UNESCO and the Government of Fiji have reaffirmed and further strengthened their longstanding partnership following a series of high-level meetings between the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Pacific States, Mr Sardar Umar Alam, and Fiji’s Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
At the centre of these engagements was a courtesy call on His Excellency Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, marking the first official meeting between the Prime Minister and the leadership of the UNESCO Regional Office since Mr Alam assumed his duties.
On 18 February, Prime Minister Rabuka received Mr Alam warmly at his office and expressed his appreciation for UNESCO’s continued support to Fiji. Mr Alam conveyed UNESCO’s deep gratitude for the Government of Fiji’s steadfast commitment to UNESCO’s work and relayed greetings from the Director General of UNESCO.
During the discussions, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed his strong interest in seeing UNESCO expand its work in Fiji. He reaffirmed his Government’s readiness to support UNESCO and collaborate closely across education, culture, science, and communication and information, emphasizing that Cabinet Ministers and senior officials would actively support efforts to deepen UNESCO’s footprint in the country.
In the areas of culture and natural sciences, the Prime Minister highlighted Fiji’s interest in receiving increased technical support from UNESCO, including in World Heritage, intangible cultural heritage, biosphere reserves, and geoparks. He also emphasized Fiji’s important role as a regional hub for UNESCO’s work in the Pacific and extended an invitation to the Director‑General of UNESCO to visit Fiji.
Mr Alam expressed UNESCO’s appreciation for Fiji’s steadfast support, including the Government’s generous contribution in hosting the UNESCO Fiji Antenna Office, which significantly facilitates UNESCO’s operations across the Pacific.
Discussions also highlighted education as a key pillar of cooperation, with particular emphasis on skills development, teacher support, and strengthening education systems to better respond to national and regional development needs. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Fiji in safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage, strengthening cultural institutions, and advancing the creative economy as a driver of inclusive growth and livelihoods.
The discussions further underscored strong collaboration in disaster risk reduction, tsunami preparedness, early warning systems, and community‑based resilience, under UNESCO’s Science Sector and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
Building on the discussions with the Prime Minister, Mr Alam held a series of meetings with key Cabinet Ministers to advance sector‑specific cooperation.
In a meeting with Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, discussions reaffirmed UNESCO’s role as a key partner in advancing sustainable development, resilience, democracy, and peace in Fiji and the wider Pacific. The Minister acknowledged UNESCO’s continued partnership across education, science, technology and innovation, gender empowerment, and disaster risk reduction, and expressed confidence in the continued growth of Fiji–UNESCO relations.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-and-fiji-deepen-cooperation-following-high-level-engagements-prime-minister-and-cabinet?hub=701
