Our principles

It is borne from decades of genuine, on-the-ground partnership and understanding of community needs.

The AIFFP plans, assesses and finances projects that align with this vision and the priorities of our partners. 

We have adapted our operations to support the regionally owned Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles (PQIPs), as endorsed by the Pacific Island Forum leaders in 2023. The AIFFP has embedded the PQIPs into its own infrastructure planning and delivery frameworks.

The AIFFP prioritises promoting greater access to jobs, business and training opportunities for Pacific communities through its projects. The AIFFP looks for opportunities to involve the local workforce and enterprises through its project planning, design and delivery. The AIFFP ensures as much as possible that its projects are locally informed, locally led and delivered with the skills and capacity of local workers and industry at the forefront. 

The AIFFP integrates value-for-money principles across the project lifecycle to ensure financial considerations are balanced against objectives such as quality and sustained benefits for local partners and communities. 

The AIFFP is delivering high-impact infrastructure that is built for the future – designed for Pacific conditions and to withstand the impacts of climate change. 

The AIFFP provides loan and grant financing packages to sovereign and private sector partners in the Pacific and Timor Leste to support development of priority infrastructure projects. It can also issue guarantees to facilitate local currency borrowing and loans to finance or refinance existing infrastructure projects. 

The AIFFP is committed to responsible and sustainable lending practices and avoiding unsustainable debt burdens.

The AIFFP’s projects are designed to meet a high standard for environmental and social protection. Environmental and social safeguards are considered at all stages of the project lifecycle from planning, design and procurement through to construction, operation and maintenance. The AIFFP’s safeguards approach integrates GEDSI, climate change and disaster resilience as well as local content considerations to ensure that environmental and social risks are managed appropriately and that projects also enhance environmental and community benefits.

Recognising women and girls and people with disability are disproportionately affected by inadequate infrastructure, the AIFFP supports partners to build and upgrade infrastructure that is inclusive and gender responsive. 

The AIFFP encourages private sector‑led investments and offers direct and local currency loans and guarantees to non‑sovereign partners. These partnerships build on the Australian Government’s ongoing efforts to promote private sector growth and engage the private sector in achieving development across the Pacific.