Pacific Forum Appoints National Planner For Nauru

Forum Appoints National Planner For Nauru

The Pacific Islands Forum has appointed a senior government official from Samoa to help Nauru establish a national planning framework.

““The 11-month posting of Iulai Lavea, who is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Samoa’s Ministry of Finance, is the first appointment of its kind by the Forum,” said Acting Forum Secretary General, Iosefa Maiava.

“The Forum wishes to acknowledge the generous support from Japan which made this possible,” Mr Maiava said. The post is funded by Japan and was filled through a competitive process.

“Samoa has agreed to release Mr Lavea in the spirit of regional cooperation, under the Pacific Regional Assistance to Nauru (PRAN) initiative, and we are grateful for their show of support as well,” Mr Maiava said.

Mr Lavea travels to Nauru next week to begin his duties. These include working with Nauru officials to set up a framework for national planning to help Nauru meet its future development goals. He will also be assisting Nauru in the formulation of its National Sustainable Development Strategy for which assistance is being provided by the ADB, AusAID, NZAID and the Forum Secretariat.

In 2004, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders agreed to support Nauru’s request for Forum assistance under the Biketawa Declaration.

Forum Secretariat, Suva

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