• PRIF Observer Statement at the 12th SPC CRGA and Conference
    PRIF Observer Statement at the 12th SPC CRGA and Conference
Video

51st meeting of the SPC Council of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA), and 12th Conference 2021

  • Greetings from the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, also known as PRIF.  Thank you to the Pacific Community for including us in this 51st meeting of the Council of Representatives of Governments and Administrations and the 12th Conference.
  • My name is Sean O’Sullivan, I am the team leader of the PRIF Coordination Office, located in the ADB office in Sydney, and I am happy to join this meeting again.
  • Briefly, I would like to provide a brief overview of PRIF, who we are, what we do and our work with SPC.

WHO WE ARE 

  • PRIF is a multi-partner coordination and technical assistance facility that provides coordination support and technical assistance to improve the quality and coverage of infrastructure in Pacific island countries.
  • We were established in 2008 and have eight partners: the Asian Development Bank, Australia, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and the World Bank Group.
  • We have 14 Pacific member countries, who are also members of the Pacific Community and CROP agencies

WHAT WE DO

  • Partner Coordination is key mandate of PRIF. We have a management committee and 5 sector working groups, and 7 thematic working groups that support the coordination of development partners' assistance for infrastructure in the Pacific. These working groups include transport, energy, water and sanitation, information, communication and technology, urban development, sustainable infrastructure and environmental and social development.
  • PRIF also provides technical assistance and acts as a knowledge hub.  We help countries plan infrastructure and implement best practices and find technology solutions to infrastructure issues. 
  • At this point I want to highlight our infrastructure planning services. PRIF has a $2.9m flagship program to work with our member countries to help prepare priority national infrastructure plans. This assistance helps a government consider its country’s needs and priorities for infrastructure and helps it develop a pipeline of priority projects.  This supports government budgeting and provides a credible pipeline of infrastructure projects for finance by development partners and the private sector.
  • Recently, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Palau governments have endorsed its PRIF supported National Infrastructure Investment Plan. In August this year, the Cook Islands launched its plan, and the Palau NIIP was discussed at the recent Economic Symposium. In the coming months, PRIF plans to work with the governments of Niue, Kiribati, and Samoa to develop their national infrastructure investment plan.

https://www.theprif.org/document/cook-islands/infrastructure-financing/cook-islands-national-infrastructure-investment-plan

https://www.theprif.org/document/palau/national-infrastructure-investment-plans/palau-national-infrastructure-investment

  • In the coming two years, we hope to work with all Pacific countries to develop and review their infrastructure investment plans, and we encourage Pacific countries to seek PRIF support.
  • We believe our infrastructure planning services can contribute to post COVID-19 recovery as countries look for short to medium term infrastructure development to stimulate their economies and provide jobs.

COLLABORATION WITH SPC

  • Let me speak briefly on PRIF’s recent collaboration with SPC.  Following talks in 2020, PRIF continues to work with SPC in several areas.
  • We believe this is important because we have common members and share common priority areas, including energy, transport, ICT, gender equality and social inclusion, water and sanitation, climate change and resilience. We also believe PRIF’s infrastructure planning and other related work is complimentary to SPC’s infrastructure endeavors.
  • PRIF was pleased to support SPC in reviewing the Framework of Action on Energy Security in the Pacific 2010-2020 and developing the new framework 2021-2030, which was endorsed at the latest Forum Leaders’ meeting. This framework will guide partners and CROP agencies' regional energy-related activities and complement national energy activities.
  • In response to Pacific countries, PRIF supported the scoping study on a Regional Approach for Water Sector Training in the Pacific, in close consultation with SPC engagement.  The study is intended to inform and coordinate PRIF partner’s support for water training Pacific Island countries.

https://www.theprif.org/document/regional/water-wastewater-and-sanitation/scoping-study-regional-approach-water-sector

  • In close collaboration with SPC, PRIF completed the 2021 Pacific Infrastructure Performance Indicators which was recently launched by PRIF. These track Pacific countries performance of their energy, telecommunications, transport, solid waste and water and sanitation sectors. The report will also assist countries’ reporting commitments on international development goals. 

https://www.theprif.org/document/regional/infrastructure-performance/pacific-infrastructure-performance-indicators-2021

  • PRIF has been working with SPC to develop a regional asset register to inform PCRAFI’s risk exposure information and enhance country processes, including asset management and country infrastructure investment plans. In partnership with SPC, a regional training will be held in early 2022 on the PRIF Asset Condition Assessment Methodology Manual developed in close consultation with SPC. The PRIF methodology has been integrated into the data collection survey template under PCRAFI. PRIF looks forward to furthering the collaboration of this sought. 

https://www.theprif.org/document/regional/infrastructure-maintenance/methology-condition-assessment-public-sector

  • PRIF is also keen to cooperate with the Pacific Community to benefit our member countries and contribute to the regionalism agenda. We believe these areas include gender equality and social inclusion and climate change adaptation.
  • I want to share that PRIF will finalize the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Infrastructure Delivery Guide and the Sea level rise guidance, which SPC member countries will find useful to enhance policy dialogue and policy development in this area.

For information on PRIF’s work, please visit our website theprif.org

Thank you

Sean O’Sullivan

PRIF Team Leader

PRIF Coordination Office