In October, the first cohort of future leaders from the Pacific successfully completed a month-long Fellowship at the US–Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC.
Keleni Seruvatu, Director Multilateral of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Adi Alani Tuivucilevu, Network Coordinator of the Women in Fisheries Network – Fiji were among 30 mid-career leaders from across the Pacific, who were invited to participate in the programme.
Ms. Seruvatu’s participation was supported by the Ministry as part of its Human Resource Development Plan. She described the Fellowship as a great opportunity to understand US governance systems and for US stakeholders to understand the Pacific.
As part of the Programme, Fellows engaged with academic experts, professionals, senior US policymakers and prominent figures from the National Security Council, The White House, the US Department of State, US Congress, and other US institutions such as the Foreign Policy magazine, The Heritage Foundation, USAID, Peace Corps, US Institute of Peace, the International Republican Institute, among others. They also travelled to New York to meet with experts from the Asia Society Policy Institute, UNDP, and the US Mission to the United Nations.
The Fellowship was announced at the 1st US-Pacific Leaders Summit in 2022, and is among the list of initiatives under the US’s Pacific Partnership Strategy. The Strategy outlines commitments that support regional priorities under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Washington is following through on these commitments at all levels, beginning with the appointment of its first US Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum, who is tasked with expanding US ties and coordination with the Forum and its members.
The US is re-opening its Embassy in the Solomon Islands and a new Embassy in Tonga, with intentions to open additional embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati. The re-establishment of the USAID regional Pacific Mission in Fiji and a Country Representative Office in Papua New Guinea, will take diplomatic and development engagement to new levels. Peace Corps programmes are now being re-activated for Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu, supporting communities on education, health, community economic development, and climate action.
Secretary Blinken visited Papua New Guinea in May where he met with Pacific Leaders and highlighted the US’s commitment to strong and productive bilateral and regional collaboration. President Biden hosted the 2nd US-Pacific Leaders Summit in September, where he reaffirmed US commitment to the region and exchanged views on how to address some of the regions’ challenges.
For the first time, a member of the US Cabinet, Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield attended the 52nd Pacific Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, where she engaged with Leaders and reiterated US support for regional priorities. The outcomes of the meeting provide significant direction and opportunities for the US as one of the 21 Forum Development partners, to support the Implementation Plan for the 2050 Strategy. Priorities highlighted by the Leaders, include climate change and resilience, gender equality, fisheries, economic development, labour mobility and nuclear issues, oceans, AUKUS, and PIF representation in the US.
Recent developments include a new partnership with USP to establish a new Resilience and Adaptation Fellowship for Rising Leaders, announced by Acting Assistant Secretary Jennifer Littlejohn in her October visit to Fiji.
Similar initiatives with Australia, NZ, and other development partners signify an overall effort to developing better and deeper understanding with the region. Understanding the Pacific, its traditions, cultural values, its people and their history is the key to engaging with the region. Within its own governance framework, development partners must invest in their knowledge and understanding of the Pacific.
Capitalizing on comparative advantages and promoting an inclusive approach with non-State actors and learning institutions, is a beneficial model of cooperation. The Norway Pacific Ocean Climate Scholarship (NPOC) model with the Kingdom of Norway and the University of the South Pacific (USP) is an example.
Johns Hopkins University is renowned for producing influential and accomplished international relations scholars, and can provide collaborative platform on international relations issues. With an internationally recognised public health programme, there are opportunities to collaborate to address health research and development, technology and capacity building needs.
The Ministry is assured that this Fellowship programme can build capacities and establish mutual understanding of the US and the Pacific in addressing the challenges of our time.
