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The East-West Center is excited to announce the selection of our second cohort of PROJECT Governance Graduate Fellows. These promising young leaders from across the Pacific Islands will pursue a year of advanced studies in law, finance, and information systems at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa starting this fall.
This year’s PROJECT Governance graduate degree fellows are:
- Ms. Debbie Akane of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, pursuing a Master of Laws at the UH Mānoa Richardson School of Law. A Legal Officer at the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority, Debbie hopes to ensure the sustainable management and development of Papua New Guinea’s forest resources. Through employing and promoting standards of compliance and good corporate governance, she aims to effectively manage and minimize disputes related to natural resources.
- Ms. Roxalyn Kaminanga of Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, pursuing a Master of Finance at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. Chief of Finance for Chuuk State, Roxalyn hopes to better contribute to Chuuk State’s development through promoting sound governance, ensuring that transparency, accountability, and other financial best practices are in place to address pressing issues.
- Mr. Tuitala Lasifo of Funafuti, Tuvalu, pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. An entrepreneur that focuses on the IT space, Tuitala hopes to work toward improving the standard of living in Tuvalu through the use of technology, providing tools that support the e-commerce environment in the country, and empowering young and female entrepreneurs.
- Mr. Solomon Yeo of Honiara, Solomon Islands, pursuing a Master of Laws at the UH Mānoa Richardson School of Law. A former campaign director of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Solomon hopes to make substantial contributions toward the development of national and regional policy frameworks on responses toward climate mobility to reinforce preparation for a climate-affected future.
While earning their degrees at UH, these young leaders will draw from their local understanding of governance, share best practices, and foster leadership in strengthening democracy and promoting good governance.
Improving governance in the Pacific is inherently linked with the promotion and protection of human rights and the need to empower a fully engaged, inclusive, and well-informed civil society. A core part of the PROJECT Governance strategy focuses on a people-centered approach, which places people and their environment at the center of planning, implementation, decision-making, discussions, and reporting.
Upon completion of their fellowship, these fellows will return to their home countries equipped with the knowledge and skills to advance their professional careers and ultimately increase the resilience, prosperity, and sovereignty of Pacific nations.
About PROJECT Governance
PROJECT Governance is a five-year, US $20 million partnership between USAID and the Blue Pacific Alliance, a partnership between the East-West Center (EWC), The Pacific Community (SPC), CARE and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The initiative is focused on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting sound, just, and responsive governance in the Pacific by supporting financial governance officials across the region through financial governance and media training, graduate study scholarships in finance, information systems, and law, and an online portal showcasing project activities.
The East-West Center is excited to announce the selection of our second cohort of PROJECT Governance Graduate Fellows. These promising young leaders from across the Pacific Islands will pursue a year of advanced studies in law, finance, and information systems at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa starting this fall.
This year’s PROJECT Governance graduate degree fellows are:
- Ms. Debbie Akane of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, pursuing a Master of Laws at the UH Mānoa Richardson School of Law. A Legal Officer at the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority, Debbie hopes to ensure the sustainable management and development of Papua New Guinea’s forest resources. Through employing and promoting standards of compliance and good corporate governance, she aims to effectively manage and minimize disputes related to natural resources.
- Ms. Roxalyn Kaminanga of Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, pursuing a Master of Finance at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. Chief of Finance for Chuuk State, Roxalyn hopes to better contribute to Chuuk State’s development through promoting sound governance, ensuring that transparency, accountability, and other financial best practices are in place to address pressing issues.
- Mr. Tuitala Lasifo of Funafuti, Tuvalu, pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. An entrepreneur that focuses on the IT space, Tuitala hopes to work toward improving the standard of living in Tuvalu through the use of technology, providing tools that support the e-commerce environment in the country, and empowering young and female entrepreneurs.
- Mr. Solomon Yeo of Honiara, Solomon Islands, pursuing a Master of Laws at the UH Mānoa Richardson School of Law. A former campaign director of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Solomon hopes to make substantial contributions toward the development of national and regional policy frameworks on responses toward climate mobility to reinforce preparation for a climate-affected future.
While earning their degrees at UH, these young leaders will draw from their local understanding of governance, share best practices, and foster leadership in strengthening democracy and promoting good governance.
Improving governance in the Pacific is inherently linked with the promotion and protection of human rights and the need to empower a fully engaged, inclusive, and well-informed civil society. A core part of the PROJECT Governance strategy focuses on a people-centered approach, which places people and their environment at the center of planning, implementation, decision-making, discussions, and reporting.
Upon completion of their fellowship, these fellows will return to their home countries equipped with the knowledge and skills to advance their professional careers and ultimately increase the resilience, prosperity, and sovereignty of Pacific nations.
About PROJECT Governance
PROJECT Governance is a five-year, US $20 million partnership between USAID and the Blue Pacific Alliance, a partnership between the East-West Center (EWC), The Pacific Community (SPC), CARE and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The initiative is focused on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting sound, just, and responsive governance in the Pacific by supporting financial governance officials across the region through financial governance and media training, graduate study scholarships in finance, information systems, and law, and an online portal showcasing project activities.
