Taufia is the Program Director for Te Ao, an 8-year partnership with the Government of Tuvalu, focused on strengthening economic governance and building fiscal resilience for a sustainable future.
Te Ao builds on Australia’s longstanding support for Tuvalu’s budget and institutional capacity under the Falepili Union Treaty, offering a streamlined, multi-year program of direct funding and technical assistance to advance shared priorities.
Q&A with Taufia: Leading Te Ao’s Governance Transformation in Tuvalu
1. Tell us a bit about yourself – your background and work experience.
I come from a strong governance and development background, with experience working closely with government institutions and development partners. My career has focused on building systems that strengthen public administration and empower communities.
Being Tuvaluan, I have a deep understanding of the challenges our people and government face daily, which drives my commitment to meaningful reform.
2. What is your vision for Te Ao’s role in transforming governance in Tuvalu?
I envision Te Ao as a catalyst for change by supporting government aspirations toward achieving national priorities. This includes the Strategic 10-Year Plan, the 21 Statement Priorities and other key reforms.
Te Ao’s role is to help expedite these reforms, so they translate into tangible outcomes and outputs that improve the lives of Tuvaluans.
3. What are the top priorities for Te Ao in its first year of implementation?
Our first year is about action and delivery. We want to hit the ground running and adapt as we go. We aim to:
- Agree on shared priorities with government and sequence them effectively.
- Build solid, shared knowledge across stakeholders.
- Work closely with technical advisers and partners to expedite reforms.
- Deliver concrete immediate outcomes that demonstrate progress. This means drafting a work plan, aligning with Tuvalu’s Public Financial Management (PFM) roadmap and collaborating with PFM experts like Alex George who is the Senior Public Finance Management Specialist with the Ministry of Finance, to achieve immediate results.
4. How will you ensure inclusive participation and ownership across government agencies?
Inclusive participation is at the heart of Te Ao. We adopt a consultative approach involving all stakeholders, including women, girls, island communities, churches and persons with disabilities.
From the outset, we’ve focused on raising awareness about Te Ao’s purpose and objectives. Building understanding and trust is essential for government ownership and long-term success.
5. How will Te Ao strengthen Tuvalu’s resilience and capacity to deliver on national priorities?
Te Ao will serve as a platform to overcome challenges such as limited capacity, financial constraints and technological gaps, by aligning support with national priorities and promoting gender and social equality.
Te Ao intends to help strengthen governance systems and empower communities such as the kaupule that aren’t financially literate by providing access and awareness.
Our goal is not only to deliver reforms but to ensure they are sustainable and benefit Tuvaluans for generations.
6. What excites you most about leading Te Ao at this pivotal moment for Tuvalu?
The magnitude and relevance of this work excite me. As a Tuvaluan, I understand the daily challenges our people face. Leading Te Ao means aligning institutional knowledge with practical solutions that matter. It’s about being there for the government and the people and delivering real change.
7. What message would you like to share with Tuvaluans about the importance of governance reform?
Governance reform is vital for Tuvalu’s future. It’s an ongoing process.
In order to have effective reforms, there needs to be solid partnership built on trust, understanding, willingness to learn and adjust along the way.
With Te Ao’s support, we can implement reforms that grow the economy and create a better future for all Tuvaluans.
8. What does success look like for Te Ao under your leadership?
Success means collaboration and impact and not ticking boxes. It’s about delivering what people and government truly need and ensuring those benefits are felt on the ground. When all stakeholders understand their roles and work together, we can achieve outcomes that make a real difference.
My message is: Let’s paddle together on the same journey and deliver for Tuvalu.
