Navigating Development With Traditional Wisdom: Pasifika Futures Report Launched In Fiji
The report – a partnership between the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum, and supported by the Government of Australia - aims to strengthen inquiry into how foresight methods can work in harmony with Pacific Island epistemologies – centering traditional knowledge systems that emphasise the need for intergenerational thinking, collective interdependence, and deep connection to place.
This approach celebrates that Pacific ways of knowing are essential in shaping resilient relationships, guiding effective development partnerships, and envisioning a future where the Pacific continues to thrive on its own terms.
The report brought together government officials, policy makers, academic and thematic experts alongside traditional navigators, theologists, youth, and community representatives from across the Pacific to explore a shared vision for sustainable growth, ocean governance, technological innovation, and the revitalisation of Pacific knowledge systems.
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, on launching the report said:
'As we consider what it means to envision Pacific futures in the age of climate change, we must confront the reality of a planetary polycrisis – what many are calling the new abnormal. But let us be clear: the futures we seek are not those prescribed to us, but those we define for ourselves.'
UNDP Pacific Resident Representative, Munkhtuya Altangerel, reflected on the regional symbolism of launching the report on Girmit Day, noting the importance of honouring the past while steering together toward a shared future. She said:
'The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent outlines a shared vision: a region where all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy, and productive lives. This report contributes to that vision; we are simply the platform, and we will treat the knowledge entrusted to us with the care and respect it deserves.'
The Pasifika Futures Report builds upon the pioneering work of regional institutions such as the Pacific Community (SPC) and other CROP agencies, reaffirming the Pacific as a region of large ocean states – not small island nations.
The report covers 10 key themes that are pertinent to the Pacific at present, and into the future, such as oceans governance, migration and diaspora, technology, the changing nature of statehood, youth and future generations, and deglobalisation.
The launch event featured performances representing Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, alongside a creative showcase by WonderLab, offering a futuristic glimpse into the Pacific of 2050 and beyond.
The Pasifika Futures Forum continues this week, providing a space for inclusive dialogue across government, community, and development partners to co-create a resilient, innovative, and unified future for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The full Pasifika Futures Report can be found here.
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