Across the Pacific, the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) stands as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development, bringing together government, businesses, stakeholders, and communities to shape a future that is resilient, inclusive, and economically sustainable.
Since its establishment in 2013, the PIDF has been grounded on its function to secure the support of development partners through formal agreements for technical assistance and financial resources to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication outcomes.
That is precisely what the PIDF has achieved through its Food and Nutrition Security and Blue Economy initiatives, mobilizing resources and funding to empower communities, strengthen livelihoods, and foster long-term self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Pacific Fresh AirLink
One of the successful projects under the Food and Nutrition initiative is the Pacific Fresh AirLink (PFAL) Initiative, which the PIDF has been coordinating to export agricultural produce from Nadi, Fiji, to countries in the Northern Pacific such as the Republic of Naoero, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
The Pacific Fresh AirLink is a transformative regional initiative that addresses multiple interconnected Pacific priorities through one integrated approach. By strengthening the availability, movement, and consumption of fresh, locally produced foods across the region, the initiative:
- Diversifies agriculture and strengthens local food systems
- Improves health and wellbeing
- Expands market opportunities for Pacific farmers
- Helps tackle the growing burden of NCDs
- Strengthens food and nutrition security
- Builds economic resilience and sustainable livelihoods
- Advances sustainable development across the Pacific
In essence, the Pacific Fresh AirLink is more than a food initiative—it is a regional development solution. It connects what the Pacific grows with what Pacific people eat and what Pacific economies can export, turning stronger local food systems into better health, stronger livelihoods, greater food security, and a more resilient Pacific.
Blue Economy Development
At the heart of PIDF’s key existence is advocating the very real and pressing challenges of climate change, environment protection, and globalization. Through the Blue Economy development, a simple belief is that a healthy ocean is a healthy community.
By promoting the sustainable use of marine resources, the PIDF positions the Blue Economy as a pathway for sustainable and resilient Pacific development by promoting sustainable and inclusive development through a Green-Blue Pacific approach.
The PIDF, together with its partners, established the Pacific Countries Marine Spatial Planning and Blue Economy Cooperation Center (PMEC).
The Center proposed to support efforts by the PIDF member countries in developing the blue economy agenda through the establishment of a comprehensive and appropriate regional and national architecture to foster ocean economic growth and development.
