Officially invited and presented the vision of Gross National Generosity (GNG) in Tonga and Vanuatu

Workshop at the Vanuatu Prime Ministers Office for heads of department officials. 

Serious discussion after the presentation at the Vanuatu Prime Minister's Office. 

Public lecture at the Vanuatu Cultural Center. 

Participants at the Vanuatu JICA Office for local experts and development partners. 

With the purpose of sharing the research findings with policy makers in Tonga and Vanuatu where Dr. Funaki conducted his research, he was fortunate to be officially invited by both governments for presentations conducted in a workshop format. The Dignified Pacific Initiative hope to do the same in Kiribati in the near future. The workshops were held in Tonga at the Parliament for Parliamentarians, UNDP office and at St. George Palace for officials of the government central agencies. Dr. Funaki also had the opportunity to share the findings and vision of GNG with Tonga's Prime Minister, Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva where he agreed to share the concept of GNG  at the next Pacific Islands Leaders Forum meeting. His time in Tonga started off by an official dinner hosted by the Hon. Speaker of Tonga's Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua at Luna Rosa restaurant. This initiative is very grateful especially to Lord Fakafanua for single handling Dr. Funaki's workshops and being his main support from Tonga. Tonga trip: 2018, January 18-29.

This initiative wishes to acknowledge the kind support from Dr. Sione Vikilani (Tonga Parliament) and Ms. Vika Fe'iloakitau (Finance Ministry) who were the two main Gatekeepers that contributed to the successful completion of Dr. Funaki's research in Tonga. 

Dr. Funaki's workshops in Vanuatu were held at the Parliament for Parliamentarians, Prime Ministers Office for the heads of the government central agencies, JICA Office for donors in Vanuatu, and a public lecture at the Vanuatu Cultural Center. The workshop with the government heads of departments ended with a  sum up speech by Mr. Benjamin Shing, one of my main research informants in Vanuatu, followed by a big lunch prepared by the PM Office. The public lecture at the Vanuatu Cultural Center was organized by the Director, Mr. Richard Shing and friends of the Vanuatu Cultural Center Museum. My workshop at the Parliament was also concluded with an official lunch. While in Vanuatu, I accepted an invitation from Radio Vanuatu for a live interview, followed by a media coverage published by the Vanuatu Daily Post. This initiative is very grateful especially to Ms. Asano for coordinating Dr. Funaki's schedule in Vanuatu. Vanuatu trip: 2018, February 2-7.

This initiative wishes to acknowledge the kind support from Mr. Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi (Consultant for the Government of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands) and his wife 'Eleni Tevi (Melanesian Spearhead Group) who were the two main Gatekeepers that contributed to the successful completion of Dr. Funaki's research in Vanuatu. Reaching the Gatekeepers was made possible through Dr. Veisinia Matoto Vaha'i and Ms. Melenaite 'Aho (ANZ Bank). 

A copy of Dr. Funaki's PhD dissertation is being arranged to be sent to the Vanuatu Cultural Center, University of the South Pacific (Tonga Campus), and to the Kiribati government. The Dignified Pacific Initiative hope to provide tangible proposals towards shaping of each Pacific strategic framework where dignity will be regained, respected and sustained while keeping good relationship with development partners. We hope to provide a copy of Dr. Funaki's PhD dissertation  to each Pacific Island nations or a book version with Routledge (work in progress). Pictures taken in Tonga will be uploaded if they become available.

Thank you for reading and visiting this update page. We hope to join forces with you if not already on the team. We welcome any enquiry or suggestions on how to improve the website and our approach.  

Live Interview at Radio Vanuatu

Group picture with some of the participants who attended the public lecture held at the Vanuatu Cultural Center.