Pacific Islands

The opening of USAID's Pacific Office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in October 2011 reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to enhance aid, investment and engagement with Pacific Island countries. The Pacific Islands are key to a variety of local and global challenges, including climate change, infectious disease, and natural disasters. The region is home to about 8.5 million people, major fisheries, coral reefs, and important tropical forests, and is vital to U.S. security and regional interests. USAID programs target 12 Pacific Island countries: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The Pacific Islands are culturally diverse, with more than 1,000 languages spoken and national populations ranging from less than 10,000 to more than six million. The region’s varied topography includes mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls, some of which are only 15 feet above sea level. These nations are among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of global climate change as well as being some of the least able to respond.

The United States contributes resources and expertise that directly benefit the people of the region. Our projects address climate change; support HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in Papua New Guinea; assist with disaster mitigation response and reconstruction in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and strengthen democratic institutions. USAID engages with host governments and development partners in the Pacific and leverages the funding of other donors in the region to ensure that programs have the greatest possible impact.