Developing a regional approach to combat corruption in the Pacific, sharing knowledge and experience, building capability, strengthening cross-regional advocacy and collaboration and generating ideas for training and fundraising were the focus of the Transparency International Pacific Regional Meeting held in Suva, Fiji late February through early March.

The second Summit for Democracy included a commitment by the US and others to enhance beneficial ownership transparency. The Indo-Pacific Regional meeting held in Korea called for Indo-Pacific governments to take greater action against corruption.

The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International showed that the Asia Pacific region stagnated with an average score of 45 for the fourth year in a row.

In December 2022 Transparency International published a report that presents the perceptions and experiences of corruption of people in seven small Pacific countries. It examines views gathered from Tuvalu, Niue, Tokelau (an island territory of New Zealand), Palau, Cook Islands, The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Nauru.

Pacific Island countries face particular corruption risks given their relatively small populations, dependence on natural resources, vulnerability to natural disasters and recent transition to democracy. However, evidence about levels and patterns of corruption is still limited.

TINZ was represented by Julie Haggie and Debbie Gee at the mid-point review of Transparency International’s Indo-Pacific Partnership for Strong, Transparent, Responsive and Open Networks for Good Governance 2020-2023 in Bali. Face-to-face collegiality, the opportunity to forge new relationships, rekindle existing ones, and build strong effective networks after years of being able to meet only online, were arguably the most valuable outcomes of all.