The Asian Development Bank (ADB), together with the Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration and Management (VIPAM), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the 7th of November 2025 at the VIPAM Conference Room in Port Vila. This agreement marks the start of a major collaboration to strengthen the capacity of Vanuatuโs public service.
This project is cost $๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง through ADBโs Technical Assistance Special fund.
The Chairman of the Public Service Commission Mr. Martin Raoul Mahe said that the MOU signed is very important and would like to thank the ADB team for their time, commitment for making it possible, he acknowledges Manager VIPAM Mr. Perrick Lesines and the Secretary Mr. James Melteres of the Public Service Commission for their continuous support. He continues to say that the OPSC is very excited to working with ADB and its team to make this MOU operational.
Upon respond from the ADB representative Principal Portfolio Management Specialist, Mr. Sibesh Bhattacharya said it is a very important milestone for this engagement and it would not have been possible without the leadership and support of the Chairman and the team of OPSC working closely with ADB. He said it is the first time ADB is doing something big with the Public Service in the region.
โWe are looking forward to the implementation of the document to make it work and I am confident that through our collaboration (ADB & OPSC) will assist the Public Service Commission to move to another level.โ Said Mr. Mahe.
ADB and VIPAM have been working closely with key public service units under the OPSC, on a scoping mission on the month of October 2025. The mission focused on creating a demand-driven framework for institutional and capacity development across the public sector. The resulting Scope of Work will guide VIPAM, OPSC, and the Government of Vanuatu in identifying and prioritizing initiatives that matter most to the country. Decisions about these priorities will be made by Vanuatuโs government stakeholders, ensuring that the process is locally owned and aligned with national development goals.
The framework was informed by ADBโs technical expertise and builds on the study โPublic Service Capacity Development Needs of Vanuatu.โ It is designed to remain flexible so that new needs can be added as they arise. The mission highlighted several areas of focus, including organizational reviews, competency frameworks, training needs analysis, digital learning systems, performance management, and the development of core training programs.
ADBโs support aims to create sustainable pathways for capacity development by strengthening institutions, aligning workforce planning with national priorities, modernizing training systems, and establishing clear monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
As Vanuatu moves toward its 2030 National Sustainable Development Plan, this partnership and signed MOU reflects a shared commitment to accountability, stronger institutions, and better services for the people of Vanuatu.
This collaboration between ADB and OPSC represents a significant step toward building a more capable and effective public service. With improved training and smarter systems, the Government of Vanuatu will be better equipped to deliver quality services to its citizens.