The Development Cooperation Unit (DCU) plays a central role in facilitating and managing strategic partnerships and development assistance at the University of the South Pacific (USP). DCU’s responsibilities include assessing offers of development assistance, negotiating with partners, organizing the signing of agreements (MOUs/ LOAs), maintaining and optimising relationships with international agencies, monitoring agreement implementation, and ensuring compliance with established procedures and policies.

In its role as an organisation for regional integration and cooperation, USP serves all 18 Forum Member Countries. The Unit directly supports the Vice-Chancellor and President by providing high-level strategic advice and analysis on donor relations, regionalism/strategic and International Partnerships. This involves overseeing USP’s distinct relationships and contributions to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent through the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) agencies.

DCU also provides practical support and guidance to USP staff on all aspects of development assistance and partnership initiatives. Furthermore, DCU is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Strategic Partnerships and Development Assistance Policy, ensuring it’s up-to-date and accessible to all staff.  We provide guidance, templates, and support to staff throughout the process of securing funding and managing projects and facilitate communication and reporting between USP and its development partners. We also play a crucial role in ensuring the proper and timely implementation of projects funded through these partnerships.

DCU also manages the University’s relations and partnership agreements with its core-funding partners namely New Zealand and Australia where both have multi-year core-funding partnership arrangements.