Validation of Fiji Country Partnership Strategy Final Review, 2019–2023

This validation report gives an independent review of ADB’s current country partnership strategy (CPS) for Fiji, 2019–2023, and provides lessons and suggestions to inform the next CPS. It finds that ADB provided effective and efficient assistance, and helped Fiji’s economy to swiftly bounce back from the pandemic and the natural disasters in 2020. The validation learned three things from ADB’s work in Fiji during 2019–2023. First, ADB’s flexibility helped adjust operations to meet changing development needs; second, the execution of ADB’s CPS for Fiji, 2019–2023, revealed the need for more differentiation and selectivity; and, third, poor integration and complicated project designs caused implementation to lag behind. The report suggests three ways to improve ADB's next CPS for Fiji. First, ADB should adapt its work in Fiji to the country's situation and changes; second, ADB should keep using concessional financing to support Fiji's development goals; and, third, ADB should use an integrated approach to ensure the efficacy of its next CPS for Fiji.