Pacific Institute of Public Policy

{{infobox organization

| name = Pacific Institute of Public Policy

| caption =

| abbreviation = PiPP

| motto =

| formation = 2007

| logo = Pacific Institute of Public Policy logo.svg

| type = Foreign Policy think tank

| headquarters =

| location = Port Vila, Vanuatu

| leader_title = Executive Director

| leader_name = Derek Brien

| website = {{nowrap|{{official URL}}}}

}}

The Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) is an independent, non-profit, regionally focused think tank based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The stated aim of PiPP is to stimulate and support informed policy debate in the Pacific.{{cite web|title=About PiPP|url=http://www.pacificpolicy.org/about-pipp/|publisher=Pacific Institute of Public Policy|accessdate= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126025316/http://www.pacificpolicy.org/about-pipp/ |archive-date=2012-11-26}} A central feature of PiPP's model of engagement with policy stakeholders is the distribution of research via several media including: research syntheses, discussion papers, forums, public debates, social networking, audio and video podcasts, press, radio and television. PiPP was established on November 21, 2007, under the Vanuatu Charitable Associations (Incorporation) Act [CAP.140].

PiPP covers policy issues across the following Pacific Island Countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Activities

= Forums and debates =

Many forums facilitated by PiPP occur via the 'MP Face to Face' programme, aimed at stimulating democratic dialogue through bringing politicians to their people in an open, public forum styled question and answer setting.{{cite news|title=Port Vila MP Fes to Fes 2011 on 15 September|url=http://www.dailypost.vu/content/port-vila-mp-fes-fes-2011-15-september|newspaper=Vanuatu Daily Post|date=2011}} Forums have been held across Vanuatu and have been broadcast live on Radio Vanuatu and Vanuatu's national television station (TBV).

A subregional version of the forum, known as Melanesia Face to Face, was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in 2011. Participants including the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, Dame Carol Kidu MP and the Director of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

PiPP also holds Annual Pacific Debates; the inaugural event coinciding with the 41st Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Vila. The 2011 debate occurred in Auckland during the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum meeting held in Auckland and focused on urbanisation and economic growth in the Pacific.{{cite news|title=Pacific debate shows student support for urban drift|url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/pacific-debate-shows-student-support-for-urban-drift/|newspaper=Pacific Scoop|date=2011}}

= Pacific Poll =

In 2011, PiPP conducted polling which gauged public opinion on the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the level of support for West Papuan independence,{{cite news|title=AWPA Supports Kubuabola|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=169616|newspaper=The Fiji Times Online|date=March 31, 2011}} and the nature of Melanesian identity.{{cite news|title=The question of who should be in the Melanesian 'family'|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/the-question-of-who-should-be-in-the-melanesian-family|newspaper=Radio Australia|date=March 29, 2011}} The poll also measured attitudes held towards Australia.{{cite news|title=Pacific islanders see a friend in Australia|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/pacific-islanders-see-a-friend-in-australia/story-fn59niix-1226033625941|newspaper=The Australian|date=2011}} This was the first poll carried out simultaneously across the four independent Melanesian countries.

Policy focus areas

= Trade =

Throughout 2011, PiPP contributed to discussion surrounding Vanuatu's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).{{cite news|title=PACIFIC UPDATE: Vanuatu's WTO deal "open" on land, but anti-WTOs say "No"|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19838/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl|newspaper=Islands Business|date=2011}} And a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120924025551/http://www.pacificpolicy.org/downloads/reports/ report] on the benefits of Vanuatu's WTO membership was published.

PiPP contributes to policy debate surrounding the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus) with its insights cited in the media{{cite news|title=Fiji's isolation linked to stalled PACER Plus negotiations|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/fijis-isolation-linked-to-stalled-pacer-plus-negotiations|newspaper=Radio Australia|date=August 18, 2011}} and considered by government departments including Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).{{cite web|title=Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, on PACER Plus|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/fta/pacer/submissions/InstituteforInternationalTrade.pdf|year=2009|access-date=2012-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502004455/https://www.dfat.gov.au/fta/pacer/submissions/InstituteforInternationalTrade.pdf|archive-date=2012-05-02|url-status=dead}}

= Information and communications technology =

Since the telecommunications sector was opened to competition in 2007, PiPP has tracked the behavioural changes and trends in the use of mobile phones. The number of people owning and using mobiles is growing fast. Universal ownership is the most likely future.{{cite web|title=Governance for Growth – Mid Term Review|url=http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/pacific/vanuatu/documents/governance-growth-mid-term-review-final.doc|publisher=AusAID|accessdate=18 June 2012}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= Urbanisation =

PiPP works together with organisations including United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP){{Cite web|url=http://www.unescap.org/EPOC/Pacific-Urban-Forum.asp|title=Subregional Office for the Pacific}} and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT). Apart from participation in the 2011 Pacific Urban Forum{{Cite web |url=http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/projects/voices/pacific_islands/pdf/Media_Advisory_Pacific_Urban_Forum-Fri_2_Dec.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-05-25 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034801/http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/projects/voices/pacific_islands/pdf/Media_Advisory_Pacific_Urban_Forum-Fri_2_Dec.pdf |url-status=dead }} PiPP has raised awareness on Pacific urban issues via a 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192937/http://www.pacificpolicy.org/downloads/discussion-papers/ discussion paper] and media engagement on issues like urbanisation.{{cite news|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/rapid-drift-to-urban-areas-across-the-pacific|title=Rapid drift to urban areas across the Pacific|date=July 29, 2011|work=ABC Radio Australia|accessdate=24 June 2012}}

= Election coverage =

PiPP has been an active commentator on elections throughout the region, particularly during the 2008 Vanuatu elections which resulted in a fractured and splintered Parliament.{{cite news|title=Vanuatu Election Result 'Unclear'|url=http://news.smh.com.au/world/vanuatu-election-result-unclear-20080902-47t9.html|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2008}}

Leadership and management structure

Derek Brien is PiPP's executive director and co-founder, and Nikunj Soni is the board chairman and founder. Board members include Dame Carol Kidu, DBE Dr (Hons), Matthew Morris, Kaliopate Tavola, Odo Tevi and Afamasaga Toleafoa.

An Advisory Council exist to assist with research direction and policy agenda of the organisation with current members including diplomats, academics and high-level policymakers from throughout the Pacific and internationally.

References

Category:Think tanks based in Vanuatu

Category:Think tanks established in 2007

Category:Political and economic think tanks based in Oceania