Fiji’s Ambassador for Climate Change and Oceans Amena Yauvoli is now the new director-general for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told this newspaper; Ambassador Yauvoli is expected to sign the contract in Honiara, Solomon Islands next week.

He refused to speak to the media on his appointment according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.

Ambassador Yauvoli replaced former director-general Peter Forau, who resigned citing lack of budgetary support and declining commitment from MSG countries to the group’s programme.

However, according to PACNEWS, he was the interim secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) before he was appointed as Ambassador for Climate Change and Oceans.

Ambassador Yauvoli formerly served as Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

He also served as senior policy adviser for sustainable development with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) from January 2004 to December 2005.

In 2008 to December 2012, he was the manager/director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community North Pacific Regional Office in Federated States of Micronesia.

It is believed that he was shortlisted in that position with a top Vanuatu diplomat.

The appointment is expected to be formalised at the MSG Special Leaders Summit next month in Vanuatu.

The MSG Special Leaders Summit will take place in early May 2016 at the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj