The World Bank is intensifying its focus on climate change resilience and gender equity across the Pacific Islands, even as its largest shareholder, the United States, reduces aid in those sectors, according to Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde.
During her recent visit to Australia following meetings with Pacific Islands’ economic ministers in Fiji, Bjerde emphasized that the World Bank remains firmly committed to addressing the unique vulnerabilities of Pacific Island nations. The region is widely recognized as one of the most climate-exposed parts of the world and continues to grapple with accelerating climate risks, food insecurity, and increasing debt burdens.
“Countries in this part of the world are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and we are committed to designing projects that take that into account,” Bjerde said in an interview on Monday. “We haven’t really changed our language around that.”
To enhance on-the-ground impact, the World Bank is decentralizing key operations: moving a regional vice president from Washington to Singapore, and relocating directors to Fiji and Papua New Guinea. These moves aim to strengthen oversight of the Bank’s Pacific aid portfolio, which has expanded seven-fold over the past decade and now totals $3.4 billion.
Among the flagship projects are flood-resilient roads, designed not only to withstand the increasing frequency of extreme weather events but also to qualify for global climate finance schemes. These infrastructure investments are seen as essential for improving regional connectivity while preparing for climate disruptions.
Gender equality is also high on the agenda. Bjerde highlighted efforts to boost women’s participation in the workforce, noting that it is a key driver for economic growth across the Pacific. During her stop in Fiji, she met with women leaders who emphasized the need for better access to childcare to enable more women to work.
“Improving opportunities for women is essential to unlocking the full economic potential of Pacific nations,” Bjerde said.
The World Bank’s approach in the Pacific is evolving under reforms introduced last year by President Ajay Banga. These include a shift toward region-wide initiatives designed to create broader and more sustainable impacts in countries with small and dispersed populations.
So far, eight Pacific countries have joined a new financial arrangement aimed at preventing small island nations from being cut off from the international financial system. The Bank is also rolling out a health programme targeting non-communicable diseases, which is expected to reach two million people and train up to 16,000 health workers across the region.
In addition, a regional trade programme is in development, with the goal of reducing costs and improving the speed of access to essential goods and services—critical in a region where supply chain disruptions can have outsized effects on local economies.
While in Australia, Bjerde met with officials from Canberra, which remains the largest bilateral donor to the Pacific. Australia’s development cooperation plays a key role in supporting the World Bank’s broader strategy in the region, particularly in light of shifting aid dynamics from other donors, including the United States.
Despite those shifts, Bjerde affirmed the World Bank’s long-term commitment to the Pacific. “Our focus is on impact,” she said, “and ensuring that our presence and programmes reflect the realities of the region.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
