now through a member’s bill introduced in 2024.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told RNZ National would introduce its own legislation if re-elected.
But Veukiso-Ulugia says the bigger challenge extends beyond Parliament.
The debate highlights how creating safer communities starts with giving children the confidence to understand their boundaries and know that their voice matters….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – SUGAR INDUSTRY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Fiji Govt approves sugar imports to prevent possible shortages
SUVA, 21 JULY 2206 (FIJI SUN)—The Fiji Government has approved sugar imports as a precautionary measure to prevent possible shortages, while maintaining that current local stocks remain sufficient.
Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development Esrom Immanuel said businesses had been given approval to import sugar to help maintain supply should shortages emerge.
The move follows concerns from retailers and consumers over sugar availability, with the Government working alongside industry stakeholders to ensure the market remains adequately supplied.
Immanuel said checks conducted last week with the Ministry of Agriculture and Sugar Industry confirmed that existing sugar stocks were sufficient.
“We checked last week; the Ministry of Agriculture and Sugar mentioned that there are sufficient stocks, but we have allowed businesses to import sugar as well because it will cater for the expected shortage,” he said.
He said the approval would provide businesses with an additional option to secure supplies while local production continues.
Immanuel said the start of the sugar harvesting season was expected to ease pressure on supply over the next few months.
“However, harvesting has already started, so that probably can cater for sugar in the next two or three months,” he said.
He said importers had been given approval to bring in sugar through the existing approval process.
“But for now we have allowed any importer to also import through the decimation pattern,” he said.
The decision comes as Fiji’s sugar industry enters the harvesting season, with supply dependent on cane production, milling activity and market demand.
Imported sugar is expected to provide a temporary buffer while locally produced sugar from the new harvest enters the market.
The Government said it would continue monitoring sugar stocks and work with retailers and industry stakeholders to ensure consumers have reliable access to supplies…..PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 21 Jul 2026
Images show gruesome extent of illegal Pacific fishing
FUNAFUTI, 21 JULY 2026 (AAP)—The interception of a Chinese vessel accused of illegal fishing highlights the technical lengths many use to remain undetected across millions of square kilometres of open ocean.
Tuvalu Police operating on a Sea Shepard patrol boat boarded and arrested a Chinese longliner, the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 138, on July 9 for allegedly illegally operating within the small South Pacific nation’s waters.
The vessel was allegedly running with its navigation light turned off and transmitting false data showing it to be in different area – an increasingly common practice known as “spoofing”.
After boarding the ship, officers found it did not hold a valid permit to fish the area, detaining the vessel and escorting it to the Port of Funafuti for further investigation.
Sea Shepherd Australia chair Peter Hammarstedt said illegal fishers were increasingly “going dark” by switching off their automatic identification systems, or using them to broadcast false information.
“t’s very common practice, especially in the Pacific Ocean, for Chinese fishing vessels to transmit false positions,” Hammarstedt told AAP.
“If you go onto some vessel tracking software websites, you’ll see some Chinese fishing vessels appear on land, like in the Mongolian desert, for example.
“Obviously the fishing vessel isn’t there, but is operating elsewhere and simply inputting false data to mislead investigators.”
In the case of the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 138, it was allegedly transmitting a location that put it squarely on the equator at 0 degrees, raising the suspicions of investigators.
Sea Shepherd has partnered with Tuvalu Police for the past two years, since the nation’s only operational patrol boat was damaged in a cyclone.
The small island nation monitors a marine domain covering roughly 750,000 sq km, with limited assets to keep an eye on such a large area, meaning most illegal fishing operations go undetected.
“The fishing vessels that do this kind of behaviour operate under the expectation that they’re just not going to get caught,” Hammarstedt said.
Australia and Pacific nations have recently ramped up efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing under the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Fishing Authorisation.
“The Tuvaluans live by the sea, with the sea, and have done so for hundreds and hundreds of years,” Hammarstedt said.
“When I see illegal fishing on an industrial scale happening in the Tuvaluan waters, I see this as theft from the Tuvaluans,” he said…. PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 21 Jul 2026
PM Marape welcomes restoration of direct Air Niugini flights to Japan
PORT MORESBY, 21 JULY 2026 (PMN)—Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape described the successful restoration of Air Niugini’s direct flights between Port Moresby and Narita International Airport in Japan, as a major milestone in PNG’s Aviation Sector.
He also welcomed this restoration as a significant step forward in strengthening the country’s economic, tourism, investment and people-to-people ties with one of its closest and longest-standing development partners.
The inaugural restored service departed Jacksons International Airport last week as Flight PX54 and landed safely at Narita International Airport after approximately six hours, marking the return of direct air connectivity between Papua New Guinea and Japan after several years.
Prime Minister Marape congratulated the staff of Air Niugini and all stakeholders whose commitment made the restoration of the important international route possible.
