USP leads regional push for smarter Pacific transport

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is leading a regional drive to improve transport planning across 14 Pacific Island countries through better data, stronger collaboration and evidence-based decision-making.

The initiative was highlighted during the 2026 Pacific Islands Sustainable Transport Coordination Meeting, jointly hosted by USP at the Nalagi Hotel in Nadi with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).

The two-day meeting marked the completion of the first year of the three-year Building an Advanced Data-Driven Framework for Sustainable Transport in the Pacific Islands project.

The programme aims to strengthen transport planning through improved data collection, evidence-based policymaking, the development of a Pacific Transport Data Portal and the creation of a regional Sustainable Transport Community.

USP, through its Land Management and Development Department, has played a central role in coordinating with Pacific Island countries, engaging national stakeholders and supporting the collection and analysis of transport data.

The project is also creating opportunities for students, with internships planned during the next two years to allow them to participate in data collection, research and regional engagement under the guidance of academics and project partners.

Project coordinator Sheenam Singh said the meeting marked an important milestone for the region.

"This coordination meeting is an important opportunity to reflect on the work completed in Year 1 and to reinforce our shared commitment towards sustainable, inclusive, and data-driven transport systems for the Pacific. It provides a platform for Pacific Island countries and partner organisations to collaborate, share experiences, and collectively shape the future of sustainable transport across the region," Ms Singh said.

Representatives from participating countries presented updates on transport data collection, identified national challenges and data gaps, and discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation.

Delegates also reviewed progress on the Pacific Transport Data Portal, which is expected to support transport planning, policy development and the monitoring of sustainable transport indicators across the region.

Closing the meeting, USP's Head of Land Management and Development, Dr Joeli Varo, acknowledged the contributions of participating countries and development partners.

He said the outcomes of the meeting would guide the next phase of the project, including continued country engagement, data validation, greater student involvement and further development of the Pacific Transport Data Portal and the Sustainable Transport Community.

The project is expected to contribute to more sustainable, resilient and data-driven transport systems across the Pacific while strengthening long-term regional cooperation and academic capacity.