Development Challenges in the Indo-Pacific: Focus on Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands occupy a vast oceanic region that covers almost 20 percent of the Earth’s surface and is home to the world’s largest concentration of microstates. Its three ethno-geographic subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia include ten sovereign states, five freely-associated states, and eight dependent territories. While Pacific Islands countries vary widely in population, economic circumstances, development, political status, and stability, they face several common challenges, each amplified by the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges include political leadership and regionalism, peace and security, economic development, climate change, natural disasters, oceans and the environment, and technology and connectivity.

Building on The Asia Foundation’s 30 years of experience in the Pacific and our remote programming over the past two years, we established a new office in Suva, Fiji, in 2022. Join the Foundation’s Regional Representative for Pacific Islands Sandra Kraushaar for a virtual discussion of recent developments in the Pacific Islands and an update on the Foundation’s ongoing initiatives that support Pacific solutions to Pacific challenges through our three priority areas—navigating geopolitics and regionalism, women’s rights and leadership, and Pacific resilience.

Featuring

Sandra Kraushaar, Regional Representative, Pacific Islands, The Asia Foundation