Salutations
• Honorable Speaker Sir,
• Honorable Ministers and Assistant Ministers,
• Honorable Leader of Opposition,
• Honorable Members of Parliament, and
• Ladies & Gentlemen
Ni sa bula vinaka, and a very good afternoon to you all.
1.0 Mister Speaker Sir, I rise to respond to Question 2/2026 raised by the Honourable Kuridrani.
2.0 The formulation of Fiji’s third (3rd) Voluntary National Review (VNR) is a matter of strategic national priority. It is both an Accountability Instrument for our people and a platform through which Fiji positions itself within the global development architecture.
Understanding the VNR and Fiji’s Commitment
3.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, the VNR is a comprehensive, country-led reporting mechanism under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, presented at the at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC).
4.0 It provides an opportunity for Fiji to:
i. Assess national progress across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
ii. Identify gaps and constraints; and
iii. Mobilise partnerships and financing for accelerated implementation.
5.0 Since 2015, Fiji has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment, having presented two VNR’s; one in 2019 and one in 2023. These Reports were recognised for their inclusivity and credibility, particularly among Small Island Developing States.
Cabinet Endorsement and Governance
6.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, I wish to inform the Honourable House that Cabinet, at its meeting on 14 April 2026, endorsed the formulation of Fiji’s third VNR, to be undertaken during 2026–2027 and presented at the HLPF in July 2027.
7.0 The process will be led by the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics through a coordinated whole-of-government and whole of society approach. Governance structure will include a high-level Core Working Group comprising of senior officials and a Technical Working Group with representation from line Ministries.
8.0 I wish to assure this House that the 2027 VNR will not be a bureaucratic exercise. It will be a genuine national conversation, transparent, evidence-based, and anchored in the lived realities of our people, including those in our rural and maritime communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Fiji’s Progress Across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
9.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, it would be remiss of me not to be candid with this House about what Fiji’s 2023 (2nd) VNR found.
10.0 Of the 169 SDG targets, Fiji made progress on:
i. Good progress on 24 targets which is merely 14 percent of the SDG targets;
ii. 45 SDG targets, representing 27 percent, could still be achieved with accelerated action;
iii. Regression progress recorded on 28 targets (which is 17 percent – a reality for the country) and
iv. What is alarming Mr, Speaker that the remaining 72 targets, 42 percent of the SDG targets could not be measured due to data gaps.
11.0 Notably, Fiji has progressed well and is on track with two SDGs, these include SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being, showed negative progress and requires urgent action. SDGs : 5 – Gender Equality, 14 – Life Below Water, and 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions had insufficient data for accurate measurement, though available data indicated regression on SDG 14, Life Below Water, which is of particular concern for a maritime nation.
12.0 Mister Speaker, Fiji’s progress is also reflected in global assessments. In the Sustainable Development Report 2024 and 2025, Fiji achieved an SDG Index score of 72.9, ranking 63rd out of 167 countries assessed globally. This demonstrates that continued prioritisation, adequate resources, and strong partnerships are essential to sustain progress towards 2030. In fact – in 2025 Fiji was ranked better than a Singapore which was ranked 69th and SDG index of 71.
13.0 In the pacific region, addition to Fijis ranking among countries assessed globally, Fiji was ranked as the top-performing country among the Pacific in the last VNR region, report to more than 50% indicators which was 128 indicators as compared to pacific average of 93 indicators. This was a significant increase from 88 reported in the first VNR.
Targets, Costing and Financing of the SDGs
14.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, no amount of good planning will achieve the SDGs without resources.
15.0 Fiji’s SDG targets are fully integrated within the National Development Plan (2025–2029) and Vision 2050, with each SDG aligned to national Key Performance Indicators.
16.0 The third VNR will, for the first time, include:
a) SDG costing frameworks, identifying sectoral investment needs;
b) A comprehensive financing strategy; and
c) Clear mapping of funding sources.
17.0 Potential financing avenues include:
Climate finance mechanisms under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC;
The Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund;
Multilateral development banks;
Bilateral partners; and
Innovative instruments such as blended finance and Blue Bonds.
18.0 In this regard, Mr. Speaker Sir, the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026, released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, highlights that the region is off track to meet its measurable SDG targets by 2030, with an estimated annual financing shortfall of 1.5 trillion United States dollars required to achieve the SDGs.
19.0 This underscores the scale of the challenge before us and the importance of clearly identifying national targets, associated costs, and financing pathways.
How VNRR Supports Resource Mobilisation
20.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, the VNR is not merely a reporting tool, but it is a strategic financing instrument.
21.0 A credible, transparent, and evidence-based VNR:
i. Signals policy certainty and national priorities;
ii. Strengthen investor and donor confidence; and
iii. Align development assistance with national priorities.
