Suva, Fiji – A new wave of Pacific journalism was launched last week as seasoned journalists from the Pacific region onboard their mentees through the Vaka Pasifika Media Mentorship Programme. The session brought together young reporters and experienced media professionals to explore how public money is managed—and why that matters to their audiences and everyday life in the Pacific.

The webinar introduced participants to the Vaka Pasifika Public Finance Management (PFM) course, now freely available online through UNDP’s Moodle Platform and officially kicked off a six-month mentorship journey that will run through the end of 2025.

One of the mentees, Shania Prasad of Fiji, reflected: 

“The webinar on Public Finance Management gave me a clearer understanding of budget processes and fiscal policies, and showed how these concepts can strengthen my reporting and story angles as a journalist.” 

Her comment echoes the programme’s goal of equipping media professionals with tools to translate complex finance issues into stories that matter to Pacific communities.

Funded by the European Union and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office, this Vaka Pasifika project supports fairer and more open management of public monies across the Pacific Ocean. It also reflects the EU’s wider commitment to investing in people, digital access, and stronger public institutions through its Global Gateway strategy.

Public finance is often seen as complicated and distant—but it affects every aspect of life, from school funding to healthcare, roads, and clean water. It is a major enabler of investments and large infrastructure projects which have been a focus of Pacific economies. The Vaka Pasifika Media Mentorship Programme aims to make these topics easier to understand and more relevant to local communities, private sector and partners. It gives journalists the tools to explain where public money goes, how decisions are made, and what that means for people on the ground.

The webinar connected students and journalists from Fiji, Tuvalu, Palau, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands, sparking powerful conversations about why media plays a critical role in keeping government spending transparent and making sure people’s voices are heard.

Senior journalist and mentor from Vanuatu, Josepheen Tarianga stated:

“Going through the modules before the first webinar really helps the mentees along—it made it easier to grasp what was being shared. Knowing that the session offered a brief overview of all these useful modules was reassuring. I’m excited for the upcoming webinars, especially as we dive deeper into the different lenses for assessing public financial management. I’m confident that the foundation laid in Webinar 1 will be invaluable to the mentees. As journalists, we help bridge the gap between government and people. When we tell these stories clearly, we build trust and accountability”

Over the next six months, participants will be guided to write original stories that show the human side of public finance. These stories will be featured in the Public Finance Management Human-Interest Stories – Pacific series, with the next edition to be launched on International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December 2025.

This first webinar marks a strong beginning for a new generation of Pacific storytellers—committed to using journalism to shine a light on how public money is managed, and how it can help build a fairer, stronger future for everyone.

For more information please contact:

Risiate Biudole, UNDP Pacific Office, Communications Analyst, risiate.biudole@undp.org