PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Finance Samoa Hosts Ministry of Finance Tuvalu Delegation for Peer Learning Exchange on Aid Coordination and Development Cooperation | Apia, Samoa | 23 September 2026
The Ministry of Finance of Samoa successfully hosted a delegation from the Government of Tuvalu as part of the Tuvalu-Samoa Peer Learning Exchange on Aid Coordination and Development Cooperation Arrangements, held from 22 to 23 September 2026. The exchange was organized at the request of the Planning, Budget and Aid Coordination Department of the Ministry of Finance of Tuvalu, to facilitate knowledge sharing and strengthen regional cooperation on aid coordination, development finance, and development partner engagement.
The Tuvalu delegation was led by Ms. Alimau Pugameau, Head of the Aid Coordination Unit, accompanied by Ms. Tracy Feskatoa, Officer of the Aid Coordination Unit of Planning Budget and Aid Coordination Department of the Ministry of Finance, Tuvalu.
The programme began with a kick-off meeting with senior Ministry officials, followed by technical sessions delivered by the Aid Coordination and Management Division (ACMD), Economic Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), Public Financial Management Division (PFM), Budget & Fiscal Policy Division (BFSDP), and Debt Management Division (DMD). These discussions provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on Samoa's aid governance arrangements, project appraisal processes, sector coordination mechanisms, public financial management systems, and approaches to strengthening development effectiveness and alignment with national priorities.
On the second day, the delegation engaged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on the management of bilateral development partnerships and donor coordination, and with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) on climate change and resilience initiatives, including climate finance and development partner engagement in climate-related programmes.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Saoleititi Maeva Betham Vaai, welcomed the opportunity, to strengthen collaboration between Samoa and Tuvalu through practical peer learning and regional cooperation. She highlighted the importance of sharing experiences and solutions among Pacific Island countries to enhance development effectiveness and address common challenges in managing development assistance and climate finance.
The Ministry of Finance acknowledges the valuable contributions of all participating agencies and extends its appreciation to the Government of Tuvalu for its engagement. The exchange reflects Samoa's continued commitment to fostering regional partnerships and promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices to support sustainable development outcomes across the Pacific.