22.0 Through the 2027 VNR, Fiji will:
i. Present bankable investment pipelines;
ii. Align SDGs with climate and blue economy priorities; and
iii. Leverage partnership to crowd in financing.
23.0 The establishment of the Green Climate Fund Office in Fiji will serve as a pivotal catalyst to accelerate regional climate action momentum and support crowd in resources for SDGs 13, 14, and 15, ensuring that climate finance serves the dual purpose of advancing our climate commitments and our sustainable development agenda.
24.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, Fiji remains resolute in its commitment to the 2030 Agenda. We are a small island nation with a negligible contribution to global emissions, yet we stand at the frontline of the climate emergency. Our VNRR is not simply a report – it is an accountability document to our people, a signal to our development partners, and a testament to this Government’s determination that “no one shall be left behind”.
Key Improvements in the 2027 VNRR
25.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, the 2027 VNRR will focus on four transformative shifts:
i. Closing the Data Gap
26.0 One of the most significant shortcomings identified in 2023 was that 42 percent of SDG targets could not be measured. For a government committed to evidence-based policymaking, this is unacceptable.
27.0 The 2027 VNR will place the strengthening of the national statistical system and the SDG data architecture at the centre of its preparation. The Fiji Bureau of Statistics, in partnership with development partners, will lead concerted efforts to close data gaps across SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 6: Water; SDG 14: Life Below Water; SDG 15: Life on Land; and SDG 16: Peace and Justice. SDG-specific data officers will be embedded in key line ministries to ensure regular data flows.
28.0 The third VNR will seek to further increase the number of SDG indicators beyond 128 through the integration of relevant NDP KPIs that are contextualized to Fiji. Support from support from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and development partners will be sought to strengthen data availability and evidence-based reporting.
ii. Deeper Stakeholder Inclusivity
29.0 The 2027 VNR will go beyond the consultations conducted in 2023 to ensure that no voice is left out. Specific consultation tracks will be established for rural island communities, traditional leaders, resource owners, persons with disabilities, youth, women and girls, and civil society organizations.
30.0 In addition, sectoral actors including sporting institutions will also be recognised as part of this inclusive national effort. We will also build on the innovative Voluntary Local Review initiated by the Suva City Council in 2023 and encourage other local government bodies to undertake similar exercises, creating a bottom-up accountability architecture that feeds directly into the national VNR.
iii. Stronger Alignment with the National Priorities
31.0 The 2027 VNR will be more tightly aligned with Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025-2029 and Vision 2050 (NDP) than any previous review. Key Performance Indicators under the NDP will directly anchor SDG reporting, ensuring that what we measure at the national level maps onto what we report internationally.
32.0 The 2027 VNR will also reflect Fiji’s NDC 3.0 commitments, submitted in November 2025, which introduced seven adaptation sectors including Agriculture and Food Security, Oceans and Marine Resources, and Biodiversity and Ecosystems alongside a groundbreaking loss and damage pillar. The SDG and climate agendas, Blue economy, are inseparable for Fiji, and the 2027 VNR will reflect that integration.
iv. Accelerating Progress on the Most Lagging SDGs
33.0 The 2027 VNR will also articulate a credible acceleration strategy for the SDGs where Fiji is most behind. These include:
SDG 1: No Poverty, where 24 percent of Fijians remain below the poverty line;
SDG 2: Zero Hunger and food security;
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, where reversal of negative progress is a priority;
SDG 14: Life Below Water, including fisheries sustainability and marine conservation; and
SDG 13: Climate Action.
34.0 For each of these, we will develop targeted investment and policy interventions, with clear timelines and responsible agencies, so that the 2027 VNR can show not only where we are, but how we intend to get where we need to be.
High-Level Political Forum 2026 (ECOSOC)
35.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026, convened under ECOSOC, will play a critical role in shaping global SDG acceleration efforts.
36.0 The HLP Forum 2026 will be chaired by His Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, of Nepal, and the next one will:
a) Review global progress on selected SDGs;
b) Provide policy guidance on accelerating implementation;
c) Facilitate peer learning and international cooperation; and
d) Mobilise political commitment and partnerships.
37.0 For Fiji, participation in HLPF 2026 will:
i. Inform the development of our 2027 VNR;
ii. Position Fiji’s leadership on climate action, oceans, and the Blue Economy; and
iii. Strengthen partnerships for financing and technical support.
Conclusion
38.0 Mr. Speaker Sir, Fiji remains steadfast in its commitment to the 2030 Agenda. While we face significant challenges—particularly as a Small Island Developing State on the frontline of climate change—we also have a clear pathway forward.
39.0 The third VNR will:
Strengthen accountability;
Drive policy coherence; and
Mobilise the partnerships and resources needed to achieve sustainable development.
40.0 This is a national endeavour. I call upon all Honourable Members to support this process as we work collectively to ensure that no Fijian is left behind.
41.0 Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir.
