News

FDC and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) will produce a joint research report, supported by a high-level Task Force, examining the nexus between Australian national security and the Australian official aid program. Noting the recent announcement of the independent review of the effectiveness of Australian official aid, which is to conclude its work by April 2011, ASPI and FDC intend to complete their joint research report by early March 2011, so that it may also inform the deliberations of the panel overseeing the independent review. Read more here.

A farewell reception was held in Suva on 28 October for FDC’s outgoing and much loved Pacific Regional Representative, Luse Kinivuwai, ahead of her completion on 30 November and her migration to Australia. Luse will remain an associate with FDC. Some photos here.

For the last three years FDC has contributed to the workings of the APEC Business Advisory Council’s Advisory Group on Financial Sector Capacity Building and to the design of a proposed financial inclusion initiative across the APEC economies. APEC Finance Ministers met in Yokohama on 6 November and formally launched the APEC Financial Inclusion Initiative. More details here.

FDC will work with the Porgera Joint Venture in PNG over the next several months developing and delivering a tailored training on mentoring and monitoring and evaluation processes to support PJV’s Community Relations team on their ongoing implementation of its training programs. After the training, FDC will also provide ongoing technical assistance over a period of 4 months.

We are pleased to announce that Ms Annie Rogers will join FDC as Pacific Regional Representative on 1 December, replacing our valued incumbent, Ms Luse Kinivuwai. Annie has a BA in economics from USP and a Masters in Commerce (Economic and Finance) from UNSW. Annie has previously held various senior roles, including advisor to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Fiji’s representative at the IMF, and CEO of the Fiji Islands Trade & Investment Bureau.

FDC has been contracted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to review the Pacific Youth Strategy 2010 and produce the third edition of the Pacific Youth Report. Consultations will occur in French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa and Fiji. This work will be completed in the first quarter of 2011.