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Foreign aid, human agency, and self‐reliance in the Pacific: Lessons from the pandemic

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  • Rerekura Teaurere
  • Siulua Tokilupe Latu
  • Roxane de Waegh
  • Mark Orams
  • Michael Lück

Abstract

Motivation Amid the highly polarized discourse on development aid in Pacific Islands, few studies explore the perspectives of local people. Missing from the literature is how the subjective experiences of Pacific Islands people responding and adapting to a sudden global disruption influence their perceptions of foreign aid. Faced by the sudden shutdown of export markets, tourism, and labour migration, the COVID‐19 pandemic offered an opportunity to investigate how disruptions from international events affect Pacific Island peoples' perception of foreign aid. Purpose We investigated how the lived experiences of people in the Cook Islands and Tonga during COVID‐19 may have influenced their perceptions of foreign aid. Methods and approach Semi‐structured interviews guided by open‐ended questions were conducted with 25 individuals in the Cook Islands and 24 in Tonga. Interviewees were purposively selected from staff in government ministries and environmental non‐governmental organizations; from people working in tourism and private enterprise; from members of youth empowerment groups; and from among traditional leaders, faith leaders, high school teachers, fisherfolk, and farmers. The interviews explored their subjective experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the meanings they attributed to them. Findings The pandemic closed down tourism and interrupted labour emigration in both countries. In response, people switched to farming and fishing and found ways to redeploy their skills. The pandemic saw increased local innovation, strengthened traditional practices, increased local agricultural output, and enhanced collaboration between foreign donor partners and recipient countries in the development of local human capacity. Policy implications Rather than repeating history by integrating Pacific Island societies into the globalized economy, or providing bail‐outs through economic restructuring, donors should strive to support the agency and self‐determination of Pacific Islands people. They should start by recognizing the resourcefulness and capacity to adapt shown by participants during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Rerekura Teaurere & Siulua Tokilupe Latu & Roxane de Waegh & Mark Orams & Michael Lück, 2023. "Foreign aid, human agency, and self‐reliance in the Pacific: Lessons from the pandemic," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(S2), December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:41:y:2023:i:s2:n:e12727
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12727
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. International Monetary Fund, 2020. "Cook Islands: Technical Assistance Report–Macroeconomic, Financial, and Structural Policies," IMF Staff Country Reports 2020/269, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Emma Mawdsley & Warwick E. Murray & John Overton & Regina Scheyvens & Glenn Banks, 2018. "Exporting stimulus and “shared prosperity†: Reinventing foreign aid for a retroliberal era," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S1), pages 25-43, March.
    3. Richard Pomfret, 2016. "Multilateralism and Regionalism in the South Pacific: World Trade Organization and Regional Fora as Complementary Institutions for Trade Facilitation," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(3), pages 420-429, September.
    4. Nancy Qian, 2015. "Making Progress on Foreign Aid," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 277-308, August.
    5. Tiru K. Jayaraman & Lin Sea Lau & Cheong Fatt Ng, 2018. "Role of Financial Sector Development as a Contingent Factor in the Remittances and Growth Nexus: A Panel Study of Pacific Island Countries," Remittances Review, Remittances Review, vol. 3(1), pages 51-74, May.
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