UK-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: UK TO FUND PROGRAMME SUPPORTING STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC REGION.
On Behalf of the British High Commission, Honiara
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
HONIARA
MEDIA STATEMENT
For immediate release
Friday 13 August 2021.
UK-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: UK TO FUND PROGRAMME SUPPORTING
STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC REGION.
The British Government's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
(CSSF) supports work around the world to address the sources of
instability, address transnational threats and promote peace and
security.
This year, 2021-22, the CSSF will provide £2m (SBD 22.7m) for
the Pacific region, to work with Pacific Island Countries and
regional partners in support of an open, inclusive, resilient,
prosperous and rules-based Pacific.
Agreements have now been signed for five projects:
Dialogue Fiji will work with the International Institute for
Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) to increase confidence in
elections through civil society engagement.
UNDP will work on enhancing national implementation of
anticorruption measures in Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu,
Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and Tuvalu to prevent and fight corruption
in the Pacific region.
The Pacific Community will support Fiji, Solomon Islands,
Vanuatu and Tonga in their Extended Continental Shelf negotiations
to ensure their maritime boundaries are well defined.
The Vanuatu Office of the Public Prosecutor will continue to
be supported through increased capacity to ensure effective
prosecution of complex cases, particularly those related to fraud
and corruption.
A UK Emergency Medical Team will be deployed to the East
Highlands of Papua New Guinea to support the Government of PNG on
its COVID-19 response.
This is the first round of grants awarded under the Pacific
CSSF programme. Further grants will be made over the coming months
as project proposals are finalised and agreed.
Dr Brian Jones, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands
and Nauru said, "I am pleased to announce the finalisation of the
first set of projects through the Pacific CSSF programme. These
practical initiatives reflect the UK's strong commitment to the
region and our shared vision for stability, cooperation and
prosperity".
In its first year of operation in the Pacific region, 2020-21,
the CSSF programme supported the work of the World Health
Organization (WHO) in strengthening COVID-19 readiness across the
region, as well as providing support to the Office of the Public
Prosecutor in Vanuatu.
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