The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), have signed a Grant Agreement to support the recruitment of a Principal Procurement Officer to further strengthen Tonga’s ongoing public procurement reforms.
The agreement was signed on 8th September 2026 by Mrs. Kilistina Tuaimeiapi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance, and Ms. Tegan Baker, First Secretary (Governance)-DFAT, at the 2nd Floor Conference Room of St George’s Building, Ministry of Finance. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Sione Tokai of Aid Management and attended by representatives of TASP, DFAT, the Central Procurement Unit (CPU), and MOF. The ceremony was facilitated by Joseph Scheibel, the TASP Governance Pillar Team Lead.
The Principal Procurement Officer will provide additional operational and technical support to the Procurement Reform Adviser, helping to advance and embed the procurement reform programme already underway across Government. The Procurement Reform Adviser has been working closely with the CPU and Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strengthen procurement systems and procedures, assess institutional and capacity needs, support improved compliance with the Public Procurement Regulations, develop practical guidance and standard operating procedures, deliver procurement capacity-building initiatives, and identify opportunities for wider reforms, including greater use of digital procurement processes.
The additional capacity will help accelerate priority reform activities, strengthen follow-up and implementation, and support improved procurement planning, compliance, transparency, accountability, professional development and value for money in the use of public resources.
The initiative reflects the continuing partnership between the Government of Tonga and the Australian Government in building a stronger, more efficient, transparent and sustainable public procurement system.
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