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). Lead by the Manager, Strategic and International Partnerships, DCU’s responsibilities include assessing offers of development assistance, negotiating with partners, organising the signing of agreements (MOUs/ LOAs), maintaining and optimising relationship 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.

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