The Prime Minister noted that Japan has remained one of Papua New Guinea’s most trusted development and economic partners for decades, contributing significantly to infrastructure development, fisheries, energy, agriculture, health, education and human resource development.
“Japan has stood beside Papua New Guinea throughout our development journey.
“Modern aviation is one of the engines of economic growth. Every new international route creates opportunities for investment, employment, exports, tourism and commerce. Improved air connectivity reduces barriers to business and positions Papua New Guinea more competitively within the Asia-Pacific region.” PM Marape said.
Marape said the restoration of the Narita service aligns with the Government’s long-term vision of expanding Papua New Guinea’s international aviation network.
“We are also exploring new opportunities with nations such as the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere to establish additional direct international connections that will strengthen Papua New Guinea’s place in the global economy.
“The expansion of Jacksons International Airport demonstrates our confidence that Papua New Guinea will become an increasingly important Aviation Hub for the Pacific region.” Marape said.
He encouraged Papua New Guineans to take advantage of the renewed service to strengthen business relationships, educational opportunities and tourism exchanges with Japan while inviting more Japanese travelers to discover Papua New Guinea….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Nauru’s remarkable recent economic success
By Stephen Howes
YAREN, 21 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —After a disastrous first couple of decades following independence in 1968, Nauru turned its economic fortunes around in the 2010s, with average annual per-person growth in national income of 4.9 percent between 2009 and 2024. In 2020, it was once again reclassified as a high-income country.
Nauru’s boom has been caused by a surge in foreign income. Its ratio of foreign income to GDP grew from around 30 percent in the late 2000s to more than 60 percent now. The major sources of foreign income have been Australia’s Regional Processing Centre (RPC), other aid and fishing licence revenue.
This influx of foreign income has transformed Nauru’s economy, as a comparison of the country’s two most recent censuses, in 2011 and 2021, confirms.
Between 2011 and 2021, the Nauru economy created 36 percent more jobs for men and, in a victory for gender equity, 74 percent more for women. The share of the population employed increased from 47 percent to 64 percent. Unemployment went down from 23 percent in 2011 to 5 percent in 2021. If any other boom worldwide has delivered similarly stunning results in such a short period, I am not aware of it.
1,300 jobs were created over this period. The government used public sector employment to distribute its newfound foreign income among the population. The biggest job creator: public administration, where the number of jobs almost doubled. Unfortunately, there was hardly any increase in the number of education and health workers. But there were large increases in trade and transport, and in construction, responding to increased demand, as increased foreign income circulated through the economy.
Nauru’s labour market has clearly been booming. But what is even more remarkable is that, given this, the share of households primarily dependent on wage or salary income collapsed between 2011 and 2021, from 85 percent to 53 percent. What new sources of income became available to households? Rents and pensions. The share of households getting their income primarily from rental income increased from just 5 percent to 27 percent. The share of households getting their income primarily from pensions or retirement benefits increased from zero to 7 percent.
Clearly, the government, its bottom line boosted by its new access to foreign income, could now afford to pay benefits. But why has rent become so much more important to Nauruan households? Part of it must be coming from the growing number of foreign businesses operating in Nauru (from the many Chinese restaurants to Australia’s RPC). But this is also another way in which the government is sharing the wealth: in the 2020-21 budget, government land and house rental came to $14 million, a significant amount compared to a salary bill of $45 million(US$31.49 million).
While the 2021 census data is now a bit old, there is no sign of Nauru’s boom having ended. The most recent indicator we have is trips to Australia. In the 1990s, 200–300 Nauruans travelled to Australia every month on average. As times got tough, this fell to 100 in the 2010s. Then, due to the boom of the 2010s, the number of visitors to Australia grew to 500 a month before the pandemic shut borders. After the pandemic, the number of visits started to increase again, and reached 600–800 a month last year: that is more than 5 percent of the Nauruan population visiting Australia every month. Departures and arrivals are almost identical; this is not migration, these are visits. Travel for temporary employment is also extremely rare; rather, these trips are financed from disposable income.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Nauru’s boom will continue. But the country has learned from its past. Having bankrupted its first Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), financed with phosphate profits, Nauru has created a second, better-managed SWF, which has grown from 20 percent of the size of the economy in 2016 to 100 percent now.
The bigger threat to Nauru’s economic performance comes from its growing population. Nauru’s population was stagnant over the 2000s but grew at an annual rate of 1.6 percent between 2011 and 2021. The foreign rents that Nauru has been so successful in attracting are unlikely to continue to grow indefinitely. The country’s population growth means that these rents have to be divided between an ever-larger number of people.
Overall, Nauru has done extremely well to grow its economy and transform its economy for the benefit of its citizens. It has followed a heterodox strategy, ignoring much of the advice offered by mainstream economists. By trial and error, Nauru has come up with a mix of external revenue sources that, while controversial, does not, unlike its earlier experiments with offshore banking and passport sales, attract the opprobrium of major powers.
