Australia commits over $37M to boost Fiji’s governance
The four-year partnership will support civil service reform, economic governance, and democratic values under the Vuvale Partnership.
Friday 24 October 2025 | 04:00
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (left), with Australian High Commissioner Peter Roberts during the launch of the Australia–Fiji Governance Partnership at the Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service in Nasese, Suva on October 24. 2025.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
Australia will invest AU$25 million (FJ$37.3m) over four years to strengthen Fiji’s governance systems and civil service reform under a newly launched partnership programme.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Australian High Commissioner Peter Roberts officially launched the Australia-Fiji Governance Partnership (AFGP) this morning at the Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service in Nasese, Suva.
The partnership focuses on three key areas: civil service reform, economic governance, and promoting democratic norms and values.
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“This partnership is not simply a program but a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to strengthening governance, advancing economic reform, and promoting democratic values,” Mr Rabuka said.
The four-year initiative builds on the success of the previous Fiji-Australia Institutional Partnerships Programme, which strengthened systems in taxation, statistics, parliamentary cooperation, and public financial management over nearly a decade.
Mr Roberts said the partnership would support Fiji’s achievement of national development priorities through more effective and accountable governance.
“When you have the systems right, and you have the processes right, when you have the institutions right, you have better outcomes,” he said.
“That’s why we are excited about governance.”
The programme will strengthen long-standing partnerships with the Ministry of Civil Service, Public Service Commission, and Ministry of Finance, while opening new collaboration with civil society and public sector leaders.
Public Service Commission chairperson Luke Rokovada said the $25 million Australian investment equates to almost $40 million Fijian.
“This initiative reflects the enduring spirit of the Vuvale Partnership, a relationship built on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and genuine friendship,” Mr Rokovada said.
The partnership aligns with Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025-2029, supporting national priorities for economic and civil service reform for over 35,000 public servants across four divisions.
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