Call For Proposals To Establish Fiji’s First Peer-To-Peer Lending Platform

SUVA, FIJI (23 January 2026)—The Ministry of Commerce and Business Development, together with the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) and the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), has today issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) for the design and development of Fiji’s first peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The RfP is made possible through the Access to Business Funding Act 2025, new legislation passed last year to enable three new avenues for MSMEs to access finance. It invites qualified fintech companies, software developers, credit providers, and other relevant players, including consortia, to submit proposals for the design of a secure, scalable, and user-friendly P2P lending platform.

The P2P lending platform, common in other countries yet new in Fiji, is a pioneering step towards building an alternative finance ecosystem to address critical financing gaps for MSMEs. The P2P lending can reduce the barriers, time, and costs associated with traditional lending for MSMEs by connecting businesses directly with lenders via a secure digital platform.

During the Press Conference today, the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Hon. Esrom Immanuel said “The Government now calls for all eligible and interested firms, fintech innovators, financial institutions and consortia to obtain the RFP document and submit their proposals. We seek partners who share our vision of a resilient, inclusive and innovative financial ecosystem that delivers tangible benefits for MSMEs and strengthens Fiji’s economy.”

The RfP is expected to attract interest from businesses with strong technical capability, sound governance, and a clear commercial strategy, as well as a willingness to work closely with regulators to build a sustainable, secure, and compliant P2P lending market in Fiji.

The successful respondent will establish and operate this platform as an independent, fully commercial financial intermediary licensed by the RBF under the Access to Business Funding Act 2025.

“We are inviting interested market participants who are capable of establishing Fiji’s first licensed peer-to-peer lending platform to respond,” said Ariff Ali, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji. “This is an opportunity to help shape Fiji’s finance sector and expand financing options for MSMEs.”

“Across the Pacific, many small businesses struggle to access finance, limiting innovation and growth,” said Jeremy Cleaver, PSDI’s Financing Growth Specialist. “Peer-to-peer lending can help bridge this gap by connecting businesses with a wider pool of investors, using a digital platform to lower costs and improve reach. PSDI is proud to support an initiative which will expand financing options for MSMEs and promote financial inclusion in Fiji.”

To de-risk the establishment of the platform and ensure the successful applicant has resources to build a sustainable business, a startup support package will be made available through the Fiji Innovation Hub. This will include financial support, technical assistance, and participation in the Fiji Innovation Hub’s Accelerator Program.

The RBF seeks respondents with strong technical capability, sound governance, and a clear commercial strategy, as well as a willingness to work closely with regulators to build a sustainable, secure, and compliant P2P lending market in Fiji.

The deadline for proposal submissions is 13 March 2026 at 5pm Fiji time. Full RfP documentation, including scope of work, eligibility criteria, and submission requirements, is available from the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development here - https://www.mcttt.gov.fj/division/msme-fiji/

PSDI is an Asian Development Bank technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand.

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