Regional : Pacific Fellows Program

Public sector management / Public administration

PDMCs face a unique development context due to their small size, remoteness, internal dispersion, vulnerability to economic shocks, climate change and natural disasters, as well as complex traditional institutional structures. Among other things, this context contributes to: (i) low institutional capacity; (ii) high aid dependence; and (iii) a strong need to tailor development approaches to the local context.

Many PDMCs are heavily reliant on ADB project financing in a number of areas, notably infrastructure, as well as technical assistance in areas such as public sector management and private sector development. Thinly stretched public administrations offer limited opportunities to build PDMC staff capacity. Heavy aid dependence means it is critical that PDMCs are able to effectively manage and engage with their major development partners, notably ADB. However, many PDMC officials have a limited understanding of ADB policies, practices, and role as a multilateral development bank. It is important for PDMCs to learn from development experiences elsewhere, including within the Pacific subregion itself and also in Asia. Further, it is essential that ADB operations are highly responsive to the unique development context of the PDMCs and incorporate relevant local knowledge and insights as much as possible.

The fellows program is expected to help strengthen infrastructure development, public sector management, and private sector development, all of which are key strategic priorities for all PDMC governments and aligned with ADB country assistance strategies for the PDMCs, including those for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Fiji as well as under the Pacific Approach 2016-2020 which serves as the operational framework of ADB for the Pacific region and the overall country partnership strategy for the 11 smaller Pacific Island Countries the Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

(i) Costs reduced: improving the availability, affordability and reliability of energy, information communication technology, and transport infrastructure.

(ii) Risks managed: greater resilience to external economic and financial shocks, climate change, and natural disasters.

(iii) Value creation enabled: better environment for private sector development, productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.

PDMC staff capacity improved, with gender balanced participation

PDMC capacity to work effectively with ADB enhanced

Greater integration of DMC knowledge into ADB operations

1. First batch of fellows (Q2- Q4 2018) Samoa, Nauru, and Kiribati

Three government officials from Samoa, Nauru, and Kiribati participated in the program. Their fellowships completed with success in Q4 2018.

2. Second batch of fellows (Q2 -Q4 2019) Tonga, PNG, and Timor-Leste

Three government officials from Tonga, PNG, and Timor-Leste commenced their programs in Q2- Q3 2019. The fellow from Tonga has completed the program and the fellowships for the participants from PNG and Timor-Leste will continue until Q4 2019.