GOALS AND OUTCOMES

PRIF is designed around an outcomes framework which has been developed following consultation with development partners and Pacific island countries. This framework provides a Goal and Long-term Outcome that are sought through PRIF activities over the longer-term, with the Intermediate Outcomes being targeted within the medium-term. They are output focused and are aligned to supporting expanded access to sustainable services.

Goal - Broad-based growth and improved living standards.

Long-term Outcome - Increased quality and quantity of infrastructure for the people of the Pacific.

Intermediate Outcomes

• Streamlined Pacific island country access to technical and capacity building assistance and infrastructure funding.

• Sustained long-term increase in net resources available to Pacific island countries (all sources) to finance capital and recurrent infrastructure costs.

• Greater Pacific island country capacity to plan and manage infrastructure for improved delivery of services.
   

PRIF PRINCIPLES

PRIF uses eight priority operational principles to guide PRIF decision-making, activity design and implementation. These are:

1. Long-term engagement with Pacific island countries that provide access to consistent technical expertise and funding for sustained improvements in infrastructure services. Long-term funding of infrastructure services from all sources (user charges, Pacific island country governments, the PRIF partners, other financiers) must be based on the ‘life-cycle’ costs of sustainable service provision at appropriate standards and efficient balances between public, private and development partner financing.

2. Country-responsive prioritisation of infrastructure sector support based on local capacity through country led planning and priority setting. PRIF support for Pacific island country infrastructure programs through grants should be negotiated with regard to the capacities of individual Pacific island countries to fund up-front and recurrent expenditure on infrastructure services to appropriate standards from user charges and/or their domestic budgetary resources.

3. Sector-based approaches to infrastructure planning, budgeting and priority setting led by the Pacific island countries, with a strong focus on the recurrent costs implications of maintenance requirements and the institutional capacities for investing in and maintaining infrastructure; and with facilitatory TA from the PRIF as necessary.

4. Institutional and regulatory structures that: clearly distinguish between the interests of infrastructure service providers and consumers; transparently fund the costs of infrastructure provision that cannot be recovered through user charges; and enforce management accountability for performance.

5. A strengthened role for the private sector in infrastructure financing and service delivery and, where appropriate, encouraging local employment.

6. Use of appropriate technology that considers whole of life costing and sustainability, and accords with the climate change agenda.

7. Harmonisation amongst development partners to increase the effectiveness of aid, and increasing harmonisation with Pacific island country government systems.

8. Achievement by service providers of agreed performance benchmarks, as the basis for subsidies for provision of infrastructure services, whether funded by Pacific island countries or the PRIF partners; and establishment of performance incentive arrangements to improve infrastructure service outcomes.  

See Factsheet 1 for a printable copy of the above PRIF Principles.