Page 40 - Islands Business September 2023

P. 40

USAID
POWER IN THE PACIFIC

Continued from page 18

I want to be very clear—and this is subject to some
misunderstanding, so please, I hope I am very clear. The
United States is not forcing nations to choose between
partnering with the United States and partnering with other
nations to meet their development goals. That said, we do
want you to have a choice. It’s not a choice that we will make
for you, but we want you to have options. We want Pacific
Island nations to have more options to work with partners
whose values and vision for the future align with your own.”
Power has said that 25% of US assistance should go directly
to local partners by 2025, and that enabling this in the Pacific
will be a priority of the new mission. USAID Administrator, Samantha Power visited the 9 Mile Clinic in Port Moresby to
“This does not sound like a big number, 25%, when you see the impact of USAID’s assistance under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief. Photo: Visuals PNG for USAID
think about the substantial resources that USAID works with
around the world. But it is actually quite challenging, because
a lot of organisations—faith-based organisations, community- intended purpose.”
based organisations, probably even, you know, rugby clubs She says the new missions in Fiji and PNG will begin by
that might be inclined to empower girls—they don’t have the planning how to grow capability to localise development over
accountants, and the lawyers, and the capacity sometimes time.
to be able to keep up with the kind of paperwork it takes to “Ultimately, self-reliance is the objective. In so many
comply with US regulations, which we are required to comply countries in so many communities, no one likes dependence. I
with because we are the stewards of American taxpayer think all of us can speak in our own lives. We want to control
money, and we need to make sure that the money goes to its our destinies to have agency,” she said.

El Nino will dramatically increase the
prevalence of extreme weather events
including the frequency and severity of
cyclones.
It is vital that women of all diversities lead the
development and management of disaster
preparedness plans that will ensure water
and food security & prevention of water
borne diseases.

Pacific Island women also have an important
role in the development and dissemination of
early warning information.
Let's Shift the Power Together for Inclusive
Climate Action!

Australia Pacific
Climate Partnership

Find out more via @shiftingthepowercoalition