In the Pacific, infrastructure is more than concrete and steel—it is a vital lifeline linking communities spread across thousands of islands. Yet this lifeline faces constant threats— geographic isolation, limited financial and human resources, and growing environmental threats like rising sea levels and extreme weather events. 

Aligning closely with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, ensuring that Pacific voices shape Pacific solutions, ADB and partners—Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the European Union—are driving a new generation of infrastructure in the Pacific designed to be resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. The most recent vehicle for this support is the fifth phase of the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility or PRIF.

At the heart of the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) is collaboration. PRIF acts as a partnership platform, harmonizing efforts among donors, governments, and technical experts and bringing coherence to what could otherwise be fragmented and duplicative development work. 

PRIF offers a unique blend of financing, technical assistance, and strategic planning support. This means countries can access the right expertise and funding at the right time—building infrastructure that meets their needs while boosting regional impact. 

Beyond construction, PRIF empowers Pacific island nations to plan, implement, and maintain infrastructure systems that are both inclusive and future-proof. From integrating nature-based solutions to using cutting-edge digital tools to guiding countries in times of disaster, PRIF is shaping a resilient infrastructure future from the ground up.

The Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) is moving from the planning stage to real-world results across the region.  

In Vanuatu, PRIF is helping modernize the national building code—part of a broader effort to improve construction standards across the region. This includes developing regional guidance, conducting peer reviews, and exploring the feasibility of a regional secretariat on construction standards. 

In the water sector, PRIF and the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association are enhancing the performance of utilities through targeted training on asset management. In 2024, over 30 participants from utilities across eight countries completed digital and live training modules, with women making up over a quarter of trainees—an encouraging step toward greater inclusion in the sector. 

In 2023, five utilities from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu participated in a 4-week accredited course on reviewing asset registers and maturity and preparing asset management improvement plans.   

PRIF is also embracing digital platforms to widen its reach. Through webinars, knowledge guides, and communities of practice, infrastructure practitioners across the Pacific are sharing lessons and adopting new tools for responsible infrastructure development—from managing coastal protection to improving mobility in urban areas.

Through PRIF’s coordinated efforts, Pacific communities are beginning to see real benefits: 

• Roads are being designed to withstand floods, using locally sourced materials. 
• Information and communication technology systems are being planned with stronger cybersecurity in mind. 
• New mobility frameworks are helping cities reimagine urban transport through practical design guidance.  
• Regional cooperation in aviation and waste recycling is progressing. 

Just as important, PRIF strengthens the institutions needed to sustain these outcomes. National infrastructure investment plans—from the Nauru Infrastructure Investment Strategic Investment Plan to Vanuatu Infrastructure Strategic Investment Plan to Solomon Islands National Investment Plan—are being updated to align with national priorities and funding processes, and national capacity is being bolstered to ensure implementation.