What Nauru needs now is a migration outlet to reduce population pressures and improve access to health and education. Despite its new-found wealth, Nauru actually has the lowest life expectancy of all the Pacific Island countries, which indicates the seriousness of the health challenges it is facing. A tiny country will always find it difficult to deliver quality health and education services, even a tiny rich country.
Now that Nauru has signed a security treaty with Australia similar to the Tuvalu Falepili treaty, it is well positioned to negotiate with Australia for the same migration concessions that Tuvalu extracted. This would mean that the hundreds of Nauruans who visit Australia every month would be able not only to shop and holiday in Australia, but also to benefit from Australia’s world-class education and health services. And some would migrate permanently, taking pressure off Nauru’s very limited island capacity and helping the country to sustain its remarkable economic boom…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Fostering essential solar product repair skills to drive down e-waste in Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 21 JULY 2026 (UNSW)—A UNSW international partnership that fosters greater solar literacy will help reduce e-waste and improve energy access in Vanuatu.
The pilot project reframes solar product repair and maintenance as essential skills, delivering targeted training in the provinces of Penama and Tafea. It generated opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment across the archipelago.
The research prioritised broad knowledge sharing and inclusion for cumulative impact, says project co-lead Scientia Associate Professor Paul Munro from UNSW’s School of Humanities & Languages.
“Vanuatu’s population is widespread and diverse. There are more than 130 Indigenous languages spoken in addition to Bislama, the lingua franca, and the colonial languages of English and French,” he says.
“Rather than introducing new energy infrastructure, the project supports the upkeep and restoration of existing systems through inclusive training.
“More than 93,000 people across both provinces now have improved access to solar repair services.”
While off-grid solar improves the quality of life, many products function for less than two years, he says. Field research indicated households own an average of 3.7 solar devices; more than 40% of these are no longer working.
“With an estimated 61,950 off-grid solar products across Penama and Tafea alone, ensuring the upkeep and restoration of existing household solar systems is essential for protecting the planet.”
The two-year project, Off-Grid Solar Maintenance, Repair and Entrepreneurship in Vanuatu, was conducted in partnership with the Vanuatu Department of Energy; the Vanuatu Institute of Technology; and the Vanuatu Disability Promotion and Advocacy (VDPA) Association.
Its interdisciplinary team included Dr Shanil Samarakoon (UNSW Engineering/School of Humanities and Languages) and Dr Joyce Wu (School of Social Sciences) with key input from experts within the School of Education, the UNSW Disability Innovation Institute and UNSW Engineering.
Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trading (DFAT), it provided train-the-trainer, vocational and secondary-school programs for impact at national, provincial and local levels respectively.
The project – also known as Fixim Sola, Bislama for fixing solar – helps improve lives, livelihoods and climate resilience across Vanuatu, with a focus on women and people living with disability.
“Women are often the primary users of household energy, yet they are frequently marginalised from the technical spaces surrounding energy systems,” A/Prof. Munro says.
“Addressing this imbalance, ensuring training is accessible and foregrounding the needs of people living with disability was central to the research.”
Repairing, maintaining and reusing all-pervasive solar systems turns waste into opportunity
Universal access to affordable, reliable modern energy by 2030 is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [SDG7]. “Access to energy has intersectional benefits, including for agriculture, business, communications, education and healthcare,” A/Prof. Munro says.
“So, energy is often seen as central to reducing inequities, enabling greater opportunities and meeting diverse goals.”
Vanuatu is made up of 65 inhabited islands; only four have grid electricity. The rapid global expansion of off-grid solar technologies has enabled large numbers of the population to access electricity, A/Prof. Munro says.
“These technologies take many forms, including small solar lanterns, solar home systems powering a few lights, or larger systems capable of running appliances, such as televisions and freezers critical for fishing communities on these islands,” says the expert in energy justice.
“Across many regions including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, these technologies have become ubiquitous.”
In Vanuatu, the uptake of off-grid solar products surged from 3.3% of the population in 2009 to 67.3% in 2020. In the same period, grid connections remained marginally unchanged.
An estimated 90% of households in Penama and Tafea own solar products. Households rarely rely on a single rooftop solar system, like those common in Australia, he says.
“Instead, they adopt a bricolage approach, for example, with a system for lighting individual rooms, another for television and another for charging mobile phones, all scattered across their roofs.”
As solar energy use grows across Vanuatu’s outer islands, so does the challenge of managing broken or discarded solar equipment, he says.
Budget designs, black-boxed technologies, limited capacity and training, and supply chain issues for spare parts promote replacement over repair, rendering warranties effectively meaningless. This compounds the issue of solar e-waste with regulatory frameworks unable to keep pace, opens in a new window.
“The Vanuatu solar market is also dominated by a small number of suppliers around [the capital] Port Vila, which shapes the types of products available. Local repair capacity is limited.
“Training local people to safely repair, maintain and reuse solar systems turns waste into opportunity.”….PACNEWS
